Festival Preview: ArcTanGent 2025

The ArcTanGent Festival has earned a reputation for celebrating innovative and genre-defying music, often shining a spotlight on underground and experimental sounds like post-rock, math-rock, progressive metal, and noise. Its 2025 edition looks set to uphold that legacy, with Fernhill Farm once again hosting four days packed with boundary-pushing performances from a diverse array of influential and rising artists.

Just a glance at this year’s four headliners shows the breadth and ambition of ATG’s lineup. Atmospheric Nordic folk ensemble Wardruna will exclusively headline the main stage on Wednesday, bringing their immersive sound to the festival’s early arrivals. On Thursday, post-rock pioneers Godspeed You! Black Emperor take centre stage, promising a transcendent live experience from one of the genre’s most revered acts. Friday sees the long-awaited ATG debut of Australian progressive rock titans Karnivool, before UK prog-metal heavyweights TesseracT close out the weekend on Saturday with a powerful finale.

Across the four stages, ArcTanGent 2025 offers a wealth of sonic discovery. Post-hardcore fans can look forward to sets from the likes of The Fall of Troy, As Living Arrows, Boneflower, EYES, and Frontierer. For those who prefer doom and sludge, expect crushing performances from Green Lung, Kylesa, and Swamp Coffin. As always, post-rock remains at the festival’s core, with sets from genre stalwarts God Is An Astronaut, Pelican, Lost in Kiev, and Mt. Onsra among the highlights.

But that’s just scratching the surface. Expect seismic noise from legends Melvins, haunting industrial textures from TAYNE, swirling psychedelia via Slift, angular post-punk from Thank, and cosmic space rock from MEW. The lineup also includes avant-garde via the likes of Kayo Dot, electronic adventurers Teeth of the Sea, darkwave artist GOST, prog-metal favourites Leprous, jazz-fusion creators Hexcut, and black metal outfit Underdark. Ultimately, proving once again that ATG is a home for the bold and the unconventional.

With ArcTanGent 2025 fast approaching, we’ve selected 13 must-see bands from this year’s lineup, plus a handful of honourable mentions, to help guide you through one of the UK’s most exciting and eclectic festivals.

Rolo Tomassi

With this being their sixth time at ArcTanGent, Rolo Tomassi‘s blend of mathcore, post-hardcore, with electronic flourishes is always welcomed at ATG.

However, this time they will be making it extra special. On Friday evening, they will be marking their 20th anniversary as a band with a career-spanning set. The combination of being a long-time festival favourite and a deep back catalogue to delve in to means it’s sure to be a highlight of the weekend. Furthermore, keyboardist James Spence told the ‘Two Promoters One Podcast,’ a portion of the set will see them joined by a string quartet. This will truly be special.

Where & When: Main Stage, Saturday @ 5.55pm

We Lost The Sea

Australia’s We Lost The Sea have grown a cult following within post-rock circles. While this might be their first time at ATG, they’re making the most of it with two sets. First, on Thursday afternoon, they’ll be showcasing their emotionally devastating brand of post-rock. We’re guessing music from the recently released ‘A Single Flower’ will be the focal point of this 45-minute set.

However, it’s their Friday evening set that is sure to be a highlight for many attendees. In the intimacy of the Bixler tent, We Lost The Sea will be performing 2015’s ”Departure Songs’ in full. Drenched in sadness, loss, and failure, it’s considered a modern post-rock classic. Setting the foundation for WLTS‘ therapeutic storytelling, it’s sure to captivate ATG festival-goers. Even if they’re having to choose between We Lost The Sea and Between The Buried & Me performing ‘Colors’.

Where & When: Main Stage, Thursday @ 2:30pm and Bixler, Friday @ 6:30pm (Performing ‘Departure Songs’)

Ithaca

This is the end. After playing their final headline show earlier this year, Ithaca will bow out with one last hurrah at ArcTanGent 2025. The UK-based metalcore quintet are sure not to go quietly with their early Friday afternoon set. With their razor-sharp riffs, melodic edge, and Djamila Boden Azzou’s dynamic and powerful vocals, this will be a celebration of one of the UK’s best underground bands of the past decade. It’s sure to be raw, intense, and probably, emotional.

