By Jase Walker
One of my absolute favourite festivals has rolled around again and despite living in another country now, it’s been a pretty easy ride getting here compared to living in Manchester.
Unfortunately I’ve arrived and set up a bit later than intended so I’ve missed some Wednesday acts I was keen for but I’m here for the two main acts I wanted to see; Conjurer and Scalping.
Conjurer starts while I’m off at the bar but as I return I’m greeted by hair windmilling, blast beats and screaming, perfect. The flashing lights against a solid crimson red lighting sets the mood just right as I see the crowd down the front going berserk, ArcTanGent has truly started for me in earnest. The day has steadily darkened, just enough for the stage lighting to grow more intense as it moves towards the crowd becoming silhouettes and vague shapes rather than a sea of heads.
Overall Conjurer’s set isn’t exactly focused on fast blast beats and double bass pedal work (with some exceptions) but they make up for it with slow, inexorable riffs that drag their lumbering noise in a way that results in explosive power. Maybe not always the ones to cause fast and frantic circle pits, but definitely ones to lose yourself inside the overwhelming cacophony of noise that they put out. The sheer force that Conjurer projects throughout their set, there’s seldom a head that isn’t flinging itself down with each pounding hit. On the whole, a fantastic act for me to start off my ArcTanGent weekend with, and up next is a big one for me, Scalping.
After a slight delay, Scalping finally starts and the video backing they roll with starts with a distorted face as their bassy, techno-esque sound booms throughout the tent. The lack of lighting focus on the band in favour of their hypnotic videos and constant strobes has now turned ArcTanGent into a full on race. An incredibly unique experience in terms of sound, something that really scratches the itch for metalheads into the weirder side of things. A mix of atmospheric strings and bass heavy wubs, were not in Kansas anymore with Scalping, we’ve disappeared into some sort of relentless throbbing world of sound interspersed with discordant noise.
After a bit of searching I’ve finally linked up with some friends who are clearly as buzzing off this set as I am and seeing them go mental as well honestly is a joyful moment. Almost seamlessly they burn through each track of the set, each with its own thunderous rhythm and hook, barely any chance for breath as they go. At this point I’ve just lost myself in the euphoria of it all and danced the evening away, a fantastic first day at ArcTanGent.
- PHOTO CREDIT: Photos courtesy of Derek Bremner and snaprockandpop. All copyright remains with the photographers.
- All content © Über Rock. Not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of Über Rock.