ArcTanGent Festival 2023 Review

For a first time ArcTanGent experience, we can confidently say that the festival is one of the more unique offerings within our world. A festival that features an array of acts across the rock, metal, and alternative landscape. Acts that might struggle to get on other festival bills because they are so eclectic have a home at ArcTanGent.

It’s a festival that doesn’t feel big or small. Large enough to have five stages spread across its grounds and feature the likes of Converge, Heilung and Devin Townsend as its headliners. Yet small enough to ensure there were no aching feet and getting from stage to stage was immensely quick.

This was our first time at ArcTanGent. Why? Normally, it being so close to Bloodstock puts it out of the question because of work and ‘real-life’ commitments but this year, everything lined up nicely for us and we liked the overall bill, so we thought why the hell not? Let’s do Bloodstock, recover at home for two days, then make our way to Bristol to experience ArcTanGent in all its glory.

The end result? An immense time of seeing old and new favourites, meeting people, drinking too much, and so much more. We can’t recommend it enough, even if we had a few problems, one in particular that meant we ended up leaving Friday night missing the last day of the festival. Although, that’s hardly the festival’s fault, rather good old British weather and a tent pole that had seen too much action.

No matter, it happens, and to be honest, we were exhausted. Two full on festivals in a row (basically) will take it out of you and we’re not twenty anymore.

Enough about that though, aside from the bands which we will get to in a minute, what was good and bad about the festival. Well, we camped in VIP and it is very close to parking and the main arena. With the latter, it’s so close that an 8am sound check for Heilung woke us up freaking out that we had slept the day away. Seriously, how f**king loud was that and why the f**k was that done so early?

The facilities were just about fine, another block of showers would have been nice to keep the queues shorter, and closing one off for the sauna users only was bang out of order, but there were plenty of toilets. However, the cleanliness and lack of toilet paper was unacceptable. We’re old festival goers, we know the score and will always bring our own paper/wipes and so on, but to have most of the VIP toilets (which were just portable toilets anyway) with no toilet paper in the morning was extremely poor. That, and the state some of them were in. Hardly a VIP experience.

By contrast, the VIP bar area was fantastic. We absolutely loved the covered tent area and mass of seating available. At night, the lights looked so nice and the vibe in there was chilled and relaxed. The bar staff were extremely friendly, a little slow at times, but that’s just us being spoiled by the speed and efficiency of Bloodstock’s Serpent Lair bar.

It’s another comparison to Bloodstock but this time in favour of ArcTanGent. We’re talking about the VIP goodie bag which was a branded tote-bag, a quality t-shirt, and a free glass of bubbly. A nice touch, even if a wasp landed in one of our drinks ruining it.

From the VIP ‘lounge’ area, it’s a very short walk into the arena where a myriad of food stalls, a handful of shops, and all the stages can be found. We were impressed by the signage pointing out where each stage was and the boards that were updated to show short-notice band changes. We were also impressed by each stage being covered, but with both sides open to allow easy access in and out. Although several having big ass pillars in the middle of the front of the stage was… something.

What else? Most of the food stalls served up good food at reasonable (festival reasonable) prices and the main bars were quick and efficient. There seemed to be enough toilets around the place and plenty of security about to make things feel safer.

So, let’s talk bands and we have plenty of say, starting with who we saw on the Wednesday of the festival. This, being a shorter and one stage focused day (ala Bloodstock’s Thursday but with more bands on). First up, we watched Five the Hierophant. An avant-garde, atmospheric, post-black and doom band that were quite watchable but took a little while to get into their stride. When they got there, it was pretty damn good.

Talking about being pretty damn good though, having been unable to see them at Bloodstock, Skin Failure was a must watch for us and they did not disappoint. Bundles of manic energy, intensity and progressive thrashcore noise. This sated our thirst for fast and heavy music, really helping us feel at home within ArcTanGent.

The quality continued as Pupil Slicer were up next for us and they were (once again) a revelation. This being the first time we’ve seen them since their latest album Blossom came out, it was great to hear plenty of songs from it performed live. They give it their all on stage every time we’ve seen them, and this was no different. We can never have enough Pupil Slicer and it was one of our favourite sets of the weekend.

Which also applies to the next band we saw, the ever-mighty and lovable Conjurer. A band that never fails to get our hearts pounding and our heads banging. Although bassist Conor Marshall puts every single one us to shame with his rubber-neck.

Again, Conjurer we’re immense and it’s stunning to see how much of a well-oiled machine they have become live, reflecting the progression they have had on record. It’s one of those shows where had they played for another hour, we’d have been happy as it really is over far too soon. They also should have headlined the day in our opinion, especially when we wandered over to see Scalping, a band we knew nothing about.

