Ten Bands You Must Check Out at A Night of Salvation & Damnation Festival

Taking place on November 2nd at the BEC Arena in Manchester, Damnation Festival is right around the corner, and once again, the festival has delivered a stonkingly good line-up. If a day filled with metal from a wide array of genres wasn’t enough, A Night of Salvation takes place the day before (Nov 1st) and equally boasts a stellar line-up. So good is the line-up of A Night of Salvation/Damnation Festival that creating a shortlist for this article was actually a bit tough. We’ve persevered though and come up with ten bands across both events that we think you must check out.

See you down the front.

Friday – A Night of Salvation
Cult Never Dies Stage – Underdark (1600-1630)

What a way to start off proceedings, Underdark might be one of two bands opening A Night of Salvation, but rest assured they will set a very high bar. Not only does their unique combination of black and post metal sound immense on record (Managed Decline is must listen), but live, they’re equally as strong. I love this band, and I think once you’ve seen them at A Night of Salvation, you will too.

Friday – A Night of Salvation
Pelagic Records Stage – Sugar Horse (1710-1750)

You’ve not lived until you’ve seen Sugar Horse live, and that was before they released their brand-new album, The Grand Scheme of Things to Come. I’ll be very surprised if the chatter in the BEC afterwards isn’t all about how amazing this band was. They’re a must see at A Night of Salvation, but they’re a must see anytime they roll through your town.

Friday – A Night of Salvation
Lou’s Brews Stage – Employed to Serve: Conquering in Full (1915-2010)

I’m not actually a big fan of ‘album in full’ sets, but I do accept it’s a part of what makes A Night of Salvation unique. Of all that is on offer, it’s heavy metalcore band, Employed to Serve doing their 2021 album, ‘Conquering’ in full that has my attention and should have yours. Not only is it the best Employed to Serve record to date, but it’s a brilliant showcase of their unique take on metalcore. A unique take that features more guitar technicality, is weighted towards a hardcore edge, but still has a delicious mainstream taste. This is going to be great and I can’t wait to hear Exist live.

Friday – A Night of Salvation
Pelagic Records Stage – A Swarm of the Sun (2010-2055)

Not content with releasing an album of the year contender with their latest full-length, An Empire, A Swarm of the Sun are bringing their immense sound to A Night of Salvation. I suspect this set is going to fly by, and by the end, I am going to be an emotional wreck. There is no doubt that the textured experience of this band on record will work live, but I simply can’t wait to find out for sure. This could be one of the most powerful sets of the entire two-day experience.

Saturday – Damnation
Eyesore Merch Stage – Pijn (1200-1230)

There’s a lot of fast and heavy bands across the stages of Damnation Festival, so why not start your day with something more avant-garde? It’s Pijn and their mastery of melancholic, thought-provoking, and powerful music is going to be very special in the live environment. Be prepared to be immersed, be prepared to be captivated, and be prepared to feel something, even if it’s only for 30 minutes.

Saturday – Damnation
Holy Goat Brewing Stage – 200 Stab Wounds (1550-1630)

By this stage… chances are you and I will be a couple of pints deep and hungry for something ugly and harsh. Thank goodness 200 Stab Wounds are playing the festival and promising a savage display of guttural and garish death metal. There are a couple of bands that I think you can rely on to give you neckache… this is one of them.

Saturday – Damnation
Eyesore Merch Stage – Hangman’s Chair (1720-1800)

Emotionally wrought doom from France, Hangman’s Chair are the creators of beautiful misery and once it takes hold, you won’t want to be anywhere else but wallowing in it with them. For 40-minutes I urge you come along and sink with me.

Saturday – Damnation
Pins & Knuckles Stage – Nails (1800-1845)

Another band liable to give you neckache, as well as some bruises if you’re mad enough to go near the pit. I’ve been waiting to see Nails for a very long time, like many of you, so let’s cause some freaking carnage during their set. You know they will.

Saturday – Damnation
Pins & Knuckles Stage – Russian Circles (2110-2200)

Not only a bucket list band for me, but a band I suspect might steal the entire show, Russian Circles’ instrumental post sound needs to be heard to be believed. Just try to deny its pull, it’s impossible and I suspect they’re going to pull in a huge crowd so get there early if you want to be part of an unforgettable show.

Saturday – Damnation
Holy Goat Brewing Stage – Dragged into Sunlight: Hatred for Mankind in Full (2200-2300)

Maybe your night is beginning to wind down and you’re eyeing up an exit. Maybe you’ve got time for one more band before you have to hit the road. In my opinion, the band you should then be seeing is Dragged into Sunlight ensuring any last muscles that aren’t aching get a good workout here. The extreme metal collective are always on form, but to make this show even more special, they will be performing their 2009 ‘Hatred For Mankind’ album in full. It’s going to be nasty.