Live Review: Fortress Festival

After perusing the merchandise of the various bands, acquiring drinks and lapping up the Scarborough seafront, we took to the main stage to see Nemorous. The band take us through a serene, ambient introduction to Fortress but there’s ever the pervading sense things will soon explode. The guitars burst into life and their frontman clasps his palms upon the microphone like it were his birthright, screeching, bellowing, ripping off scathing vocals that underline the band’s nature-driven black metal. Nemorous’ assault is much more subtle, relishing amongst tender soundscapes before the full measure of their strength is brought into play.

I’ve never seen a black metal act live where violins are part of the performance but such is the case with Aquilus as they already dazzle and enthral throughout their soundcheck. It’s striking what a single violin can do, usurping the melancholic power traditionally reserved for just the guitars but that is one of Aquilus’ fervent strengths. It’s the juxtaposed intensity against violin, riffs and booming vocals that craft this tenebrous atmosphere, especially when we also have piano brought to the fray. I think this is where Fortress excels: bringing in bands that demonstrate “black metal” is more than it seems. Having only been switched on to them a week prior to Fortress they’re a refreshing experience, bringing a folk-laden and neoclassical vibe to Scarborough Spa, all the more when they’ve come all the way from Australia.

Spirit Possession are more par for the course for those after an old school black metal performance as their stripped back performance sees just the two members deliver something a little more raw than the last few acts. They’re also much more frantic as their tempo only climbs. The Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost influence can be felt in droves, that primitive bludgeoning their riffs are comprised with. Considering they’re only two guys, the sound they deliver is amazing especially when a conventional bass guitar is nowhere to be found.

I decided to call it an early day needing some seriously required rest and whilst I ended up missing The Great Old Ones I was refreshed and ready to face Day Two of Fortress, with Abduction, Dodsrit, Moonlight Sorcery, Forteresse and Agalloch to come.

Once I approached the Spa I decided to get in the queue to enter which was an inspired idea on my part given EVERYONE went immediately in the queue for that sweet, sweet Agalloch merch particularly that exclusive Fortress shirt Agalloch would sell on Sunday alone, though I personally put most of my merch fund towards a big haul of Forteresse merch.

It’s a testament to the quality of Fortress’ bands that Abduction come on at 12pm and the main room is already half full, bathing us in blue light all the while a digital backdrop of their latest release assails us. Wailing vocals, blast beats, cerebral imagery, all such things make up Abduction’s identity today; the band have evolved and come a long way from their more primordial days. Black metal might be one of the few metal genres where a band can play nine-minute tracks live and the audience are totally on board with it, as opposed to thrash and death metal circles, owing to black metal’s more inherently atmospheric qualities. Balancing the mix at a live show, no matter what style, is always difficult, but the sound crew deserve praise for their efforts here as every instrument and vocal implementation can be heard and experienced with ease. Especially when you’re close the stage where sound waves are more condensed too upon reaching you.

With more Guinness in my system I ventured over to Dodsrit. It took all of thirty seconds for Dodsrit to make me a fan of the band as they bring out this triumphant ambience alongside far-reaching vocals, hyping the crowd early into their set. Their stage presence is immediately electric as one feels the grandiose scope their sound vies for. Amidst the full cacophony their sound possesses you can still hear the smaller licks and riff sequences that underlies the beauty that is Dodsrit’s scope. This is all the more impactful when we remember this is the band’s debut UK performance and you can feel the weight they are throwing at us here ; they’re looking to make an impression and by god they certainly have. I haven’t been so glad to have gone in to a band blind in such a long time. I bought a longsleeve not long after.

Moonlight Sorcery. Their worldwide live debut. There was another fifteen minutes before their show began in earnest yet the crowd was already flocking in. You have to respect the relative absence of fanfare Moonlight Sorcery perform with; yes, it’s their first ever live show but you don’t see them trying to milk the occasion; it’s as if this were merely another day, another rehearsal though to a vast audience. Even the upper balconies are abreadth with people on every row sitting and standing; no doubt these guys were a major draw for many people. It’s striking how well they bring the neoclassical element from their studio work to the live stage as their guitars climb, and continue soaring, to the loftiest nimbus; it is a beautiful thing.

Aristarchos weren’t on my plan for today but after hearing some friends of mine were at the barrier for them I decided to give them a go. These guys were far more raw, fewer theatrics, fewer facades to mask the evil their sound would convey. Here we behold the grandiosity of the main stage entirely removed and delivered black metal in a more purified form. I caught a small sample of their set before heading downstairs to get some food and prepare for Ulcerate.

