My first-ever music festival was Download 2016, affectionately known as “#Drownload.” With memories of the apocalyptic weather of that event fresh in my mind, I was somewhat apprehensive about attending ArcTanGent (ATG) 2025. Fortunately, I need not have worried. . .

On Hin helga kvöl, Sólstafir show off an evolution of their unique sound, building on their black metal foundations with dreamy gothic atmospherics and emotive vocals.

Gnome take a thunderous step up onto the global stoner-rock stage, losing none of their sense of humour in the process.

Always pushing their own sonic envelope, Irish post-rock trio God Is An Astronaut brought out more of their beautiful noise in 2024.

Elder statesmen of Hellenic black metal, Rotting Christ, have brought us a new album in the form of Pro Xristou. But is it a satisfying listen?

Allfather are back with a visceral slab of hardcore sludge/doom that promises to break skulls, necks, and more.

To mark the twentieth anniversary of their debut, Irish post-rock group God Is An Astronaut re-recorded it live in the studio. Nick Dunn sat down with Torsten Kinsella from the band and talk to him all about it.

Already making waves, Blodet promise to be the next big thing in post-metal with their latest EP, Vision, out now on Church Road Records.

The end is nigh, and there will be no peace. But there may just be a glimmer of hope, thanks to Why We Never Die, the latest album from Texas doom-folk trio The Angelus.

A short sharp shock of hardcore punk ‘n’ roll, Herzschlager is a side-project from members of Allfather, here to open up pits and get heads banging. Turn the speakers up to eleven for this one.

With their tenth studio album, Mediæval Bæbes have crafted a truly religious experience on Prayers of the Rosary. Featuring entirely original compositions, it is an excellent and unique addition to their discography.

Breakneck black metal from the 80s made in the 21st Century – it can only be Hellripper. The Affair of the Poisons is the third studio album from this excellent solo project.

Italian instrumental trio Ottone Pesante return with their third album, DoomooD, making doom metal with a difference: in place of guitars, they use brass instruments. Intrigued? You should be.

A very strong debut from Finnish psychedelic freaks Polymoon, ‘Caterpillars of Creation’ helps listeners to ascend to a more enlightened spiritual plane.

A promising new project featuring members of Ahab and In Mourning, Svärd offer up a psych-tinged stoner doom EP in the shape of The Rift, and the tantalising promise of more to come.

Conventional stoner metal done well. Huanastone’s newest album Third Stone From The Sun is as fun as it is familiar.

A quiet, meditative album, aswekeepsearching have released Sleep to help us all in troubled times.

At a time when the world is in chaos, what better soundtrack than a new album from French experimentalists Igorrr?

Without pushing the envelope, California’s Moaning have crafted an accessible post-punk album for everyone to enjoy.

Ahead of the release of their newest album ‘Spiritual Instinct’, Nick Dunn sat down with Alcest to discuss where its themes of spirituality and personal struggle come from.

Digging into the darker side of the spirit, Alcest’s sixth album Spiritual Instinct is a gorgeous offering despite the darkness at its heart.