We Lost The Sea: Narrative Departures

Post-rock, by its very nature, seeks to create meaningful and unique emotional experiences for its listeners. Yet few albums reach such rarified popularity and devotion in the genre as Departure Songs by WE LOST THE SEA. Its reflection of noble sacrifices from history, alongside the personal tragedy of vocalist Chris Torpy‘s death in 2013 and a band in subsequent transition, created a brilliant alchemy that resonates among fans to this day. Ten years on, the Australian six-piece seek to commemorate the anniversary alongside the release of their fifth album, A Single Flower.



Guitarist Matt Harvey makes clear that this success was not expected – and that their first European tour in 2017 was when the band fully realised the impact on their fans. “People just wanted to share their stories with us, say how much it meant to them, how much it had helped them. For such a small band, from so far away, to come and have a massive impact on people’s lives across the world, was really special.”



Part of the appeal, beyond the music itself, was the level of detail and effort invested in the album’s narrative. Each song reflects a specific historical tragedy – the sacrifice of Captain Oates on A Gallant Gentleman, the Challenger space shuttle disaster on Challenger Part 1 and Part 2. It’s an approach now firmly embedded in the band’s DNA. “When we started to write the songs, I think that it was just a natural gravitation towards something that would make them make sense, or help us contextualise what we were going through,” says Harvey, who also creates the artwork for the band. “But I think we set that bar, and then it’s been a thing we’ve wanted to do ever since. The concepts of stories [are] now an extension of what we do as artists, as musicians, as the band.”

That approach parlayed its way into 2019’s Triumph & Disaster, whose concept was set out early by Harvey: “I was like, this is going to be about the end of the world. It’s the apocalypse.” It was a bold approach that caused some tension amongst the band, who struggled at first to lock into the concept. “Some of the guys found it quite restrictive… I was in the headspace of it and my writing style and my apocalyptic sound was already coming out and the guys were like, I’m not feeling this. Eventually they came around, and we pushed out something like [opening track] Towers, which is immense and amazing.”


The learnings from that process informed the approach to creating A Single Flower. First and foremost: a long production schedule, to accommodate families and jobs, and allow extended writing sessions for the band’s strong personalities to converge together. Also flipped was the approach to the narrative. “We experimented with doing it the opposite way… Let’s just write what we want, we’ll see what comes out. What we feel will eventually translate through our instruments.” Harvey worked closely with Mark Owen to form the themes for the album. “We sort of squash it down until it becomes something that we both want to do, we believe in, and we enjoy, but is respectful of each other’s input and makes sense as a whole.”

As such, the “elevator pitch” for A Single Flower is still a work in progress for Harvey. “What motivates life to live, to create beauty, to see beauty when there’s so much horror and bloodshed in the world, I guess? What is the cost of seeing a single flower, and is it worth the trade-off?” The title is drawn from Cormac McCarthy‘s All The Pretty Horses, one of many literary touchpoints for the album, with each of its six songs linked to a specific artist or writer’s quote. Album closer Blood Will Have Blood takes its title from Macbeth and best sums up the album’s theme of the debt we must pay. “Is there an equity that we owe the earth for the tragedy that has occurred, that we’ve caused, and when will we eventually pay the price for that?” Muses Harvey.



It’s a challenging theme that pays off with some of the band’s best work, from the pitch-perfect escalation and menace of If They Had Hearts to the emerging brightness and hope of Bloom. Single Everything Here Is Black And Blinding breaks new ground with electronic textures and an accompanying music video, a first for WE LOST THE SEA. It’s a culmination, too, of a true collaboration within the band. “There was an insistence on trying to make sure that it sounded like six people were playing and wrote it,” says Harvey. “We spent 95% of it writing in the same room together. Everybody wants to have their airtime with their bits. And I think everybody brought their A-game to this record.”

