Hacktivist, Bldsugr, Black Candy, The Dead XIII, Novacrow, Thrashatouille, Rattlesnakes, Devilhusk, Necronomicunt, Twin Skeletons

Rap metal from milton keynes, setting grime-rooted rapping over crushing, down-tuned djent riffs. Formed in 2011, they released the albums outside the box in 2016 and hyperdialect in 2021.

A birmingham trio making what they call doom punk, a theatrical mix of shock rock, doom metal and gothic atmosphere with occult overtones. Their songs have passed 300k spotify streams, and a new ep, the fields, is due in late october 2026.

An oxford rap-metal band from the city's early 2000s heavy scene, known for down-tuned riffs, catchy one-line choruses and electric live shows. Their 2001 demo downfall caught the ear of the national music press.

A manchester horror metal band with a theatrical, horror film streak running through their songs. Their 2015 debut album catacombs drew strong reviews, and they have toured the uk alongside a long run of heavy acts.

Alternative metal from liverpool with a macabre sense of humour, mixing industrial riffs with touches of ragtime and swing. Their most recent release was a horror christmas single, the krampus, the krampus.

A comedy thrash band who play in full chef whites, with every song built around food and cooking. Their shows are chaotic, daft and great fun, with songs like chilli con carnage and a full english breakfast reworking of word up, plus inflatables bouncing round the pit.

A nottingham traditional heavy metal band who fold thrash, speed and power metal into tales inspired by 80s horror films. They built their name on the live circuit around the 2025 ep deeper shades of torment, signed to french label listenable records, and their debut album shadows in the night arrives in late 2026.

A brighton metalcore quartet who fuse nu-metalcore with industrial, breakcore and heavy electronic production, built around sound design as much as riffs. They formed in late 2023, debuted with the single i see god in 2025, and have since released the eps sleep like the dead and goretech: intimidator.

Dark, theatrical alternative rock from a south coast four-piece who grew from bath university favourites into a viral name. Their single useless came out in spring 2026, and they earned a slot at boardmasters 2026.