Where & When: Main Stage, Friday @ 12:20pm

TesseracT

Returning headliners TesseracT have the heavy task of closing the festival on Saturday night. However with a reputation as one of the country’s leading prog metal acts, it’s one they’re sure to take head on.

Bringing closure to the ‘War of Being’ album cycle, the 2023 record proved to be conceptually adventurous yet maintained their technically proficent and cinematic foundation. Daniel Tompkins’ versatile vocals were complemented by a unique atmopheric heaviness. In a live setting, TesseracT are known to be tight, threading in an ethereal aesthetic to the soaring melodies and twisting riffs.

Where & When: Main Stage,  Saturday @ 9:40pm

Sugar Horse

Genre-blending quartet Sugar Horse have carved out a stellar reputation among the ATG faithful. Following the release of last year’s ‘The Grand Scheme of Things’ record, they’ve graduated to the main stage for their fourth Arc outing.

The record saw the Bristol four-piece add emotional depth to their mix of shoegaze, post-rock, doom metal, and experimentation. Aided by an ability to build tension and atmosphere, Sugar Horse weave the line between euphoria and mournful. It results in absorbing sound that is sure to ease the early risers on the final day of ArcTanGent.

Where & When: Main Stage, Saturday @ 11am

Giant Walker

Based out of Newcastle, Giant Walker consider themselves as a “heavy progressive rock band”. However, from listening to last year’s ‘Silhouettes’ album, they’re more than that. Led by Steff Fish’s powerful, and soulful voice, tracks such as ‘Use On You’ and ‘Round and Round We Go’ swell thanks to bold blues riffs.

In comparison to some of the more “unhinged” offerings at ArcTanGent this year, Giant Walker seem pretty tame. Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of big melodies that are merely elevated by equally colossal guitars, then ‘Make Me’ along with the hardened ‘Halcion’ are sure to kickstart your Friday afternoon.

Where & When: Yohkai, Friday @ 12:45pm

The Callous Daoboys

Two years on from making their ATG debut, Atlanta’s The Callous Daoboys return with momentum on their side.

This past May saw the eclectic sextet unleash ‘I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven’ on the world. Rooted in mathcore, it saw TCD keep listeners on their toes with twists and turns aplenty. However, it only scratches the surface of what The Callous Daoboys are like in a live setting. Frenzied, chaotic, and captivating are some of the words that have been used to describe their shows. If you’re preparing to check out their main stage slot on Saturday afternoon, you’ve been warned.

Where & When: Main Stage, Saturday @ 1:20pm

Clown Core

After having to pull out of last year’s event, avant-garde duo Clown Core will finally be heading to Fernhill Farm.

To say Clown Core are unique is probably an understatement. Their cocktail of jazz, death metal, electronic, and industrial is as unpredictable as you’d expect. If anything, they’re sure to feel right at home at ATG.

Their live performances are often said to be improvised, resulting in a compelling soundscape that can take over the senses. Add to that compelling video visuals, and you’re left with what is going to be one of the most surreal sets in ATG history.

Where & When: Main Stage, Saturday @ 7:45pm

Maybeshewill

Maybeshewill are probably one of several bands that don’t need an introduction. From headlining the Yohkai stage in 2013, 2014, and in 2022, the Leicester group will mark their 6th ATG appearance by closing out the stage on Friday night.

Much like Rolo Tomassi, Maybeshewill will be celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band. Having teased a string trio of A.A. Williams, Sophie Green (Her Name Is Calla) and Beni Weedon, it seems Maybeshewill are planning a special set. It’s sure to be one that celebrates their position as one of the UK’s finest instrumental bands.

Their musical foundation of post-rock is often accompanied by flashes of electronica, and post-metal. It allows them to be dynamic, poignant and heavy in equal measure. Meanwhile, programmed samples like those found on ‘He Films the Cloud, Pt 2’ and ‘Not for Want for Trying’ demand crowd participation in a live setting. They’re sure to be a highlight for many ATG attendees.

Where & When: Yohkai, Friday @ 8:40pm

Envy

Japanese outfit Envy finally make their ArcTanGent debut. With a brooding, atmospheric, and heavy sound, they’re sure to be welcomed with open arms.