Alongside the new album comes a first-ever US tour, followed by two sets at their debut ArcTanGent Festival appearance in the UK. Both ArcTanGent and Post Festival in the US will feature Departure Songs played in full to mark its tenth anniversary. Having such a beloved record amongst fans can cast a long shadow over later work, and it’s clear that WE LOST THE SEA are keen to respect that love from the fans whilst foregrounding their newer material. “We never take it for granted. Every musician wants something like that,” admits Harvey of Departure Songs. “[But] I think after the anniversary this year we’re going to put it in the box, in the cupboard, for a while. Maybe ten years, I don’t know.” It’s a fair sentiment from a band with plenty more to say and share.

A Single Flower is out now via Dunk Records (Europe)/Bird’s Robe (Australia)/Translation Loss (USA)/New Noise (China). View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS122 here:


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FESTIVAL REVIEW: RADAR Festival 2025

FESTIVAL REVIEW: RADAR Festival 2025




Despite facing huge adversities in the days prior to the festival, credit must be given to RADAR Festival and its wider community for ensuring that 2025’s event goes off without a hitch. The fiercely independent and progressive-leaning festival, now based in Manchester since 2023, has carved a special place in the festival circuit and with a myriad of bands gracing the O2 Victoria Warehouse, there was a lot of special talent on offer over the course of the early July weekend. Team DS were on the ground once again for this year’s festival. Here’s what went down.



Friday – July 4th

MOTHER VULTURE – Sneak Energy Stage Mother Vulture live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Coal Poet Media

Starting off the weekend is always a daunting task. You have to capture an audience that are intentionally reserved, holding back energy, but equally you’re getting the ball rolling for more than forty other acts coming after you through the weekend- so it’s got to be good. MOTHER VULTURE were absolutely the band for the job. Their energy is bursting with enjoyment their super authentic take on fuzzy, grungy stoner rock, it’s a pleasure to see these guys tear up the stage and loosen the crowd up. As MOTHER VULTURE’s performance of fan favourites Go Big Or Go Home, Slow Down and brand-new track Treadmill move from playful to downright stomping, it’s obvious how easily they command a stage. A hell of an opening set, MOTHER VULTURE are easily the most organic band of the weekend, hands down; What a start.

Rating: 9/10

FLOYA – Kerrang! StageFloya live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

German pop-rock duo FLOYA‘s stock has been on the rise within the RADAR community ever since the band last graced the festival two years ago. This time round, the duo are tasked with opening festival’s main stage, a task they achieve with elegant ease. Blending their synth-laden beats with ample hooks, the band are built to perform on stages of this scale, with the likes of Willows and Drift sounding stunning in the live environment. Largely, this is driven by Phil Bayer‘s exquisite vocals, who carries the band’s time on stage with aplomb. His angelic cleans in the likes of Epiphany and Fluorescent are absolutely angelic and send shivers down the spine. It’s a set that shimmers with aural beauty.

Rating: 9/10

TROPIC GOLD – Sneak Energy StageTropic Gold live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Claire Alaxandra

TROPIC GOLD have both power and retrospect in their arsenal for their mid-afternoon set. Deep, heavy guitars with mammoth vocals, they’re a beast of an act to contain on the second stage. The room is at their mercy, with battering songs like Happy, Dead To All My Friends and Holy Horror. TROPIC GOLD’s blend of electronica and heavy riffs, combined with aggressive vocals is a winning combination that keeps the room packed, with a constant flow of new listeners arriving until the whole second stage area is full. There’s emotional moments, liberating pits and constant singing from this crowd, who either came knowing what they were in for or were happily discovering another future giant.

Rating: 7/10

LAKE MALICE – Kerrang! Stage Lake Malice live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

RADAR Festival may have been just getting warmed up at this stage, but LAKE MALICE came equipped with the fire to light the fuse with their addictive blend of frenetic metalcore sprinkled with industrial stylings. With a catalogue-spanning set including debut track Blossom all the way through to the adrenaline-fuelled madness of freshly released Scatterbrain, the exuberant duo crammed as much energy into their performance as possible. Adding performance collective Kaos Kreative to the mix was a masterstroke, further elevating their already commanding stage presence. It is easy to see why they are becoming a must-see act on any lineup they grace with their presence.

