It’s that most wonderful time of year when 10,000 music fans descend onto Worthy Farm for the annual music nirvana that is ArcTanGent
Ah ArcTanGent, as the song goes “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” and for 10,000 fans of eccentric music, it’s like coming home. The working farm in Compton Martin once again is transformed into a mecca for all things sonically which fly in the face of mainstream conformity. I have been excited about this one since probably September last year, with it being the 10th anniversary edition, the lineup looked as stunning as ever and the weather was looking surprisingly clement, so things were looking good, but did the festival live up to the unrealistic hype in my head? Of course it did!
Wednesday:
After getting my wristband and setting up the tent (which this year was made even easier by upgrading to an air tent, highly recommend them by the way) it was time for the customary beer whilst sat in the tent porch watching the world go by, waving at passing friends and re-reading the clashfinder for the millionth time (and first of about the same number over the weekend too). After the relax, it was time to saunter to the arena to catch the bands.
By the time I’d finished faffing, the first band I caught was Hidden Mothers - who wowed the crowd so brilliantly last year. The band set about playing cuts from their unreleased album, which if this showing is anything to go by, should be rather spectacular. The new material hits hard like a gut punch but it’s the emotive vocals which really set them apart and elevates their blackened gazey sound to uncharted heights.
Next up: Din of Celestial Birds - Now, I had very high hopes about this set considering they were one of the standouts from last year (indeed, all the acts playing on the Wednesday were asked back from last year’s festival) I needn’t have had any fears about this show, the packed crowd were treated to a band riding the crest of a wave. With guitarist Tom dancing around the stage like he’s having the time of his life, the infectious energy which the band push out like deranged dealers is lapped up by the hungry crowd. Stunning.
After that came Cobra the Impaler - this was Metal with a large dollop of progressive tendencies, which meant they are lapped up by the crowd, double bass drums created a powerful staccato sound which was perfect for the late afternoon and went down a treat, with the band throwing themselves around like they had no other choice.
Next to hit the stage were ArcTanGent house band Curse these Metal Hands -the collaboration between members of Conjurer and Pijn started as a one-off commission from ArcTanGent (which has so far spawned an EP and this, the fourth live show here) shows no sign of slowing. Something as daft as this has no right to sound as good as it does. “High Spirits” is a song which most of the bands on the bill would love to have in their arsenal, it’s such an overly wonderful song it does a lot of heavy lifting, glorious stuff from a band which, really, shouldn’t be this life affirming.
Next up was a highly anticipated set from Psychonaut - the sound was spot on which helps considering the technical nature of their take on modern Post music. It was my first time hearing music from their new album and it sounded immense. Thundering technicality coupled with emotive songwriting left a big impression on the crowd.
Next up was the band I was most looking forward to today, Danish heavyweights LLNN - Bloody hell, words don’t really do justice to the heady heavy nature of their sound. I was somewhat thrown by them playing in lavish sunshine, but they were not going to let something as trivial as the sun derail them. Live they are a force of nature, rolling across the crowd like an unstoppable armada. Incredible, life affirming and utterly brilliant. It would be remiss of me not to mention lead vocalist Victor Kaas who stalks the stage like a man possessed and brings such a manic energy to proceedings that it’s like he’s under the control of something far more sinister and primal than mere music, amazing.
The last band I caught on the day were Bossk - any time Bossk play, it’s an event, couple that event with the band playing deep cuts and a bunch of covers, one of which being “Tet Twat Asi” by Earthtone9 with Karl Middleton joining them on stage and you have a show of joyous, epic proportions.
Thursday
Thursday starts with a massive hangover and after begrudgingly hauling myself out of bed, I meet up with a friend who has just turned up. After a lovely catch up, we manage to watch itoldyouiwouldeatyou who I’d not heard of but were pretty good actually (if you’ve never been to ArcTanGent, this is something which we’ve come to expect, just because you don’t know the band, doesn’t mean you won’t end up loving them). Post-Hardcore with toe-tapping melodies which helped ease me into the day. Marvellous. My day then turned to the first of my interviews scheduled with the incredible Torpor, which I enjoyed immensely.
After the interview finishes, I manage to turn up just in time to catch Unpeople who are on a steep upward curve towards stardom. Worthy Farm is not used to such catchy choruses and it’s almost impossible not to be swept along in the wake of their Pop-Metal anthems, I fully expect them to be much higher up the bill next year if they continue like this.