After grabbing some needed food and another pint, it was time for Ulcerate. One of the few death metal acts on the festival bill, Ulcerate promised to be one of the most scathing, visceral acts. Ulcerate’s attack is far from blunt, it’s much more avant-garde as their songwriting dips and weaves around conventionally bludgeoning avenues; the scope of their impact is bounded up in these more minute, subtle instances where the evil they depict is seemingly portrayed by what they don’t play. There’s often been a macabre, unspoken, unnameable presence to Ulcerate’s performance but viewing it live really drives home just how clandestine their stage presence is. There’s far more happening than one will initially see.

The outside area is particularly jovial. Here is where many people drink and relax and eat between bands; people bring tables and chairs over, they socialise and laugh and reminiscence good times. You know people here have known each other for years and Fortress is merely another occasion for people to get together and share great times with each other. Ulcerate leave the stage to a shower of applause.

I then decided to remain in the main room, once Ulcerate finished, until the whole of Forteresse’ set were done. Forteresse, all the way from Quebec, it feels a great honour to see such a legendary band live. After a brief introduction as a digital backdrop unveils their name and the triplet fleur-de-lis, the band throw themselves right into it. One may deem Forteresse’ songwriting pretty simplistic yet that belies the strength of their performance as the audience is easily taken in by their sweeping, hypnotically gorgeous atmosphere. The upper balconies are fit to bursting with people seeking a higher vantage point by which to behold Forteresse, and the photographers seize the moment with a field day of flashes and presence.

Their frontman may be addressing us in French yet the lingual barrier matters for nought as the crowd respond with zest unto the following track, and the next. Truth be told, I was in tears during their set; here were a band I never, ever thought I’d get to see live, couple that with their wondrously flowing sound and I just started to feel incredibly emotional. It’s been a long, long time since that’s happened.if this is the only time I ever get to see Forteresse, if this is it, I consider it a deep privilege. Though Agalloch will draw a massive crowd, Forteresse are my personally highlight of the festival. Though a technical happenstance pauses the set for a few minutes, neither the crowd nor the band allow the energy to stop as each interacts with the other before their lead guitarist is back in play and the band play out their final minutes of their exclusive set. They leave the stage to a flurry of applause; Forteresse were simply outstanding. If I never again get to see them live again, that will forever cement Fortress in my memory.

It’s been a long, knackering, enduring day, but Agalloch are yet to spring the stage. You enter the main foyer and for a change, the curtains are up, so you know a grand reveal is in the works. Such is the event of Agalloch’s first UK show in a clear decade and the single show the band will perform in all of Europe this year. You know every person assembled is feeling everything from curious to excited to hyped to apprehensive. But the lights dim, the curtains roll back and there you have the name there like an altar before which we have gathered: Agalloch. In a purple hue the band take their time coming to the stage, Fortress have outdone themselves bringing this exceptionally lauded act back to the stage. There’s a genuine reverence for the band as the crowd are utterly silent prior to the first sing getting underway. Now I admit I’m no major Agalloch fan and thus this set was far from my priorities so after the first fifteen minutes I was satisfied with the faster I received and made the decision to finally call it a night, exiting the festival’s perimeter and slowly, tiredly, making the inclined trek back to my hotel.

In spite of the difficulties in allergies that caused me to call it an early day on the Saturday, there’s no doubt on my mind that 2025’s edition of Fortress was simply amazing. No band that I saw (or even hear of playing across either stage both days) produced lacklustre performances; every single act was on the ball and brought all they had to bare upon the people of Scarborough that weekend. I missed The Great Old Ones and Akhlys but I saw every other act I wanted to see. Often at these festivals you usually see some shenanigans come forth after the drinks keep flowing, so it startled me to realise I didn’t observe a single person acting out of mature character. It was honestly refreshing to be around this likeminded, mature crowd who were all gathered for great times and memories to make. The merch was great, the organisation was seamless and Old Man’s Child were announced for 2026. I’ll have to see who else is announced for Fortress next year before I commit to returning given that Black Metal isn’t my go to style of heavy metal. But with that all said, you don’t truly acknowledge just how vast a sound Black Metal can sport until you go to an event like Fortress, until you see the total depth and quality these bands can deliver. Forteresse are unique to Dodsrit who are unique to Spirit Possession, to Abduction, to Aquilus and so on. It was an astounding time. Black Metal is beautiful.