Rabidfest 2023: Breaking Down The Bands #2: Imperium!

In the seven days since chapter #1 of this year’s Breaking Down The Bands series we were broadsided by the news of not one but two bands have been added to the fifth anniversary of Rabidfest. As if that wasn’t enough, it turns out that one of those will be a headliner. They’ve only gone and blown the bloods doors off with Blaze Bayley of Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane fame for Saturday night! So we’re now at no less than nine bands announced so far…

Blaze Bayley
Absolva
Ward XVI
Mortishead
Tribe Of Ghosts
Gutlocker
Imperium
From Her Ashes
Draconian Reign

If Carlsberg did band names then they would choose the incredible opening cut from 2003’s “Through the Ashes Of Empires” by Machine Head as the name for a Groove Thrash outfit who grew up on pre-2000’s era Metal. Maybe they did and that’s where vocalist Ben Porter, lead guitarist Hardip Sagoo, drummer James Hawes, bassist Rapha Comes and rhythm guitarist Scott Lomas took the name Imperium from or maybe we’re just talking s***. Either way, it’s all entertainment and would make perfect sense given the influence of Metallica and Pantera heard bleeding through the bandages on their self titled debut EP.

That was enough to take them to the New Blood stage of last year’s incarnation of Bloodstock Open Air Festival as winners of the London segment of the Metal 2 The Masses competition. When it comes to ambition though that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Imperium. They inked a deal in blood with Unearthed Music  Management to ensure that they had the best opportunities for Underground Metal shows and have trodden the boards with Helgrind, Blood Oath and Red Method to name but a few. So at Rabidfest expect nothing short of a live performance with all the elements needed for  ultimate headbanging satisfaction…

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Rabidfest again this year alongside Red Death Media, Moomin Merchandise, Metalplanetmusic, Moshville Times, GraphicsFix, Unearthed Music and main stage sponsor Devolution Magazine. The Festival is all for charity and this year the profits going to the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation!

Rabidfest will take place at The Bullingdon in Oxford over the weekend of thr 4th and 5th November 2023. They’re not available as yet, but when they are:

Get your tickets here -> https://www.rabidfest.co.uk

Get your merch here -> https://shop.rabidfest.co.uk