The Brit metal fest's 20th birthday is already looking like one of the best editions ever
Having already revealed that 2025's edition will be a two full-day affair, Damnation Festival have announced the first run of bands for next November's bash at Manchester's Bowlers Exhibition Centre, including a load of special sets to mark the metal jamboree's 20th birthday.
The first raft of names includes French synthwave maniacs Perturbator, American grinders Pig Destroyer, and the return of Swedish thrash heroes The Haunted, who headlined the fest in 2006 when it was held at Jilly's Rockworld in Manchester, for their first UK gig in eight years.
“We’re proper chuffed to be part of this killer line up at next year’s Damnation!" they say. "Can’t wait to see you in the pit!"
Also doing special anniversary sets are UK doom legends Warning, marking two decades of their tear-tastic Watching From A Distance album, and reunited UKHC battallion Stampin' Ground to toast a quarter of a century for 2000's essential Carved From Empty Words.
"On the eve of the 20th anniversary of our Watching from a Distance album, we are proud to be invited back to perform at Damnation's 20th anniversary, where we will play the album in full, alongside new material," say Warning. "This will be our only UK performance of 2025. We look forward to seeing you at Damnation."
Stampin' Ground added: “We said we wouldn't, but how could we resist? What better excuse to celebrate 25 years of our Carved From Empty Words album than a joint birthday bash for Damnation's 20th? We go back a ways with Damnation, and look forward to blowing the doors off the BEC Arena for you!”
Also announced today are Wormrot, Gaerea, Mantar, Hellripper, Frail Body, Gost, Meryl Streek, Crippling Alcoholism, and the debut UK performance from Brodequin.
“This is the most exciting opening announcement we’ve ever put together with absolute gems everywhere you look, from Pertubator hosting a main stage rave to Meryl Streek throwing an Irish punk rally," says festival bigwig Gavin McInally.
“We have Stampin’ Ground returning to call for a wall of death the length of BEC Arena, Warning will play their doom masterpiece Watching from a Distance, The Haunted reuniting with Damnation in the same city they last played the festival.
“It will be Pig Destroyer’s only UK show, and it’ll be carnage. Brutal death metal fans will finally have the chance of see Brodequin without taking a flight to the States and Wormrot will also make their Damnation debut with their original line-up in tow.
“Gaerea are one of the most requested black metal bands we’ve seen in recent years, Mantar are long-overdue their Damnation debut and Hellripper, Frail Body, Gost and Crippling Alcoholism add a further touch of class and diversity to this opening salvo - from the best of blackened thrash to screamo.
“But this is genuinely just a flavour of what’s to follow. We sold 1,700 blind and if we can do that again with the bands announced today, we’ll allow our imaginations to run wild for our 20th birthday bash."
Damnation Festival takes place at Manchester Bowlers Exhibition Centre, November 8-9, 2025