Rating: 8/10

AVRALIZE – Sneak Energy StageAvralize live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Oli Duncanson

Keeping the momentum flowing in copious fashion were German metalcore powerhouse AVRALIZE, who had the attendees of the Sneak Energy Stage bouncing from the first note. Their undeniable charm and ability to slickly switch between monstrous beatdowns and electronica-fused melodies sent the crowd into a frenzy as they unleashed a considerable chunk of 2024’s FREAKS album betwixt recent efforts helium and upside down. You could sense the love received from the UK fans meant a great deal to the band and it was reciprocated during their lively performance. Considering the reception they received and that every inch of the warehouse floor was occupied with bodies, it won’t be long before we see this talented outfit make a return.

Rating: 8/10

AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS – Kerrang! Stage As Everything Unfolds live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

2023’s Ultraviolet album catapulted AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS to the forefront of the UK metal scene. As soon as the feverish intensity of opening track Set In Flow kicked in, you knew you were in for a treat. Charlie Rolfe made the stage her own from the moment she set foot in front of the packed crowd inhabiting the Kerrang! Stage with her spine tingling vocal range bouncing between melodic hooks and ferocious growls. Powering forward with sure-fire hits like Slow Down and Hiding From Myself kept the energy levels at scintillating levels throughout.

Rating: 8/10

AS DECEMBER FALLS – Kerrang! Stage As December Falls live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

Nottingham’s own AS DECEMBER FALLS bring a massive slab of emo goodness, a real party on the main stage. A tasty number of tracks from their upcoming album Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine from Bathroom Floor, Ready Set Go and For The Plot receive ample time to shine live, showing the band’s positive future. The lightshow really brings the atmosphere to the next level, and the room is very receptive to Bethany Curtis’ extraordinary vocals. The fan favourites Ride and Carousel remind the crowd just how accomplished AS DECEMBER FALLS are as they seamlessly blend through their alt rock back catalogue.

Rating: 8/10

FUTURE PALACE – Sneak Energy Stage Future Palce live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Charlie Bluck

Thanks t0 their much-acclaimed 2024 release Distortion, Berlin’s FUTURE PALACE are armed with enough fireworks to turn any festival slot into a fully fledged riot and they did not disappoint. One particular highlight being the much-welcomed guest appearance by AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS‘ Charlie Rolfe ensuring incendiary track The Echoes Of Disparity shook the very foundations of the O2 Victoria Warehouse. From the alluring catchiness of Decarabia to the crushing grooves of Uncontrolled, the titanic trio had the crowd in their palm of their hands for the duration in, surprisingly, their first ever UK festival appearance. Another win for team RADAR!

Rating: 9/10

ZEAL & ARDOR – Kerrang! Stage Zeal & Ardor live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

Having delivered a career defining performance headlining Desertfest London mere months ago, at RADAR, the Swiss avant-garde collective prove that lightning does indeed strike twice. One of the festival’s more ‘extreme’ offerings compared to the bulk of the modern metal flourishes, the band are utterly seismic in their delivery. A strobe-heavy lightshow is pulverising against the thundering Don’t You Dare and Death To The Holy are absolutely cataclysmic in their weight, whilst the crooning Devil Is Fine and Gravedigger’s Chant grip the audience in a stranglehold. Frontman and band visionary Manuel Gagneux is as humble as ever, and closing with an appropriate call to “Free Palestine” – especially against the political fallout in the days prior to the festival kicking off – caps off another stunning performance from one of heavy music’s unicorns.
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Rating: 10/10

CARPENTER BRUT – Kerrang! Stage Carpenter Brut live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

The power of RADAR Festival is the main stage being able to go from the blues-y, blackened groove of ZEAL & ARDOR, and without question shift to the powerhouse of CARPENTER BRUT, and it absolutely make sense. A show fully realised and enhanced with the addition of live drums and guitar, something you can absolutely take for granted of a genre like synthwave, but the stage presence is unmatched between the three piece. The command of the room requires no unnecessary chatting to the crowd, it’s banger after banger, the throng bouncing from the first note last.