Having started out in 1992, Envy have honed in on a sound that resonates on emotions such as despair, human connection, and hope. Last year’s ‘Eunoia’ record highlighted their emotional pull, blending spoken word poetry with raging post-hardcore. For every drifting cut like ‘The Night and the Void,’ there is the explosive ‘Lingering Echoes’. Collectively, it earmarked Envy‘s cathartic tendencies, one that is sure to reverberate throughout their main stage set.

Where & When:  Main Stage, Friday @ 3:55pm

Car Bomb

Experimental metallers Car Bomb have some making up to do. After having to unfortunately pull out in 2022 and 2023, the New Yorkers should finally return to ATG after six years away.

As explosive as they are experimental, Car Bomb‘s sound revolves around polyrhythms, shifting tempos, pummelling drums, and roaring vocals. Greg Kubacki’s guitar work can sound like a motor revving its engine, as Michael Dafferner’s guttural vocals add to the disorienting intensity. While Jon Modell’s bass throbs and rumbles alongside Elliot Hoffman’s frenzied drums.

The recently released ‘Tiles Whispers Dreams’ EP saw the quartet deliver their first new music since 2019. It sees them in fire form, returning with three slices of dizzying heavy mathcore, serving as a nice warm up for the chaos they’re sure to bring to ArcTanGent.

Where & When: Main Stage, Friday @ 1:20pm

Nordic Giants (Live Silent Disco Set)

Enigmatic instrumental duo, Nordic Giants, have built a reputation off delivering stunning live performances. Fusing together their cinematic brand of post-rock with thought-provoking short films, they’re simply compelling to watch. However, as they return to ArcTanGent once again, you have to wonder what the pair will do during a live silent disco set?

Nevertheless, with an ability to produce some of post-rock’s most immersive and richly executed sounds, it’s sure to be a late night highlight. The mix of sweeping orchestral textures, and engaging visuals are bound to be an overwhelming attack on the senses.

Where & When: Yohkai, Friday @ 11:10pm

Overhead, The Albatross

Dublin four-piece Overhead, The Albatross are considerably one of the most prominent rising names in post-rock. Last November saw them release ‘I Leave You This.’ Weaving in elements of prog rock, electronica, and math-rock into their post-rock fabric, the record served as an emotional exploration of mortality.

In a live setting, they’re said to be even more immersive, utilising visuals to complement their spellbinding cinematic instrumentation. They may not be the bombastic wake-up call you want on a Friday morning, but you’re sure to be rewarded by OTA‘s delicate pacing and musical ability.

Where & When: Main Stage, Friday @11am

Honourable Mentions

Year of No Light (Yohkai, Wednesday @ 4:45pm)

French experimental metallers Year of No Light make an instant return to ATG. Their ability to build atmosphere through their mix of post-rock, sludge, and ambient is always compelling.

Between The Buried & Me (Yohkai, Friday @ 6:30pm / Main, Saturday @ 4:10pm)

Prog metal specialists Between the Buried and Me will be bringing their unique blend of technical skill, and genre-bending experimentation for two sets. First they’ve 2007’s ‘Colors’ record in full on Friday, before a main stage set the next day.

The Fall of Troy (Main, Thursday @ 3:55pm)

Energetic and technically complex trio The Fall of Troy will be bringing their mix of math rock, progressive rock, and post-hardcore to ATG‘s main stage on Thursday afternoon.

MEW (Main, Friday @ 7:40pm)

As part of their final run of shows, Danish alt-rockers MEW‘s arrival at ATG will be met with joy. Their combination of progressive rock, shoegaze, and dream pop is sure to be eaten up by the ArcTanGent crowd.

Future of the Left (Yohkai, Friday @ 4:45pm)

Future of the Left make a long overdue return to ATG on Friday afternoon. Expect them to be sharp and satirical as ever.

Boneflower (PX3, Saturday @ 2:40pm)

Emerging Spanish post-hardcore trio Boneflower arrive at ATG off the back from releasing their third album, ‘Reveries’. Showcasing a well-balanced mix of screamo and melodic hardcore, it’s a hidden gem of a record. Catch them in the intimate confines of the PX3 stage on Saturday afternoon.

Love Rarely (Yohkai, Saturday @ 11:35pm)

Leeds quintet Love Rarely are been earmarked as ones to watch. Having joined Big Scary Monsters last year, their mix of math rock and emo with screamo blasts make them a perfect for ArcTanGent. Get up early and get on board with this rising group.