Takedown returns to Portsmouth this April after being postponed and subsequently cancelled last year, due to ongoing work being done on The Guildhall. This makes it Takedown’s second year running since its eight-year hiatus from 2015 until 2023.
The festival has roots starting in Southampton back in 2012 being held on the university campus and also Salisbury City Hall and has since been revived by Divergent Promotions and The Guildhall Trust, bringing it to Portsmouth. With previous line ups consisting of bands like Sleep Token, Bury Tomorrow, Skindred and Funeral for a Friend, Takedown has long established itself as a standout weekend to start off festival season. With a brilliant variety of bands, big and small, it’s a great place to broaden your music collection and get that gig calendar filled up.
In this article we’re going to look at the 10 bands to mosh, jump and two-step to!
URNE
With hints of Alice In Chains, Metallica and Mastadon, URNE is hardcore’s answer to the classic metal we all know and love. Get ready to have a sore neck after hearing their irresistible drum beats. Off the back of a UK show run back in February, they’re ready to get you’re festival season started off right with them performing on Friday. They currently have 2 albums, ‘SERPENT & SPIRIT’ , ‘A Feast On Sorrow’, and with two new singles, ‘I’ and ‘Throes Of Grief’, there are plenty of tasty tunes to sink your teeth into.
THE RAVEN AGE
For fans of more classic British metal The Raven Age are a great watch for fans of Iron Maiden, Disturbed and Trivium. With clear influences from the aforementioned bands their sweet guitar riffs and vocals resembling those of the classic metal powerhouses they’re for sure to be enjoyed by headbangers and air guitarists alike. Performing as a stop on their European tour catch them at Takedown and if you love what you see, we’re sure you will, you can catch them again at the latter end of June as they start their UK leg of tour.
DESERT STORM
Melodic guitar riffs, gravely vocals and cymbals are what Desert Storm are bringing to Takedown. With a new album due this year look forward to the good stuff with each album release topping their last. Since forming in Oxford in 2007 they have released six full length albums developing their sound more and more into the stoner metal-rock mashup they are today. With their sheer dedication to touring they have completed a sheer astounding number of shows all across the UK and Europe so are sure not to disappoint.
SCARLET REBELS
Embodying the popular sounds of 80’s rock this band is the one to see if you’re a Guns ‘n’ Roses fan. Formed in 2018, Scarlet Rebels have already achieved a UK Top 40 Album for their 2022 album ‘See Through Blue’ making them the first ever band from Llanelli, Wales, to do so. Since then they’ve released ‘Where the Colours Meet’ in 2024 jumping headfirst into a new era for the band. Constantly developing their sounds makes them an exciting follow where you’ll always be waiting for what they do next.
PINTGLASS
One word, “Geezercore”. With growls, chants and a Stella in hand, Pintglass sing about going out with the lads and there’s nothing as quintessentially British about it. For those who love a pit, and there WILL be pits, the bands leneancy towards the deathcore side of the metalcore genre is perfect. Originating from London and Guildford the band released their first album, ‘Way of the Geezer’, back in 2019 this relatively new band have already made their imprint on the scene with their unique take of metal/death core and are certainly not to miss.
SEETHING AKIRA
This local band are perfect for fans of Electric Callboy and The Prodigy with their perfect mesh of electronic and nu-metal sounds. A band on the up and sure to go far as they gain popularity in the underground scene, broadening what it means to be part of said scene. Since forming, they have released a total of 4 studio albums with the latest, ‘Cancel Estate’ being released in 2024. Another one for moshers for sure.
THE NIGHTMARES
Currently on tour supporting Save Face, The Nightmares are a solid choice for fans of The Cure and Placebo. With a headline tour under their belt and various tours supporting the likes of Holding Abscence and Creeper this Post-Punk, Gothic band are quickly developing a loyal fan base which despite their more “relaxed” tones, should not be underestimated as they will bring the lively to live. The Newport based band have just released their new album ‘Fire In Heaven’ so look forward to hearing ‘Something In The Dark’, ‘Letting It All Go’ an, from their previous album, ‘From Above’.
HARBINGER
A staple to the UK underground metal scene, Harbinger will be the ones to look out for those always running to the pit. With aggressive riffs, heavy drums and growling vocals they’ll be a great offering for those who love Knocked Loose and Parkway Drive. After merging onto the scene back in 2015 this London based band have released 3 EPs along with their debut album ‘Compelled to Suffer’ back in 2019. Their latest single ‘No Vermin’ is a great look at what this band has in store in the, hopefully, near future.
DREAM STATE
Dream State are not ones to miss, with the crunchy vocals of lead singer Jessie Powell, the influences like A Day To Remeber and Linkin Park shine through with this female-fronted post-hardcore band. Formed in South Wales back in 2014. Catch them before they head to France on tour with TEN56 at the end of April. Prepare to scream along and mosh to the drops of their latest single ‘Bloom’ as well as the tunes from their debut album ‘Primrose Path’.
SAVE FACE
Stopping at Takedown on their debut UK headline tour this New Jersey band are definitely a must see. For fans of My Chemical Romance, AFI and Creeper, get ready to mosh, crowd surf and have an all round great time. This is their penultimate show of the tour and the last time they’ll be playing the majority of their latest album ‘Another Kill for the Highlight Reel’ so look forward to songs like ‘Sharpen Your Teeth’ and ‘GLITTER’. Their stage presence is iconic with the band (and fans) donning red jumpsuits where the band coined the nickname Gay Slipknot.
Words: Chloe
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