The ninety-minute set is a bonanza of horror infused instrumentals, neon lights bathing the crowd (obviously including a swaggering Tyrannosaurs), the room is electric. Epic bangers like Roller Mobster and Turbo Killer have the pit swirling constantly, with Paradise Warfare and Le Perv adding to the delightfully demonic soundtrack of the evening. It’s a frenzy that flies by, the pulsing silhouette of the rave by a steady flow of crowd surfers. A finale of Maniac has the whole room pumping and chanting along, a glorious, strobe bathed chorus that has everyone frenzied by its end. It’s a hell of a way to close out the day, leaving everyone satisfyingly exhausted and eager for what tomorrow will bring.

Rating: 10/10

Saturday – July 5th

BREAK FIFTY – Sneak Energy Stagebreak fifty live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Claire Alaxandra

Some very enthusiastic two stepping this early in the day? It’s all down to BREAK FIFTY’s battering start to the second day. With a littering of last minute drop outs to RADAR, BREAK FIFTY’s nu-core aggression has a gaggle of folks already chomping at the bit for a day of exceptional musicianship. It’s a brutal start to the day, with tracks like Pillbox making a pretty solid impression on the early starters. Their onslaught of a set is highly impressive and clearly wins over those who’ve ventured out early today, BREAK FIFTY imposingly kick-starting Saturday.

Rating: 7/10

VMBRA – Sneak Energy StageVMBRA live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: @likeanao

Due to the rescheduling of the Saturday billing Manchester’s own VMBRA were given an upgrade to opening Saturday’s events on the Kerrang! Stage. Whilst some may have found this slightly last minute alteration quite daunting, the talented quartet seized their moment, acquiring a rousing reception from the crowd with their polished array of melody and technicality. The triple-threat of vocal arrangements worked a treat, providing a unique and engaging blend of styles which was a pleasure to witness. If their most recent track Money Tree is any indication of the music they have been cooking up for their future album release it will certainly be one to watch out for!
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Rating: 9/10

AIR DRAWN DAGGER – Sneak Energy Stage Air Drawn Dagger live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Coal Poet Media

Sometimes technology decides that it isn’t going to play nice, which isn’t ideal in the middle of a festival set. When AIR DRAWN DAGGER‘s Maisie Manterfields‘ in-ear monitors opted to cease functioning, she took matters into her own hands, leaping into the crowd and remaining there for the remainder of their set, also partaking in a circle pit for their unexpected but well-received mix of THE PRODIGY‘s Omen and BRITNEY SPEARS‘ Toxic. Fresh off the back of their newly released A Guide For Apparitions album, the Sheffield-based trio exhibited their genre-splicing skills, particularly during tracks Castle and Sanctifound. Unfortunately for them, being sandwiched between the enigmatic VMBRA and self-proclaimed “geezas” PINTGLASS took the shine off what was otherwise a solid outing.

Rating: 7/10

PINTGLASS – Kerrang! Stage Pintglass live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

Whilst it has become a bit of an “in-joke” in the RADAR community that PINTGLASS has became the house band for the festival, they grasped the opportunity to play the Kerrang! Stage this year with both hands. From start to finish the hi-vis donning wrecking crew put on a masterful display of beatdown-laden hardcore that had the crowd grinning from ear to ear, whilst also dodging the sea of flailing limbs! As expected, their comedically named single PINTGLASS BY PINTGLASS OFF THE ALBUM PINTGLASS sent the pits into an utter frenzy with one of the most energetic and entertaining sets witnessed across the entire weekend.

Rating: 9/10

OCEANS ATE ALASKA – Kerrang! Stage Oceans Ate Alaska live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

With a string of UK bands already proudly flying the flag on the Saturday, it was now the turn of Birmingham based metalcore titans OCEANS ATE ALASKA. Relatively recently recruited frontman Joel Heywood showed considerable swagger, taking little time to get the crowd moving. Showcasing an abundance of tracks from 2022’s Disparity alongside more recent effort Endless Hollow, the quartet raised the energy levels with aggressive riffs aplenty. It would also be criminal not to mention the human highlight reel behind the kit, Chris Turner, conducting a masterclass of flair and technique in what looked like effortless fashion.

