666 : Damnation 2026 Headliners Announced!
Expectation inevitably results in disappointment. How many times has an event promised you the greatest lineup ever, only to then present you with a couple of reunions nobody wanted, three outfits with only the original drummer left and their mates' brother's band? It is very easy to talk up your ambition, it is more difficult to land something that fulfils those words. Damnation Festival has made cutting through the bullshit its USP. It doesn't want to be another event with an expensive headliner and a makeshift “that will do” undercard. The mission from day one has been to curate a day (well, now two days) of metal that offers variety, ingenuity and value for money. If there is a business model at play, it is to be authentic and dependable. Rewarding the loyalty of its fan base by simultaneously giving the people what they want and also challenging their musical palates.
When organiser, Svengali and self-styled only genuine geezer left in the industry, Gavin McInally started talking up the upper echelons of this year’s Damnation, we knew that we should be believing the hype. Years of consistent, solid bookings have taught us that when Gavin gets excited about the rabbits that he has pulled from the hat, there is a legitimate reason to be excited. A poster with six blanked out names circulated, as the anticipation swirled and a universal guessing game began. Even those of us who had fingers burned by underwhelming reveals wanted to believe and come midday on the 2nd April our Gavin indeed proved that he had put his money where his mouth is. Cult Of Luna, Satyricon, Igorr, Crowbar, Carcass and Triptykon will all strut out at the Bec Arena this November. It signals a significant step up for the festival, with only Carcass and Cult of Lunahaving graced us with their presence before. In fact, as the obligatory press release proclaims, all six of these acts could be bona fide headliners. It is a massive signal of strength, a veritable feast of riches that backs up the assertion that Damnation is now Europe’s biggest and best indoor metal festival.
It also showcases the variety that Damnation is now able to offer. You will be hard pressed to find any extreme metal devotees that aren’t head over heels in love with at least one of the six new additions. For the post-metal lovers, there is essentially the post-metal band in the shape of Swedish legends Cult of Luna. For those into the Nordic dark arts, there is Norwegian Black Metal legendsSatyricon. For the students of the avant-garde and downright weird, we have the inexplicable and undefinable Igorrr. Those wanting doom-laden scuzzy riffs, then Crowbar are there for all your slow, penetrating needs. Those who worship at the altar of Death Metal need look no further than scene architects Carcass. And giving new meaning to the phrase last but not least, the final piece of the jigsaw is the latest incarnation of veritable living legend Tom G. Warrior, Triptykon. As Russell Crowe once screamed, “Are you not entertained?”
This is quite possibly alone the greatest line anyone has simultaneously tried to shove on a stage anywhere in this country. And that is before you look at the already booked Wolves In the Throne Room, Walls Of Jericho, Health and Mol. Gavin has kept up his end of the bargain and delivered quite possibly the greatest two of days of metal ever. We now need to keep ours and sell this bugger out. For those who love or even are friends with benefits with extreme metal, this is a no-brainer. If you already have a ticket, then bravo, you got in before the rush. But if you haven’t, there is only one place to go https://www.damnationfestival.co.uk/tickets . You can even spread the cost over five months so you can witness the greatest two days in metal ever and still eat this month. Come on, press that button now…. You wont regret it.
