Fortress Festival 2025 – Day 2
Fortress Festival 2025 – Day 2
Scarborough Spa, North Yorkshire
Sunday 1st June 2025
Review by Oli Gonzalez
Photography courtesy of Necroshorns
Fortress Festival 2025. Day two. Today would be all about the heart-stopping returns. Agalloch would be returning to the UK for the first time in a decade in their sole European appearance of the year. Though the band for whom the festival was reportedly named after would also be making a return of similar gargantuan stature after seemingly disappearing into the wilderness and never to be seen again; Forteresse. Though there would be more than enough talent lower down the card, with other hotly awaited debuts and exclusive appearances.
We decided to take a scenic walk along the beach to the venue, again, another experience that felt unique to Fortress Festival. Whilst we were excited for the day, I couldn’t help but feel some kind of melancholy knowing that it would all be over in 12 hours or so. We began the second day as we had the first; with a drink and hotdog in the Sun Court. Some were clearly nursing hangovers from the day previous, whilst others were fresh and here only for the day. The queue for the merch stand was understandably immense, though opening the venue earlier to allow this congestion to be eased later seemed like smart planning. We made our way to the main stage, but this time in the safety of the balcony and its seating area. Genuinely, this unreserved plan can offer a lifeline for anybody with back issues (me included) or other problems that may prevent them from lasting the full day. Another selling point for Fortress Festival and the Scarborough Spa. We secured an optimal spot for one of the fastest rising and respected UK black metal acts.
Abduction
Abduction were here to make a statement. A statement for themselves and the UK scene as a whole on what was a UK exclusive playthrough of their most recent album “Existentialismus”. Make no doubt about it, a statement was made; Abduction are fierce, uncompromising, and determined to rise higher in the Extreme Metal world. After today, there’s no doubt they should be climbing higher on festival bills. Conjuring from the most sadistic and darkest realms of Extreme Metal and placing it into one raw and brutal Atmospheric passage ensured that any cobwebs were obliterated and made for a more than suitable introduction to the day.
https://www.facebook.com/abduction616
As promised, one of the headliners for the next year would be announced after Abduction’s set. And that band was Ol…well, more on that later. For then, it was a race to the Ocean Room to ensure a spot for one of my must-sees for the day and the rush of anxiety that came along with it.
Belore
Whilst not being able to secure the best view, I was in a good enough position to make an assessment of Belore’s sound. A sound I really enjoyed! Yes, it felt almost like a folk-fantasy style spin on Black Metal, especially with the deployment of the flute and other woodwind instruments, as well as the gang-style chanted baritone vocals, rich and deep in resonance. After having my senses pounded by Abduction, I was happy with a much slower, more melodic number, though make no mistake, Belore can be fierce when needed, so handle with caution.
https://www.facebook.com/Beloreofficial
Dodsrit
Having withdrawn from last year’s lineup, this was a chance of redemption for many. This, alongside the release of “Nocturnal Will” last year, meant this was a highly anticipated set.
As calming as the acoustic opening was, I wasn’t going to be fooled, as I knew it wouldn’t last long. Perhaps lurking on the outskirts of the Black Metal genre, given their sound that blends elements of Punk, Crust, and Hardcore all in one melodic package, this presented perhaps one of the more aesthetic performances of the day. Though for me, something felt off, especially with the vocals sounding … strange? Muffled, perhaps, and lacking the same clarity that we get on record. The drums were also too heavy at the beginning, but seemed to clear up and level out. This allowed me, from my balcony seat (hey, it’s a marathon, not a sprint), to enjoy the 3 pronged guitar masterclass and the endless supply of catchy riffs in their arsenal. A reasonable UK debut indeed.
https://www.facebook.com/DODSRIT
Autumn Nostalgie
Hailing from Slovakia, it was time for another set I had been looking forward to from a band lurking towards a more lounge and Shoegaze end of the Black Metal spectrum. The bright, salient guitar melodies in ‘Fallen Leaves’ perhaps best sum this up, which featured very early in their set. A set in which the band had to overcome some early technical issues, which led to some querying if the guitars were correctly in tune. This didn’t seem to slow the momentum…until they resurfaced a few songs later, and they became impossible to ignore. Front man and guitarist Gergely left the stage as a result, for some emergency guitar repairs. This was a looooong pause. Too long. This stopped the momentum dead, and some left the Ocean Room as a result. Whilst the band’s drummer took a photo of the crowd to kill time, the band as a whole could have done more. A drum solo, random band jam, and getting a sing-along to the Venga Boys going. Anything. Anything but silence. Too much damage had been done, even if he did return, even if there were cheers for the song ‘Grey Horizons’. Slightly disappointing as I felt the band had so much more to offer. Maybe another time?