Rating: 8/10

LASTELLE – Sneak Energy Stage Lastelle live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Oli Duncanson

Changing the tempo of the day is LASTELLE, who fully emotionally decimate the crowd in a totally different way to anyone before. Their atmospheric post-hardcore is a wash of beautiful soundscapes and crushing riffs. With songs like Bitter Seeds and Breathe Me In ranging from soaring vocals to bittersweet melancholy, there’s such a powerful response in the room to what the oxford band can sow into a crowd. It’s a hopeful and sombre set, with plenty of joyful singing along, and a few tears brought forward from the earnest and poignant words, both in the songs and between.

Rating: 8/10

NOVELISTS – Kerrang! Stage Novelists live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

French metalcore outfit NOVELISTS have undergone significant lineup changes over their 12 year history, but in 2025, the band have never sounded this good. Oozing energy with ample technical flourishes dispatched by guitar wizard Florestan Durand, NOVELISTS stake a claim for one of the most enjoyable performances of the entire festival. Spearheaded by Camille Contreras, whose vocals are mightily impressive, the band power through their time on stage and keep the energy high. The likes of All For Nothing, Coda and Say My Name – all taken from this year’s excellent CODA – demonstrate a band fully comfortable in their own skin. And it shows. A highly impressive performance.

Rating: 9/10

ARCH ECHO – Sneak Energy Stage Arch Echo live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Coal Poet Media

Saturday seems to be a technically dense sort of day, with the brilliant ARCH ECHO proving that complicated instrumental music can absolutely have frivolity and fun. While their attempts to address the crowd had some technical issues, the lack of any vocal communication hasn’t stopped the five pieces from giving the onlookers a blisteringly good set. From keys to drums, and all through the three string merchants, the positive one-upmanship of every member is insane. There are no weak elements, with tasteful to outlandish moments for each instrument to shine, ARCH ECHO take the feel of summer and inject it straight into your ears.
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Rating: 9/10

INTERVALS – Kerrang! Stage Intervals live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Oli Duncanson

It’s been a minute since Aaron Marshall and company have blessed the UK shores, 2019 to be exact. It was no surprise that INTERVALS were embraced with open arms as soon as they hit the stage. Making up for lost time the set was predominantly built around 2024’s memory palace with a few surprising deep cuts from 2012’s In Time as well as rewinding the clock even further, back to Still Winning from 2011’s debut EP The Space Between. It was never in any doubt that INTERVALS were going to deliver a stunning display of musicianship but the extended absence definitely amplified the excitement of the occasion, culminating in one of the most enjoyable atmospheres of the weekend.

Rating: 9/10

ANNISOKAY – Sneak Energy StageAnnisokay live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

With more than a decade of shows behind them, it’s amazing that ANNISOKAY haven’t played a UK festival yet. Their huge metalcore energy is soaked up by the crowd immediately with the likes of Shed My Skin and Calamity. With brutal heavy vocals seamlessly intersected with cleans, the groove and grit of ANNISOKAY bellows through the smaller stage and the onlookers absolutely thrive on it. It’s a stacked set with a great energy, one that keeps the day flowing and the people very much entertained.

Rating: 7/10

NORMANDIE – Kerrang! Stage Intervals live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Coal Poet Media

It’s not every day that you are thrust into a festival headline slot, which is exactly the position that Swedish metalcore darlings NORMANDIE found themselves in come the Saturday evening of RADAR Festival. Announcing to all in attendance that they were due to play their longest set to date, spanning 17 songs, was received with considerable adulation as the energy levels reached fever pitch before they hardly made a dent in the evening’s festivities. Hit followed hit as they buoyantly cruised through sizeable chunks of both 2024’s Dopamine and 2021’s Dark & Beautiful Secrets. It was evident for all to see that this good fortune meant a great deal to the energetic quartet and they responded by turning a turbulent series of events into a performance to remember.

Rating: 9/10

Sunday – July 6th

TIBERIUS – Kerrang! Stage Tiberius live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

Have you ever wanted prog metal riffs with a side order of beach balls? Well, look no further! This is exactly what the effervescent TIBERIUS brought to the table for one of the biggest shows of their career to date. From soaring choruses to dinosaur encounters, the Edinburgh-based quintet meticulously navigated their way through a selection of favourites from recent offering Singing For Company. Known for fret gymnastics aplenty, tracks like Tip Of The Spear and Juggernaut were particularly impressive to witness in a live setting. The ideal way to open proceedings on the Kerrang! Stage and to tee everyone up for the final day of a suitably stacked RADAR Festival.

