Fortress Festival – Day 2
Fortress Festival (Day Two)
Scarbrough Spa, North Yorkshire
02/06/2024
Live Review by Oli Gonzalez
June 2nd. Sunday morning. The coast of Scarborough is baking in glorious sunshine. I sit on a bench overlooking the coast, devouring my much needed breakfast. This here in Scarborough is much better than being in a crowded city centre or muddy field in the arse end of nowhere for other festivals. The headline act for next year has already been announced, a European exclusive! It’s a big one!
I converse with some locals and I tell them about the festival. “Oh heavy metal, a bit like Ozzy Osbourne?” I’m asked. Not quite.
I arrive at the venue. Some day-ticket holders are fresh, others are nursing their hangovers from the previous day. It’s almost time for the day’s opening act over at the main stage.
Ante Inferno
It’s 12pm. The mainstage is busy. Ante Inferno are up and feature festival organiser behind the drum kit. After all, if you’ve curated a lineup of this calibre, you’re entitled to place your band on it. Though their quality has earned them similar slots on Incineration, Samhain, and other festivals! You’ll find yourself engrossed in their raw atmospherics, memorised by the hypnotic grooves and underlying rhythms that pierce your subconscious. There’s a subtle underlying melodic quality which is irresistible. All of this gives Ante Inferno a unique spin on the black metal genre. A solid opening set indeed, made even more special by a guest vocal appearance from Abduction’s ‘AV’!
Thy Light
Introspective metal. Metal that makes you get into touch with your emotions. Darker and disturbing emotions that only the music of Thy Light can make you reach.
There’s many talented vocalists in black metal. Not many can compare to those primitive gasps of agony wailing from the depths of vocalist Paolo’s soul! The music is sombre, austere, and drenched in raw human emotion. Whilst the band may have been a little liberal with the old smoke machine, there was no escaping the spine shivering emotional edge of this performance.
Vemod
When you think of Norwegian black metal, one normally thinks of the corpse paint and numerous references to Satan. Vemod are different. VERY different. With all members sporting an image more like that of a business casual attire, their sound was a welcome melodic progressive twist on the genre. Almost lounge-like at times, I found it to be oddly relaxing and soothing. I was happy to absorb the more aesthetically pleasing vibe rather than having my senses crushed again.
Furia
A mystery shrouded in an enigma. How a band can conjure up such a huge following and land impressive festival slots with almost zero social media presence in this day and age is incredible. Once I saw them live though, there was no mystery! They were a force. Their sound pristine and dynamic, they had the stage presence of superstars! Mixing thrashened black metal with occasion sprinkles jazz infused bass lines and even psychedelic elements, it was a very fun set and unexpected delight. One I would never have discovered if not for the Fortress Festival.
Gaerea
A custom LED back drop, dramatic walk on, everything was engineered to make the Portuguese act seem like superstars…and they are! They’ve hit the black metal scene like a runaway freight train and are ascending to the very top. I thought this would be good but not this good! Embracing the best of modern technology, their sound was smooth and crisp, perfectly mixed with no issues of overpowering bass or backing tracks that had plagued others. Their energy and flamboyance on stage is infectious, making full use of their wireless set up, running around that stage like headless chickens. Their energy rubbed off onto the crowd as we had our first pits of the day in the main room.All that flamboyance almost cost dearly though, as the bands vocalist dropped the mic during a crucial section of Mirage and was clearly unable to recover. The only blemish on what was a flawless set!
Blackbraid
The hotly anticipated UK debut. Spearheaded by mastermind Sgah’gahsowáh, he had been seen posing for photos for most of the day at the venue with them going seemingly viral on social media whilst the queue for the merch stand was spiralling along the corridor. This sums up how big a deal this was!
They wasted no time powering straight into the juggernaut that is ‘The Spirit Returns’. The place was packed long before the band’s first note. Now it’s at a fever pitch.
In a world of corpse paint and hooded cloaks, the Native American inspired stage attire and visual iconography offers a fresh visual stimulus, setting the band apart.
Whilst fierce and uncompromising in parts, some technical issues couldn’t be ignored. The bass drum disappeared at one point while Sgah’gahsowáh pipe solo was inaudible. With this being said, it was a ferocious set that commanded instant respect. Whilst I hadn’t listened to Blackbraid much, I endeavour to conduct a much deeper dive into what is seemingly an impressive discography.
Wolves In The Throne Room
A bittersweet moment. The excitement is undeniable as juggernauts Wolves In The Throne and the final act of Fortress are about to take to the stage. This is also sad as the final act of Fortress are about to take to the stage. We don’t want this to end. What a way to end though, with a legendary “Two Hunters” album set! What a flawless album set too! The stage is lit with multiple candles, offering a warm and welcoming glow, with the backdrop a work of art! This is sharply juxtaposed with a sound that is soaked in unquestionable intensity and ferocity! Just ask anybody who was furiously headbanging and wildly throwing their hands in the air during ‘Vastness and Sorrow’. Yet there’s a wonderful aesthetic and cinematic quality in the calmer more ambient sections, especially during ‘Dia Artio’. The final song of the album ends, and the band walk off stage. Then, that’s it…until they return and continue to play an extended outro that goes on long into the night! Could the end of Fortress end in a better way?
Final thoughts
Some may point to the confusion surrounding the venue layout. Others to the size of The Ocean Room and the one way system to the court yard. The sound in the main room could have been better for some bands. Was there enough food options for those in attendance?
All issues that are very much fixable and expected in some ways for what is very much a young festival. A young festival that has made an incredible statement!
This has genuinely brought people from all across the UK, Europe, and as far as North America. Think what this has done for independent local restaurants, hotels, bars and the local economy as a whole. For me (and many others) this has introduced me to a whole new world of extreme music.
As a guy with back problems, I found the balcony seating to be a life saver. Additionally, if you needed a break, you’re only a few metres walk from the quieter sea front and the town centre being only a little further. A wonderful location with the benefits far outweighing a little bit of confusion over the layout (just put some maps up to solve this).
Reaper Agency should be nominated for awards not just for this weekend but also for other festivals such as Scarborough Punk Festival, and their contribution to the local arts scene.
It’s Monday morning. I’m on a very long and boring coach ride back to Manchester. The post festival blues are going to hit hard! But my ticket is already secured for next year and listening to the announced headline act in my headphones puts a smile on my face.
Promoter:
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