Mad About Rock

  Fortress Festival, one of Europe’s biggest black metal festivals, has revealed two more bands for its fourth edition set to take place at Scarborough Spa on 30-31 May 2026. London's Akercocke will perform a worldwide exclusive full album set of their acclaimed 2003 release, “Choronzon”. The album was praised by the scene when it was released, with many publications naming it album of the year, including Kerrang! and Terrorizer. Formed in 1997, the band is known for their extreme sound that blends death, black and progressive metal elements. Akercocke said: "Akercocke will perform Choronzon, in full, at this historic venue. As we begin the countdown to May 2026 we invite all to join us in celebrating Choronzon at this truly special event." Joining the bill are Norwegian black metal duo Whoredom Rife, who will headline the Ocean Room. Formed in Trondheim in 2014, the band is a part of the contemporary Norwegian black metal scene, creating a sound that pays homage to the g...

  Fortress Festival, one of Europe’s biggest black metal festivals, has revealed thirteen new bands for the fourth edition of the event set to take place at Scarborough Spa on 30-31 May 2026. Following the earlier announcement of Old Man's Child, the project of longtime ex-Dimmu Borgir guitarist Galder, as the Saturday headliner, the festival will be closed on Sunday by Gallowbraid, the US black/folk metal project of Jake Rogers, in what will be the project's worldwide live debut. The Norwegian experimental black metal band Dødheimsgard will perform their latest album “Black Medium Current” in its entirety and exclusively at Fortress. The American atmospheric black metal band Abigail Williams will return to the UK for the first time in eight years for a UK exclusive - and potentially final ever UK - set at Fortress Festival. The German black metal band Groza is also set to make their British return for the first time in three years in a UK exclusive set. The dungeon synth pione...

This November/December, Ensiferum will embark on their "Path To Victory" North American headlining tour, featuring Kalmah, Abigail Williams, and Aenimus as support. Ensiferum's Sami Hinkka (Bass/Vocals) comments: "Hi folks! It's time to get back on the road for one last time before we head to studio to record the next Ensiferum album. We couldn't be more thrilled about the upcoming North America tour! It's gonna be fireworks of metal for the whole evening because we'll share the stage with awesome bands: Kalmah, Abigail Williams and Aenimus!" Kalmah adds: "Everybody knows what Santa Claus does but what happens when these two bearded creatures appear at once? I mean Swamplord and that other to the other guy..." Abigail Williams adds: "After taking a year off to complete our new album, we will hit the road with our friends Ensiferum, Kalmah and Aenimus in November. Expect a set list full of new songs and a couple of old favori...