I met up with friends so we can watch the incredible Hundred Year Old Man who, (in a first for me having caught them numerous time in the past) are bathed in sunshine so we can see their happy smiling faces which is slightly at odds with the stunningly heavy, cathartic monument to loss that they play. The large crowd was treated to a thunderous show which only further cements them as one of this country’s finest Post-Metal bands. Simply majestic for this time of day.
At this point, another friend turns up and due to being a terrible camper, I end up pitching his tent for him, which, due to the mid-day heat and my hangover, resulted in more swear words than Brian Blessed at a swearing convention. After we’ve all caught up in the VIP bar (which is lovely) the second of my interviews then rolls around so I leave them to it.
After the interview with the wonderful LLNN we meet up again for Julie Christmas, who was a revelation. Her ability to switch singing styles in a heartbeat is mind-blowingly good. Such an awesome performer, her stage presence alone makes for an engaging, energetic show. But add to this, the primal roar of Johannes Persson whose booming vocals compliment Julie’s high-end register, and you have a recipe for something truly special, early contender for set of the whole weekend.
After some seriously entertaining conversations and catching up, next up were Baroness who, it must be said, looked like they were having an absolute blast on stage. Smiling and engaging, they were the perfect late afternoon band and left me smiling from ear to ear.
Next up for us were the dirty Rock’n’Roll stylings of Red Fang who came, rocked the fuck out, destroyed the entire crowd and left everyone wanting more, it doesn’t get much better than that I’d say.
Unfortunately for a lot of folk, Clown Core had to cancel their appearance due to a band member’s ill health but their replacement Spiritualized were on hand to step in at the eleventh hour. A more different sounding band to Clown Core you will not encounter but the gospel-tinged Indie-Folk went down incredibly well. A tender, emotional set which left all who witnessed it full of hope.
From hope to despair as grief masters Amenra were up next to deliver their sermon to pulverising Post-Metal. Now, I must make a confession, for me personally, they are one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen, and this show was up there with the best. I’ll be the first to admit, during “A Solitary Reign” I got quite emotional. Heavy enough to drag everyone watching under the waves of woe, the band also offers a hand to grasp to pull you above the waves too, undeniably stunning.
Rounding out the evening was the surprisingly entertaining John Cxnnor coming from the mad sonic alchemists behind LLNN, they delivered one of the best sets of the whole weekend. Whilst watching the multiple guests (which included Kim Song Sternkopf of MØL and David Ashley Duxbury of Hundred Year Old Man) roaring along to the Gabba-influenced, world-ending Techno, my friend yelled in my ear “Oh my god, where has this metal techno been all my life!” whilst flinging ourselves around like men possessed. I’d say this was rather a good way to finish the day!.
Friday:
First order of the day was making sure I was alive enough to make it to the 2 promotors 1 pod podcast at 10 o’clock. This was easier said than done though and although I did make it, I missed the start. The tent was packed with people flowing out of the tent in all directions, which is a testament to how revered this podcast has become. Entertaining, informative and very funny, it was the perfect way to start the day and I’ve got to say, as good as Gav and James were (and they were very good) they were completely upstaged by Gavin’s 6-year-old daughter who came out with one of the best questions ever and had the entire tent roaring with laughter, glorious.
After a spot of breakfast (shout out to Suzi’s!) it was over to watch Modern Technology during whose set I had to check to make sure it was just two people as the noise they produced sounded thicker and denser than a duo has any right to conjure. Heavy and thoughtful, it was a great way to kick off the music today, superb stuff.
Next up were anther band stepping in at the last minute El Moono and they were not going to let the opportunity slip by. Making the most of their slot and playing to a packed-out tent, the band looked and sounded like they were squeezing everything they had into the performance and the songs from the new album went down a storm, the only way is up for them.
After lunch and the last of my interviews with the awesome Hundred Year Old Man, it was over to the main stage for The Omnific which I’ve got to say, had the best intro tape of the whole weekend. Consisting of two bassists and a drummer, the set up was entirely original and although not to my tastes, had the crowd moshing and even at one point breaking out into a circle pit.
I’d heard good things about next band Shy, Low [note of the editor: one of the best Post-Rock bands from across the pond, Simon!] and I’m happy to report the good things were well-founded as they played a barn-storming set of gorgeous Post-Rock punctuated with moments of blackened intensity which hit the sweet spot and had me grinning like a fool.
Back over on the main stage were French masters Year Of No Light which had the whole crowd in a state of slack-jawed awe with their droning take on heavy music. Technical and with masses of hidden depth, the band kept the entire crowd captivated throughout, simply majestic.