Two songs later, we walked back to the bar. A techno-metal band, with emphasis on the techno it seems, we thought we had wandered into a rave. Fine, if that’s your jam, but it wasn’t ours.

Thursday morning started bright and early as we bore witness to the blackened hardcore/metalcore noise that Grief Ritual brought to the PX3 stage. The perfect way to start the morning off, before our souls wept through the immense instrumental emotional power of Din of Celestial Birds on the Bixler stage. The two bands couldn’t be more different but share something really important in common and that is how much feeling is in their music. They were two of our most anticipated bands of the festival and they both delivered.

Over to the Arc stage, the main stage of the festival, to see more instrumental music albeit from a prog standpoint, it’s Mountain Caller. The three-piece look a little lost on the big stage at first but really grow in confidence as the crowd laps up everything they are doing. They sound great and seem to be really enjoying themselves too.

After a little break to recharge, we got ourselves back over to the Bixler stage and right to the front for the revelatory noise that Wallowing bring. It’s no secret that we have had a lot of good things to say about this band and while nothing is going to top when we saw them at the New Cross Inn, there is nothing wrong with this ArcTanGent showing either. As wild, abrasive, and musically tight as always. They are a mesmerising watch once again, even if they leave everyone with some ringing in their ears. It’s the Wallowing way and we can’t wait until the next time we see them live.

Back to the Arc stage for another hotly anticipated band, the black metal carnage creators Wiegedood. A potent force on record, and this being the first time seeing them live, we hoped for the same in person. Which we’re happy to report was the case. With such a variety in bands seen so far today, it was refreshing to hear something so ‘simple’ when it comes to black metal and heads were well and truly banged here.

Now, we did plan to go and see Svalbard at the Yohkai stage but upon approach, it looked so packed we didn’t think we could squeeze in. We would learn later that night, that folks had a habit of gathering at the entrances and making certain stages seem fuller than they were. Once you get through the initial throng, we’d often find the inside with plenty of room. Although we doubt that was the case for Svalbard as they are a great band.

No matter though, we had some banging fish finger sandwiches, a nice chat with the band Silen, a few more drinks, and then a nap. It turns out that we’re getting old.

However, once awake, we were ready to go again! Piling up with some more drink before heading off to see Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, aka Pigs x7 at the Yohkai stage. A curious watch, the stoner metal band are on top form but something isn’t clicking for one of us, so we separated after a while, one finishing up with Pigs x7 and the other going to see Yourcodenameis:milo on the Bixler stage.

Before we talk about that though, here’s the Pigs x7 fan’s review:

They were a real treat – reminded me of Red Fang and that sludgy groove. The front man is so goddamn energetic it’s hard to take your eyes off him – leaping and moving barefoot all over the stage! You get immersed in it and it’s hypnotic. They really had the crowd moving!

Yourcodenameis:milo was also a curiosity watch, having heard of them but not really knowing anything by them. They were a real surprise, not THE surprise of the festival, but up there. Their alternative and experimental rock/post-hardcore sound is anthemic as hell and they deliver a really tight set.

We considered watching a bit of the headliner Converge before heading off to see our headliner, but decided it wasn’t worth squeezing into the packed Arc tent for a handful of songs. Instead, we decided to check out a bit of I Built the Sky on the PX3 stage. As we approached, we got the distinct sound of rave music, but this is ArcTanGent so no worries. Then we got inside and saw who we believed was I Built the Sky. It wasn’t for us, so we headed off to grab a drink in anticipation for the band that would follow on the PX3 stage.

Now, we would find out the next day that who we heard wasn’t actually I Built the Sky. That is an instrumental progressive rock and metal band, but they had been replaced at the last minute by Straight Girl. A solo artist who is described on their Bandcamp as a ‘grave rave succubus’.

Each to our own, we hope those who watched had a blast because we sure did with Sugar Horse afterwards. A band that defies expectations, creating moments of genuine emotion and crushing heaviness in equal measures. Opening the set with Phil Spector in Hell had the tears flowing and from there, it was immense track after immense track. The band ending their ‘far to short’ set with a long new track that sounded phenomenal.

We haven’t mentioned it yet, but ArcTanGent really shuts down after the bands all finish at 11. Where the only entertainment available in the arena is a Silent Disco at one the stages, and almost all the food places close. The latter is extremely annoying, the former is all about taste. We didn’t partake, but many people did. Watching the sea of lit-up headphones and hearing a chorus of voices singing along to My Chemical Romance was very cool. At least until we wanted to sleep. Did we mention that the VIP campsite is really close to the arena?