https://www.facebook.com/Autumn.Nostalgie.Official
Moonlight Sorcery
Described as a booking “we’d never thought we could make” by Reaper Agency, this was initially a band I was going to skip. What a dumbass move that would have been if I had. It was phenomenal! Having only recently made their live debut, and making their UK debut on what I believe was only their third ever show, they were a huge draw indeed. Especially when you heard the roars of joy as they made it to the stage. It felt almost like Black Metal in the major key, a more upbeat and Power Metal-infused offering, with the glorious Symphonic elements from the keys and blazing lead guitar riffs. This energy was too much for some as the pits erupted into life for the first time that day, and perhaps taking the title of earliest pit at Fortress Festival. They can also earn some nerd points for utilising a track from Final Fantasy VIII’s soundtrack as part of their introduction. They offered more brooding and atmospheric numbers to end the set, a set from a band that’s another gem of a discovery thanks to Reaper Agency.
https://www.facebook.com/moonlight.sorcery
A combination of the heat, sleep deprivation, and overstimulation meant a break was needed. Sorry Aristarchos, although I saw you on your debut 8 months previously, I wouldn’t be able to see your debut festival appearance, and only the second overall on this day. Instead, time for a quick food break and a break in the balcony prior to one of the more hotly anticipated bands of the weekend.
Ulcerate
Right from the sound check, we knew this would be intense. It’s crazy thinking how a 3-piece band can sound so ridiculously full and intense. That may be largely due to Paul’s bass tone, taking on more than the lion’s share of responsibility for providing an earth-shattering rumble, as well being one of the melodic focal points. I had a gentleman behind me state that this was his 14th time seeing the band, speaking of their popularity, coming all the way from New Zealand for the occasion. This was loud, brooding, and offered a change of pace from the rest of the Black Metal bands with a sound more rooted in Death Metal. This demonstrates a capacity for Fortress festival to include more black metal adjacent bands in future editions.
https://www.facebook.com/Ulcerate
Prior to the main stage special guest slot, I got chatting to some of the attendees whilst barrier camping. This included an Iranian gentleman residing in Sweden, who introduced me to a friend of his who reported seeing his 10,000th band this year and reported that this was his 12th festival of the year! We have some catching up to do, clearly! This also illustrates the draw that Fortress Festival has, not only locally and within the UK, but as part of a larger international community. An international community which I’m sure was here in large part due to the band up next, especially judging by the sheer quantity of their merch that you could see amongst the crowd throughout the weekend.
Forteresse
“I booked Forteresse. That’s it. Peak. Nothing can top this”. The words of Reaper head Gary Stephenson via social media, his admiration for the band clear. This was reflected by many other attendees. It’s easy to see why. There’s something seemingly so simple yet brutal about Forteresse’s music. Good old-fashioned Black Metal played at blistering speeds with equally blistering lead guitar riffs soaring over the top. It’s as irresistibly melodic as it is devastatingly intense. Even if the lead guitar seemingly malfunctioned in the middle of a song and caused a delay, nothing could derail this glorious set that served as a statement booking and major coup for the festival.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045145178236
Perched at the barrier, there was no way I could surrender this spot, even if the festival headliner would not be on stage for almost 90 minutes. A couple next to me also had the same idea, and after striking up conversation, I learned that they had travelled all the way from Canada for their first visit to the UK, and of course to see their all-time collective favourite band. This once again speaks to Fortress Festival’s emerging recognition amongst the global Extreme Metal scene. This also passed on the time exquisitely before the grand finale to the year’s festivities.
Agalloch
The curtains opened. It was almost time. The younger 20-something year old version of me had been brutally disappointed after first hearing and falling in love with the likes of ‘Falling Snow’ and ‘Unlike The Waves’, only to learn that the band had disbanded. Could you imagine my joy when I heard not one but both of these songs within the set? It was becoming overwhelming for me, as it was for many others. There were tears amongst the crowd. It’s no wonder, given the raw depth and sentimental power behind every single note in each carefully crafted masterpiece that is an Agalloch composition. The band was mixed flawlessly, even if John reported some monitor issues (did anybody actually notice or care?). My words cannot really describe what an experience this was, and I think shards of my soul are still in Scarborough Spa after leaving my body for a period. Especially during ‘You Were But A Ghost In My Arms’, in particular with the blistering lead guitar harmonies. Will they ever be back in the UK? If not, I can proudly and happily say that I witnessed the splendor that is Agalloch live in the flesh.
https://www.facebook.com/AgallochOfficial
Back down to reality after making the final walk back along the coast and to my car for the long drive back home to Manchester. The post-festival blues hadn’t hit, but I knew they would come BIG. The drive home afforded me some reflection and thinking time. How big of a draw will festival headliner Old Man’s Child be? How will they use the Theatre next year, if at all?
Some easier questions. Will Fortress Festival 2026 sell out? Well, considering that the 1st wave of early birds sold out within a few hours, yes, yes, it will.
Will I be there next year? Yes!! It’s really growing on me now, not just for the music but the emerging sense of nostalgia offered by this visit to Scarborough, and a chance to escape city life.
Reaper Agency. Fortress Festival. You’ve set a standard and continue to outdo yourselves. I can’t think of anything else to say other than thank you. Until next year…
Photos used with permission from Necroshorns – follow and like here
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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. Photography courtesy of Necroshorns. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