Rating: 9/10

LOVE IS NOISE – Sneak Energy Stage Live Is Noise live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Coal Poet Media

Stepping in at the ninth hour LOVE IS NOISE, who offer up a beautiful selection of their distinct sound. With a blurred line between uplifting grunge and bittersweet emo, their set goes down a storm with those who need a cathartic moment by day three. Songs such as Hole In Me, It hurts to know you’re there and Soft Glow, with various others from their debut To live in a different way all went down very well. The crowd, many of whom weren’t perhaps super well versed in the work of LOVE IS NOISE warmed to their charms and there will absolutely be some new fans made from this set.

Rating: 7/10

DAVID MAXIM MUSIC – Kerrang! Stage
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David Maxim Micic live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: @likeanao

More guitar wizardry comes through DAVID MAXIC MICIC. Beautifully atmospheric, he and his band aren’t much for talking, which honestly works absolutely fine as the crowd are treated to a myriad of gorgeous arrangements. There was a silly, easy sort of dynamic on stage with MAXIC MICIC and his band, with Jamiroquai hats materialising out of nowhere and smiles all around. It’s quite a surprise when suddenly there’s a vocalist, unannounced but absolutely adding a brilliant new layer of glorious sound and hype to the set. The unnamed singer – who only bowed out at the end of the set with, “we are him” in gesture to MAXIC MICIC – and the rest of the band inspire and leave the crowd in a joyful awe by the end of the set.

Rating: 9/10

HIGH REGARD – Sneak Energy Stage High Regard live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Charlie Bluck

On the final day of the festival, when your energy levels are starting to wane, you require some high-octane hooks to get the adrenaline flowing and perk up the mood. This is exactly what alt-rock outfit HIGH REGARD brought to proceedings. Their mix of plentiful melodies and emotive passages was immediately infectious, drawing the crowd in for the duration. Tracks Dead To Me and more recent effort Red Lights proved to be particular highlights. Radar Festival has garnered a reputation for shining a light on some of the UK’s hottest up-and-coming bands and this talented troupe certainly fall into that category. Definitely one to watch for the future.

Rating: 8/10

SHIELDS – Kerrang Stage! Shields live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Charlie Bluck

Anyone already educated on the journey SHIELDS have encountered up to the present day will be aware that it’s been one hell of a bumpy ride filled with grief and adversity. This is immediately displayed for all to witness as frontman Joe Edwards commences their performance with a bleak, expressive spoken word monologue which, ultimately, catches a lot of people off guard. What soon followed was laced with enough acerbic aggression to send seismic waves through the O2 Victoria Warehouse. Equipped with the explosive artillery of Black Dog and the emotionally charged Red & Green, the Newcastle-based bruisers certainly left a lasting impression.

Rating: 8/10

CONTINENTS – Sneak Energy Stage Continents live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

There’s an interesting feeling in the air for CONTINENTS; an eagerness from fans who have been die hards from day one, and those who have only recently come across them, potentially just days before in prep for this very performance. Their material is both bludgeoning and emotive, and the room responds accordingly with plenty of moshing and many an arm raised. From the release of their monumental EP Lifeline in 2023, the crowd is treated to Gaslighter, Hurricane as well as fan favourites Alone and even fresher tracks CORRUPTED. It’s a set of big vocals, bigger riffs and heartfelt crowd interactions, with a message of perseverance and self- survival that many resonate with.

Rating: 8/10

YONAKA – Kerrang! Stage Yonaka live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

The poppy, accessibility of YONAKA‘s offerings is a stark contrast to the ferocity that has preceded them but this does not make them any less effective or alluring. Theresa Jarvis has the crowd in the palm of her hand with her silky smooth vocal prowess as she powers through anthemic tracks such as By The Time You’re Reading This, Seize The Power and Rockstar. This is precisely why people continue to instill their faith into RADAR Festival, the variation in what the lineup offers allows you to stumble across bands which would not usually fall under your gaze. Witnessing the same people who were pitting like maniacs to CONTINENTS and SHIELDS grinning at the upbeat, vibrant fun exhibited by YONAKA is exactly what a festival experience should be about.

