“Caught in a blaze that is Heaven-sent.“
Photos by Lydia at Focus productions (@photosby_focus), please contact before any use. Words by Kirsty Bright (@kirstybright_).
Day One
It’s an Easter weekend, and naturally the best way to spend it is getting stuck into a packed line-up for this year’s edition of 2026. After its return in 2023 after an 8-year hiatus, the festival is a treasure trove of bands. The two-day event at Portsmouth Guildhall welcomed a slew of talent across four stage. With Graphic Nature, As It Is, Therapy?, The Wildhearts, Zetra and VEXED awaiting.
With such a strong line-up and two full days, our bodies and feet were going to be put to the test. Starting day one, where we headed to Kerrang! Stage to catch Kill the Lights, renamed for the day as the Phil Campbell Stage in honour of the late Phil Campbell, who was due to headline Friday’s main stage. Sadly, he passed away a week before, but his presence was felt everywhere. From a memorial wall in the corridors where messages of love and heartfelt memories were displayed. Later in the evening the stage held a minute of noise – a roaring tribute from fans dedicated to making his legacy loud. It was early in the day, the room quickly filled and warmed up as they rip-roared through their set. Over on the Total Rock Stage, King Kraken wasted no time in catching everyone’s attention, opening their set with “War“, acting like a true war cry, as more people filtered into the room.
A personal highlight came at the Metal for Good stage, where DeVere dominated. Glam rock arrived, and my goodness, did it feel good to watch. It was as if the Rock Of Ages descended in real time, with lead singer Sam possessing the spirit of Stacie Jaxx, oozing an undeniable charm. While it had you watching their every move, guitarists George and Will on bass worked as one, creating a tale of ’80s angst with the modern mood of today.
Taking a brief break to soak in the vibes we had a chance to learn more about the important work of Tonic Music, their booth had leaflets and helpful advice on advocating the importance of mental health through music. Heading back to the Kerrang! Stage where we were graced by South of Salem, from the opening with “Vultures”, the energy kept climbing. Joined by cheerleaders arriving that projected that heightened sense of dark rock fusion, as the crowd for this in particular saw the busiest of evening gathered. Later in the evening Wildhearts created a musical fantasy of relentless riffs that had you transported between concert and a musical fantasy land.
Closing out the day was a much-needed dose of Therapy? – who were loud about the world being a shitshow but reminded us that we should be louder. To call it therapy in itself would be incredibly obvious, but the way they spoke to the crowd felt comforting. Performing from old hits to their latest release Hard Cold Fire, with them understandably stepping into a difficult slot, it felt like the correct way to not only be the replacement for Phil but also create an atmosphere that was perfect.
Day Two
Fresh-faced and ready to tackle day two, we began the day strong and returned to the Metal for Good stage. Opening were Monochrome, who showcased their latest tracks from EP, From the Outside Looking In, proving once again why they’re such an exciting prospect. This was followed by Artio on the Kerrang! Stage, who have proved their ones to watch status, and absolutely shone. For a band that hasn’t been around that long, they’ve gained great momentum, with the lead singer Rae‘s vocals just enveloping the room with power. A standout moment came when Patty Walters and Ben Langford Biss from As It Is joined them for “Full On Fight For Fun”, which only cemented their status as one to watch.
We were taking on a futuristic, electronic journey with Zetra, as the duo shifted the day towards a vibe we hadn’t seen. Something entirely different from previous acts but it was needed as a refreshing tone with their enigmatic synths and ethereal vocals. Heading to the Total Rock stage saw PAVÉ impress with their latest single, “If It Hurts“, which has received support from BBC One Introducing and are a fantastic band to watch out for.
For those hoping to catch Vexed, then good luck, as the room was overflowing with fans waiting to cram into the tiny room. Their set carried a message of inclusivity, with love radiating, the lead singer Megan Targett ensuring that the voices of the queer community were heard. Of course in times like today these messages are as important as ever.
Back on the main stage, Lastelle delivered what felt like an out-of-body experience. What can be described as blending post-rock shaking hands with the sounds of Hans Zimmer. They went on to create a euphoric setting with “Pine” that eased into chaos as the set progressed, this is a band that everyone needs to see live.
A personal favourite came from As It Is, who are celebrating their fresh return with the giant screen flaunting their debut date, 2012-forever. Reminding us that they are truly back and what a joy it is to see they are a band whose storytelling continues to be relatable and that we, the audience, need to hear to help – be it mental health, comfort, or just sheer nostalgia. Mixed with old and new songs, the latest single, “Marilyn“, played. It was the mighty anthem “The Stigma (Boys Don’t Cry)” that had everyone singing word for word.
Wargasm, however, unleashed absolute mayhem. From countless crowd surfers to lead singer Sam launching right back at them, as the mic leads surged right alongside him, it’s a chaos I’ve not seen before. At times, it had you waiting for what else could possibly happen, but that is what has made Wargasm a popular act to watch live, it felt old-school punk but fresh and modern. Milkie Way was every inch the classic glamorous rock heroine as they played “Feral“, which was perhaps the most fitting word for their set.
Yet it was the smaller stages that saw equally, if not more, chaos. The eagerly awaited Graphic Nature unleashed a barrage of mosh pits, as to be expected. In fact, the security had an hour briefing on Graphic Nature and what to expect from a show of theirs with the amount of wall of deaths exploding across the room; with Graphic Nature rightfully earned their headliner slot for the metal stage. Speaking of chaos, The Hara brought that to the Total Rock Stage, with guitarist Zach engaging with the crowd as he became part of the mosh pits engulfing him. With tracks like “Trophy” and “Easier to Die” being performed, the atmosphere embodied the message of both perfectly. We next saw Mouth Culture’s, their frontman Jack had bundles of energy that saw him jumping across every piece of the stage, making for a dynamic presence that made for an equally engaging show.
Throughout the weekend there was one act who had generated a lot of buzz, as the President merch adorned had the air of a uniform for some. They’re an act that has a curiosity as to how they would be in a live setting, and how would their sound translate to with a baying crowd watching. Their performance was beyond theatrical, having the essence of something greater than itself, and moving beyond any sense of a gimmick. It had a tremendous depth and concept that left any looker no choice but to be hooked in.
Opening with “Fearless“, the speed never slowed, and neither did the vocals. Screams controlled with vigour. Fans knew when to sing, and with very subtle and conductor-like hand movements from the frontman, he had them in the palm of his hand. One flick of the wrist to get them jumping, or to the lines of “Destroy Me” – the production spoke for itself. The famous commentary of hope in a relentless world rang across the packed venue.
Takedown proved to be the perfect way to kickstart the festival season. It embodied all the elements it takes for such a successful event; the big headliners’ and the moments balanced with the excitement of discovering smaller bands. With these moments coming from being packed in small sweaty rooms, embraced in tight and unfiltered raw energy. To see up-and-coming groups in an intimate setting knowing that they won’t be in there for long and will easily be on bigger stages in the near future. Takedown 2026 wasn’t just a success; it was a reminder of what makes live music so powerful – we can’t recommend it enough.