Once a year, Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse transforms into a polyrhythmic paradise. While punters are initially lured in by a stacked line-up, ranging from prog champions Animals As Leaders to the life-affirming reggae metallers Skindred, RADAR Festival’s true draw lies in its devotion to all things dorky. From Pokémon to prog, it serves as metal’s answer to Comic Con, with as many tabletop Magic: The Gathering tournaments and hands-on guitar masterclasses as there are oodling riffs to keep you moshing all day long.
While RADAR first kicked things off in 2019 down in Guildford, the shift up to Manchester has only allowed it to flourish. Now, it transcends beyond a by-the-book festival experience; one moment you’re getting barraged by the noisy, riot grrrl spirit of electro-punks CLT DRP, the next you’re upstairs to enrol in Pintglass’ geeza-core tradie ‘workshop’, watching the group of hi-viz-wearing, Stella-downing lads attempt to put up a shelf to the tune of Drum and Bass.
Throughout the weekend, there are a few more serious workshops on offer, though we are sure the National Geeza Qualification will get people very far in life. Volumes’ masterclass on Friday serves up some class riffage, whilst in contrast, Voyager’s Saturday session delivers plenty of songwriting advice, like how to warm up your “cold synth” tracks with the “warm, human bounce of guitar”. It’s something that amps up RADAR’s sense of camaraderie, an extra layer of support alongside its more laid-back, community-cultivating gaming areas.
Another element that cultivates that sense of community and mutual support is found in the no-clash, two-stage set-up, meaning that every artist gets the chance to shine. Fans are constantly filing back and forth between stages, like one particular back-to-back burst of blunt-force trauma on Friday – nu-metalcorers Graphic Nature’s techy breakdowns of ‘Killing Floor’ and ‘Fractures’ rough you up on the main stage, all before Cage Fight’s Rachel Aspe runs in for the fatal blow on stage two, an unruly bite of crossover death growls, blastbeats and thrash-infused carnage.
Plenty of acts put on a display as heavy-hitting as the festival’s headliners. Deathcore unit Bound In Fear come as a marvellous surprise on Friday, the last-minute substitute for vianova earning a healthy pit of windmillers, two-steppers and even a cartwheeling Cookie Monster before it even hit 3pm. “That person next to you is there for you… So that means you’ve gotta grab that cunt and throw them into the fucking pit,” sweat-drenched frontman, Ben Mason, proclaims at one point – and it works a charm, spiking the ferocity even higher.
Of course, things also get goofy here and there. Again, Pintglass are reliably known for having a good time – and their second-stage headline set on Friday is undeniably iconic. From their opening chant of “GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS PUB” to the ridiculous ‘Cafe Brawler’ pitcall of “DON’T FORGET THE BROWN SAUCE”, it’s one of the highlights of the weekend. And the carnage is undeniably topped off by the gang promising crowdsurfers a free hi-viz. How security survived the oncoming wave of non-stop bodies, we’ll never know.
Ridiculous moments also come in the form of Thy Art Is Murder frontman Jerry Chard pulling off a bizarre one-person stand-up show, rambling about “chicken leg pie” and his Mancunian grandmother inbetween a slew of raw, gut-wrenching deathcore. And after 12 years away from the UK, progressive kings Protest The Hero lay down a perfect balance of jokes and “sloppy ass music performed fast as fuck”, with frontman Rody Walker’s sky-high vocals cutting through each masterfully mathsy riff. From ‘Mouthpiece’ to ‘Limb From Limb’, it’s a thing of chaotic excellence.
Though, if we’re talking about excellence, we’ve got to talk about Northlane. Taking to the stage on Saturday to the sound of ‘4D’, there’s a reason the Aussies have been one of the most requested acts to play Radar. From the synthetic ‘Evian’ to the trance-y whirl of ‘Bloodline’, Northlane’s sound is a stunning example of metal that knows how to party. And a party doesn’t mean compromising on how brutally heavy you can be, with new track ‘CUT_it’ dealing it out nice and thick.
Saturday also sees Unpeople proving their chops as the most exciting new band on the circuit right now. From the all-out singalong of ‘Waste’ to the fat riffs of ‘Smother’, there’s something magic about the unit’s cocktail of feverish hooks, cheeky harmonies and playful alt-metal breakdowns.
Elsewhere, Einar Solberg’s grand Sunday performance is less like an unruly, sweaty basement show and more like a top-notch cinematic experience. It’s enthralling in its own beautiful way, with the Leprous singer melding heavy sonics into vast, orchestral soundscapes throughout a beautiful solo extravaganza.
Though if there’s one set everyone should carry on with them long after the festival, it’s the heart and soul of the Skindred ‘International Soundsystem’. Frontman Benji Webbe waltzes out onto the main stage like he owns the place, drowning in a luxurious fur-lined coat as he throws white roses into the masses of adoring fans. After years of injecting the metal scene with killer crossover vibes, latest album ‘You Got This’ saw Skindred finally topping the UK charts. As Webbe proudly proclaims, it’s a sign of how, if you stick to your guns, nothing can stop you.
While the festival’s workshops have plenty to offer, every second Skindred are on stage is its own masterclass in how to put on a great show. Webbe is a true showman, changing between an ever-revolving slew of furry hats and bedazzled blazers as he riffs off the crowd and gets people moving. And nobody can resist the madness of the Skindred jukebox, from hilariously remixing the “Nothing Beats A Jet2 Holiday” sound into the end of ‘That’s My Jam’ to the invigorating finale of ‘Gimme That Boom’ and ‘Warning’ with the always iconic shirt-spinning Newport Helicopter.
More than anything, it is Skindred who truly embody the spirit of RADAR. Thriving in their individuality, proud to be unabashedly unique and accepting anyone who is keen to let loose and express themselves with open arms.
While we’ve got one act nailed down for next year’s RADAR, with DOOM composer Mick Gordon set to bring his iconic soundtrack to life for the first time. And based on the inspiring and exploratory experience of this year, we can’t wait to see what else the festival has in store for 2027.