Next up, my friend wanted to catch Benefits. Having not heard of them, I went in with an open mind. They consisted of a drummer playing furious Blackened Hardcore, a man behind a tower of synthesisers producing a wall of glitchy beats and what can only be described as a very angry lead singer, they certainly fit into the alternative category and were a surprisingly pleasant way of spending 45 minutes.
Now to a band I’d been looking forward to a lot, Austin trio Glassing. Incredibly hard to classify genre-wise, they switch between blacked fury and shimmering Post-Rock in an instant, sounding like different bands from one song to the next, sometimes even during the same song. Powerful and mesmerising, they blew me away and judging by the folk around me, I wasn’t the only one.
From fury to bliss next as Madmess came and proceeded to blow the roof off the tent in a wave of Psych-Rock which washed over the crowd in a haze of Prog and guitar pyrotechnics, perhaps a touch one dimensional but they made for a gorgeous break from the relentless heaviness from the rest of the day.
More catching up and food was next (the Paella really was very good, it must be said) and listening to the rich sonic goodness of Delta Sleep in the sun was truly a wonderful experience. Although saying that, trying to eat, talk and listen at the same time is hard work, I’m sure there is some scientific thing behind multi-tasking, but I failed (mostly at the talking part). There were a lot of new songs being played but “The Detail” is such a catchy song, that all doubt was cast aside for those 3-plus minutes of sheer Math-Rock perfection. Sublime.
In a testament to the varied nature of the music on show at ArcTanGent, next up was Blood Command who delighted in playing with people’s expectations and delivered a masterclass of Pop-Death Metal (yeah it’s a thing) led by the uncontrollable ball of energy of singer ‘Nikki Brumen’. Making multiple references to cocaine, you really didn’t need any drugs at all to be swept along with the raucous nature of the band, life affirming and brilliant.
I find myself physically exhausted by the end of the day and need something to give me a pep-up. Step forward Komfortrauschen who play hard Dance music with live instruments. It turns out that all I needed to recharge the batteries was a dose of dancing like a wally to an enjoyably engaging band who looked as if their dreams had come true, well-done you guys.
Now we come to main headliner Meshuggah. Now, far more people have written in far more detail and far more eloquently than I could ever manage about the Swedish metal titans, but suffice to say, the crowd was packed to the rafters for the returning, all-conquering heroes. Years of well-oiled technical brilliance coupled with barn-storming songcraft means the band comes, destroys and leaves everyone wanting more. It seems the crowd are going especially potty tonight as they lay waste to all before them with undeniable glee. They really do have the most incredible and quite frankly unfair on everyone else encore of “Bleed” and “Demiurge” too, which finishes the evening in quite spellbinding fashion.
Saturday:
Unfortunately, due to logistics and me having to catch a plane, I need to leave early on the Saturday, but I do have time to catch a few sets. After packing away my tent and having a well-needed breakfast (vegan breakfast burrito for the win!) I settled in for one of my most anticipated sets of the whole weekend in Torpor. After listening and writing about this band, it seems criminal that this is the first time I am getting to see them play live, and, oh boy, do they not disappoint. From the first note to the last, I was completely and utterly under their spell, so much so that mid-way through the set I feel myself welling up, a mixture of four days of festival magic and the sheer unrelenting heavy sonic beauty of Torpor pushed me to breaking point and it’s something I’m not going to forget in a hurry, utterly mind blowing.
Next band Fort were another band I was particularly looking forward to, but through no fault of their own, I was still trying to process having my arse handed to me by Torpor. Fort were very good, and the new songs in particular sounded better live than on record, it was just unfortunate that they came after a band who side swiped me.
Back to the main stage for my last band of the day in Briqueville who topped off my festival in style. Their droning take on Post-Metal takes its time to unfold but has a wrecking ball effect when the songs explode. Just when I was starting to feel myself again after the one-two punch of Torpor and Fort, along comes this band which drags me to places I wasn’t mentally prepared to go to, bravo.
And so, as I unwillingly trudged back to my car, trying to wring every second out of this wonderful festival, I can’t help but feel a maelstrom of emotions: sadness that it’s ended, elation at catching up with so many amazing people, the joy of watching some truly exceptional performances and almost a sense of dread about the drive home. I already can’t wait to next year’s festival, until I get to come home again to this incredible place. Thanks for the memories, you’ve done it again ArcTanGent!
