FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Fortress Festival 2025
Words: Sam Jones
Photos: Tim Finch
The number of festivals geared towards Black Metal that have risen to international acclaim are so few and far between you could likely number them on a single hand. One of these is Fortress, hosted in Scarborough, a traditional seaside town on the north-eastern coast of England so, naturally, it’s a perfect vantage point to unleash the most hellish and scathing acts black metal can hurl at us. Poised for May 31st – June 1st, it’s 2 days of nothing but blackened slaughter.
For this year’s edition, we’ve got Agalloch marking their triumphant return in a European exclusive performance that no doubt shifted tickets dramatically upon announcement, set to close out the Saturday, as 1349 are primed to close out the festival on the Sunday. But there are a score of UK exclusives to entice us: Forteresse, Ulcerate, Akhlys, Fen, Spirit Possession, The Great Old Ones (the reason I bought my ticket in the first place) etc.
But it wouldn’t be Fortress without some genuine treats in store. Finnish act Moonlight Sorcery, on the backs of two wildly successful EPs and their first album, will be performing live for the first time ever upon Fortress’ stage. Also playing the UK for the first time are Belore, Dodsrit, Suldusk, Ruïm so people who have been aspiring to see these bands live will finally get their opportunity.
Yet we continue to be spoilt. Abduction shall be playing their new album Existentialismus in full; Fen will be playing their debut album, The Malediction Fields, in full; Perennial Isolation, Crimson Throne and Nemorous also shall be performing exclusive and new album sets live.
The recent years have demonstrated Fortress is here to stay given their explosive 2024 edition that only see them go from strength to strength. This will be my first trip to Fortress and whilst I’m not typically a black metal person, Fortress have ended up booking so many bands I happen to adore within black metal. I’m ecstatic for what will surely be another sensational weekend for Fortress at Scarborough this Spring.
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