Rating: 8/10

ARTIO – Sneak Energy Stage Artio live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

There’s been plenty of online hype over the past year or so for ARTIO, and for damn good reason. These Leeds youngsters have poured their heart and soul into giving their music their all, and it absolutely translated to their live performance. Fan favourites Babyface, Head In The Sand, Finger On The Trigger from their debut album are phenomenal, the room is totally taken aback by the strength of Rae Brazill’s voice and the and confidence of the band. From older tunes to their latest single Split Soul, there is an energy about them that’s almost perfect. They might be being a little polite with their crowd commands, with a softer audience interaction that some appreciate, but others might like a little more of a playfully commanding presence, as they’ve more than got the chops for it. With their biggest hit Pyrokid bowing out the set, there are for sure many who are hungry to see these incredible new performers again.
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Rating: 8/10

VUKOVI – Kerrang! Stage Vukovi live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

For those who know VUKOVI, this was a set you wanted to get down for early. Adored in sequins and tassels, Janine Shilstone is a force of nature that most everyone in the room is both endeared by and in total awe of. Her voice is punchy, powerful and oozing sass, she strutting and jumping around the stage, the band pummel their instruments to match Shilstone’s energy. The Glaswegians bring their A-game, from I EXIST, GUNGHO to MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN, the light show is unmatched and the good vibes are unparalleled. With some spontaneous crowd surfing to top things off, this has been a wonder to behold. The band’s final sentiment of “be kind to each other” is one that we can all agree is something we need reminding of at the moment. It’s just as well final song La De Da throws everyone into a frenzied pit of delight, to really set the marker of a band high on the rise.

Rating: 9/10

DREAM STATE – Sneak Energy Stage Dream State live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

Having sub-headlined the same stage two years ago, DREAM STATE return to RADAR and are welcomed back like glorious heroes. A heaving crowd awaits the Welsh post-hardcore band and helmed by the energetic and captivating Jessie Powell, the band deliver a memorable and thumping close to RADAR‘s second stage. It helps when the band have an arsenal of modern metal showstoppers – with the likes of Chin Up Princess, Still Dreaming and Anxious State of Mind all being delivered with the utmost urgency and keeping the crowd pulsing in harmony. Powell‘s stage presence is impeccable, with her delivery of older material (particularly Primrose and Hand in Hand) executed brilliantly, and the way in which she builds and maintains a strong bond with the crowd makes their set a joy to experience, ;eaving longlasting smiles sketched upon every beaming face.

Rating: 9/10

UNDEROATH – Kerrang! Stage Underoath live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

Having made an insane trip to be here, flying overnight and which unfortunately had the band’s luggage go missing in transit, and with a a return flight straight after they’re done, you’d maybe expect UNDEROATH might be a little tired and run down. Amazingly, the band is practically foaming at the bit to get going, and by god do they put on a show. Kicking off with Loss, it’s so evident how monumental UNDEROATH are, their professionalism and calibre is unmatched. Spencer Chamberlain is a hurricane on stage, frenzied and bouncing around like his life depends on it, barking into the crowd and whipping everyone into a delighted stupor.

There’s constant crowd suffers and the most confident pits of the weekend breaking open, the likes of songs Hallelujah. It’s wall to wall bangers, with new tracks from their new record All Love Is Gone, Shame and Generation No Surrender are as well received as their iconic Young and Aspiring, Down, Set, Go and of course A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black And White. The room is dripping with sweat as Chamberlain decides to descend into the crowd, a blissful moment that added a cheery on the cake of an incredible set. Undisputed heavyweights in the metalcore, it’s felt like getting the best of both worlds with a youthfully energetic set underpinned by years of playing at the highest calibre.

Rating: 10/10

Words: James Weaver, Laura McCarthy, Dan McHugh

Check out our photo gallery from the weekend’s action from Serena Hill Photography here:








































































Novelists live @ RADAR Festival 2025. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography