RADAR FESTIVAL | DAY 1 REVIEW
All the excitement and highlights from Friday's performances
A week ago, the award-winning RADAR Festival opened its doors to embrace 4000 passionate progressive metal enthusiasts for an epic experience at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse.
With Friday’s lineup boasting the likes of Shattered Skies, Forager, AA Williams, Haken, Aviana, Monuments, Sleep Token and more, the stage was set for a weekend of progressive metal madness.
As the pulsating rhythms and thunderous riffs filled the air, the stage was set for an exhilarating weekend of musical brilliance. Relive some of the highlights that left fans sweaty, exhilarated and overjoyed as I delve into the electrifying performances that made Friday an unmissable treat for any metal lover.
First to grace the main stage were Greek quintet, Playgrounded, whose sophomore album The Death of Death, is a short but mesmerising fusion of metal and electronica. With their down-tuned guitars, they delivered an opening performance that was haunting yet hypnotic.
Against a backdrop of red lights, just like their album cover, vocalist Stavros Markonis drew us in with melodies perfectly suited to the Warehouse's rustic vibe. As he let down his waist-length hair and sung the opening lines of 'The Swan,' it was hard not to get lost in his bewitching vocals.
They managed to strike the perfect balance between performing their outwardly broody songs live while maintaining the carefully curated layers of synths, vocals, and guitar from their recordings. The live performance retained the album's dramatic flair without going over the top.
However, they knew how to pick up the tempo when it mattered, showcasing their ability to build up momentum with tracks like 'A Road out of the Flood,' a standout from their latest album. Stavros' heartfelt cries to the crowd, 'Where is my sun? Where is my joy?' demonstrated the emotional depth of their music, which seamlessly blended with the rest of the arrangement.
Throughout the set, Stavros only spoke briefly to thank the audience for showing up early. Being the first act is never easy, but Playgrounded's performance provided a beautiful introduction to the rest of the 3-day RADAR festival.
For the second year in a row, the Manchester-born band Forager returned to RADAR, fully prepared to ignite the party. Fresh off the release of their thrilling 6-track EP WHO WANTS IT, just a week prior, Forager brought an explosive surge of energy to the festival's second stage.
A hot topic of the weekend, the lively Grunge Punk band were ready to prove they belonged on the line up. Within two songs, frontman Oli Lindop wasted no time, sparking a circle pit in the crowd, effortlessly leaping over the front barrier and then back on stage, all without uttering a single word.
Amidst the chaos, Oli shouts, “WHO WANTS IT? I guess we’ll find out!” referring to their new EP. With that declaration, the set blazed on with furious riffs and Oli's hellish vocals, urging the crowd to draw in closer, making room for the people spilling into the corridors.
In a momentary shift of energy, the band introduced their single 'Converse.' Featured on their new EP, the song revealed a surprising switch of tune, an essence of early 2000s nu-metal or modern pop-punk. Though equally fast-paced, 'Converse' provided Oli with an opportunity to showcase more of his vocal capability. And his encouragement to the to crowd jump up and down, it allowed them a brief respite before the set riled up again.
The performance may have been short, but it left a memorable impression, clearly indicating that Forager are only just scratching the surface of their potential. Their readiness to unleash the rage wherever they go was evident and it left the crowd eager to witness what lies ahead for this dynamic band.
Making their highly anticipated debut in the UK, the newly formed duo Floya, comprising of Phil Bayer and Marv Wilder, graced the stage at the indoor festival and delivered one of the most colourful sets of the weekend. Amidst RADAR's lineup of progressive metal acts, Floya's music found its place on the softer end of the spectrum, hoping to captivate the crowd with their new sound.
With only six singles released, fans had no fear of missing out on their favourites. The performance began with the enchanting "The Hymn," with Phil's incredible vocals resounding through the room, easily ranking among the cleanest of the weekend.
Phil and Marv's dynamic energy was infectious, encouraging the crowd to dance and jump in unison as they performed ‘Weaver’ and ‘Willow’. The two kept the energy high, complementing each other's performances, evident from the grins on their faces, that they were enjoying themselves as much as the crowd.
In the latter half of the set, Phil asked the crowd to, “put those flashlights up”. Although a typical staple of most gigs, it acted almost as a nod to the EDM scene that has influenced their newest works and works to come. Expectedly, as the duo started ‘Epiphany’, the room lit up with a mass of torches, creating a wave of light from the front to the back of the room.
As the set neared its end, Phil proclaimed, "We have two more songs together, let's amp up the energy again." This led to the lyrically beautiful ‘Florescent’, which initially elicited a sense of stillness with Phil's poignant vocals singing, "When you feel like falling again, I promise I will do all that I can," the crowd unsure when it was going to amp up again. But as the drums rolled in and the fluorescent stage sign illuminated, the room erupted back into the vibrant energy that filtered through the entire set.
Floya’s purposely songwriting, designed to make people “dance and cry ” was undoubtedly validated by their lively performance. Floya's reception at RADAR solidified their new musical direction. Bursting with life, colour, and pure euphoric energy, it set the stage for a promising journey ahead.
Making their first and only UK appearance this year, the hardcore Scandinavians, Aviana, left a distinctive mark on the second stage, setting the bar high for the rest of the weekend.
Naturally, the frenzied crowd erupted as the band kicked off their intense set with the song 'Rage.' It was an explosion of heavy metal power and it wasn’t long before people were being propped up and propelled towards the stage.
The set primarily featured songs from their latest album, Cooperation, or as frontman Joel Holmqvist frames it, a "collection of singles." Each track hit with brutal intensity, as Joel’s growls tore through the air, commanding the stage.
Joined by his bandmates, known only as Death, Fear, and Dark, dressed in black from head to toe and sporting Darth Vader-like masks, the enigmatic trio matched Joel's energy, adding to the mystique that surrounded the performance.
As the set reached its climax with the roaring vocals of 'Obsession,' the crowd joined in, screaming along to the lyrics, "I am trapped in my own misguided world, I stayed with the snakes for the longest time." It was a cathartic release of energy, a perfect culmination of Aviana’s heavy metal mastery.
Aviana's electrifying performance reinforced their position as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy metal scene. It left fans craving more and eagerly awaiting what Joel will come up with next, serving as a testament to the new album and new era.
Ever since the release of their 80-minute epic Aquarius in 2010, Haken has earned a well-respected reputation in the progressive metal world, amassing a large and devoted following.
As a hoard of people made their way to the main stage on Friday night, eager to welcome the London-based six-piece, the excitement was palpable. Decked out in tropical shirts as a nod to their new album Fauna, released in March of this year, the band kicked off their set with the expected choice of 'Taurus' - the opening track from their latest release.
However, they swiftly surprised the crowd when vocalist Ross Jennings dedicated the set to their third album, The Mountain. An album that attested to Haken's status as one of the most talented prog bands in the genre. In a special celebration of its ten-year anniversary, the crowd was treated to an array of gems including 'Atlas Stone,' 'In Memoriam,' 'Cockroach King,' and 'Pareidolia.'
After the excitement of The Mountain, they continued their set with ‘Invasion’ and ‘Prosthetic’. Throughout Haken continued to showcase their excellence as musicians both individually and collectively, impressively delivering their unique and animated music with a seemingly flawless live performance.
As they closed on ‘Sempiternal Beings’ fans around me enthusiastically played their own invisible instruments - strumming imaginary guitars, tapping away at unseen keyboards, and drumming along in sync with the band. It was a fun and entertaining performance that ignited the crowd’s passion and creativity.
“It’s so good to be back in the UK!” shouts vocalist, Andy Cizek.
Shoulder to shoulder, the crowd gathered at the second stage ready for Monuments to see out the first day of RADAR festival. In the confined space the crowd eagerly awaited the heavy metal onslaught that was about to ensue, some having dipped out of earlier sets to get a good (as possible) spot near the front.
As the first chords of ‘Cardinal Red’ pierced through the air, the room erupted into chaotic energy. Monuments, had taken the stage, and it was clear they meant business. Although it was expected, Andy's vocals were in a league of their own, from the moment he stepped up to the mic his immense range bounded around the room.
Throughout the performance, the band engaged with the crowd, stoking the flames of mayhem. Andy's rallying cry of, "I hope you're angry cos I wanna see some goddamn rage out there," set the tone for the fiery intensity that followed as they launched into the song ‘Opiate’.
The setlist included their new song ‘Nefarious’ which the crowd proudly embraced, showing their appreciation for the band’s' continuous evolution. As the night drew to a close, Monuments unleashed ‘Lavos’ and left the crowd exhilarated, a sea of sweat-soaked fans yearning for more. The room erupted with chants for an encore, demanding one more song.
Andy returned to the stage, fueling the anticipation by shouting, "You want one more? This one's the song that introduced me to Monuments - it's called 'I, the Creator.'"
The only disappointment was the fact they weren’t on the main stage. Given the high demand and the relentless velocity of the mosh pits, it was clear that the band would have benefited from a bigger platform to fully embrace the electrifying atmosphere they created.
But, in the end, it didn't matter. The band had delivered a thrilling performance of raw talent that transformed the indoor festival into a brutal moshing haven. It was a testament to their growing fandom in the UK and their powerful presence as a heavy metal force.
The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived – the most anticipated set of the weekend. As the masked collective of Sleep Token took the stage, the crowd’s excitement was uncontrollable, with die-hard fans at the front even dressed as the enigmatic Vessel, embodying the mysterious spirit of the band.
Despite being on the festival lineup since last year, Sleep Token's rise to fame in the past eight months, driven by their latest album Take Me Back To Eden, is undeniable. Their upcoming show at Wembley had sold out in a mere 10 minutes, solid confirmation of their growing popularity. And now, they were gracing RADAR’s main stage.
The set kicked off with the powerful 'Chokehold,' the first single released earlier in the year, giving the crowd a taste of what was to come. Followed closely by the transcendent journey of 'The Summoning’. The six-minute song was made to be played live as it goes from pure metal, to metal core, to clean vocals, rhythmic guitar. It has it all, and performed live it had the audience spellbound and taken to another realm.
Throughout the performance, Sleep Token's captivating presence held the crowd in awe. The choruses of their songs were sung back to them, creating an immersive choir-like atmosphere (alongside the actual choir). There were no elaborate theatrics or distractions; the focus was on the music.
The set flowed seamlessly, with songs from Take Me Back To Eden beautifully interwoven with older hits like 'Hypnosis,' 'Alkaline,' and 'Nazareth,' ensuring an unforgettable and mesmerising experience.
The standout moment came when Vessel took centre stage with a passionate solo performance of 'Atlantic,' showcasing his undeniable talent and emotional intensity. The crowd was transfixed, hanging onto every note.
As the hour and a half set progressed, the magic only intensified, culminating in the powerful finale with 'Higher.' The energy didn't falter during the encore, which featured 'The Night Does Not Belong To God' and 'The Offering,' setting off a fierce mosh pit.
Sleep Token's headlining performance at the RADAR was nothing short of what was expected of them. Their production is so clean on record, that it has to somewhat be replicated to be just as clean live, and they didn’t disappoint. It proved why they are one of the most intriguing and revered acts in the progressive metal world right now. Their enigmatic allure and musical prowess were on full display, and made it a night that will be remembered long after the lights dimmed.