On to Friday and what was our last day at the festival, although we didn’t plan it that way. We began the day by checking out Hidden Mothers on the PX3 who delivered some egregious blackened ‘core noise to knock any cobwebs out of the head. Before the doom heaviness of Witchsorrow on the Yohkai stage had us wondering if they had sneaked in and ArcTanGent had just decided to let them stay and play. Not because they were bad or anything, they were good, but their no-frills and non-pretentious approach was so… different to the overall festival make-up.

From that, it was over to the Arc stage for something really different with Curse These Metal Hands, something that ended up being one of the best shows of the festival. Made up of members of Conjurer and Pijn, you know you’re in for a good time when they come out to a supercut of the different band name suggestions Jez and Super-Hans had in Peep Show and wearing t-shirts that parody a famous butter but with the words ‘I can’t believe it’s not Baroness’.

We’re sure Baroness would be all in on the joke, although Curse These Metal Hands flirt dangerously close with getting a ‘cease a desist’ letter with their sound at times. It’s one of those great shows that will have many saying “where you there when…”

Following that and feeling extremely buoyed, we checked out the instrumental post rock/metal band Spurv on the Bixler stage, and came away thoroughly impressed. Having to shake off the hypnotising aura the band put on us so we could get to the Yohkai stage for ‘68. A band we knew next to nothing about and the best band we saw of the entire weekend.

Yep, there it is. ’68 were amazing. A noise rock duo, the aesthetic of the band is so pleasing to the eye and the sound they make is so addictive. It is an energising and immerse watch, where even a broken string on the guitar in the first 30 seconds can’t stop this being a stunner of a set. We were so impressed, wondering how we had lived our lives not knowing this band before and immediately booking tickets to see them in London upon return.

It does mean Holy Fawn on the Arc stage kind of struggle, but not through any fault of their own. Their rocking shoegaze sound is delightful, it’s just hard to stop thinking about how great ’68 were before.

What we needed was a band to blast the ’68 out of us and happily, the black metal intensity of Dawn Ray’d did the job. We also figured Liturgy would be a good follow-up too, seeing as they are a black metal band as well but something wasn’t clicking here. We ended up leaving it early, checking out a little bit of Petbrick on the Bixler stage, who were so heavy on the electronica, it was off-putting.

Before we went over to the Arc stage to check out the instrumental rock sound of And So I Watch You from Afar. A band that seems to have been around forever without really making an impact on us, they left a dent here with an exhilarating showcase of music.

After some food, it was time to have our faces blasted off and our brains turned to mulch with the carnage Helpless create. A task they easily achieved on the PX3 stage. It was awesome to see them get such a big turnout too.

As the night was coming to a close, we decided to watch half of Sikth and half of Enslaved as they clashed completely. Staying at the Yohkai for the former, who failed to spark with us. The progressive metal band just sounded off. We would blame the stage sound but it had been pretty tight for every other band we had seen there. Whereas blackened progressive noise of Enslaved on the Bixler was so on point. They never disappoint and this show was no different.

Right, headliner time and it’s the experimental folk music band Heilung in the ArcTanGent. A curious band that seems to have crafted a huge following based on imagery, alongside their musical abilities. For us, a duo attending ArcTanGent, we were really split on this. One was super-hot for them; another was willing to give it a go but had eyes on other stages if it wasn’t clicking.

Which is exactly what happened. They might have an immersive and impressive stage show but their music isn’t for everyone. So, once again, here is the Heilung fan’s thoughts:

Whilst the thought of Heilung at such a festival may have been strange at first after seeing them, they were perfect choice. The whole set was a sense of community which I felt at Arctangent. From the opening ceremony that drew you in, Heilung were mesmerising. Fire, traditional instruments, rituals, lights that beat with every pounding of the drums and just haunting vocals. They ended by blessing their family with sage and then turned to us to whisper thank you – no Heilung thank you for such an experience.

Whereas queercore heavyweights Death Goals were playing to a packed crowd who also had little interest in Heilung’s music on the PX3 stage. Before the sonic savagery of LLNN on the PX3 ended the night on a high.

Which is where we end this review. A storm had picked up, the rain was falling and the wind was howling. We made our way back to our tent, to find it being battered by the wind, watching in amusement, and some amount of horror, as a middle pole broke. Seemingly had enough after two previous outings at Bloodstock in 2022 and 2023.

We can’t say when we will be back at ArcTanGent for the reasons set out at the start of this review but we certainly look forward to coming back as soon as possible!