Rabidfest 2023: Breaking Down The Bands #20: Maelstrom!

Last week may have brought the news that both Johanna Rey and Indecorum will no longer be performing at Rabidfest 2023 but fear not as the line up has been restored to twenty (yes 20) bands with the addition of relentless Hardcore outfit Maelstrom and crushing Grindcore unit Fetus Destruction. The fifth anniversary of Oxfords finest Metal Weekender will take place over 4th and 5th November at The Bullingdon where you can expect blood, sweat and beers in the mosh pit in front of a packed Devolution Magazine sponsored main stage. The Festival is all for charity and this year the profits will be going to the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation! Ticket and Merch links are below but before we get to that, here’s the line up in full…

Bound In Fear (headliner)
Blaze Bayley (headliner)
Absolva
Ward XVI
Mortishead
Tribe Of Ghosts
Gutlocker
Imperium
From Her Ashes
Draconian Reign
Monasteries
Maelstrom
Reveller
LestWeForget
Fetus Destruction
Cage Fight
Stone Soup
Second Hour
Depolarize
Sworn Amongst

So who the f*** are Malestorm and why should you grab a ticket to Rabidfest to witness their shenanigans? They’re a South Wales based Metallic Hardcore who like a bit of Beatdown on the side. They have a prized pair EPs under their collective belts in 2021’s “The Powers That Be” and 2022’s “Perfect Storm“, front loaded with relentless riffs to crack your skull to while never being afraid to switch to a bit of downtempo groove to keep things fresh. While we can’t possibly predict a set list, fans favourites “Cut Your Teeth” and “Death Throes” are highly lightly to be performed so if you haven’t already had the pleasure, what are you waiting for? Rome wasn’t built in a day and Hell is unlikely to freeze over given the current climate crisis. Live fast, die young and check out Malestorm in the process. It’s the best way to do things. They’ve got listeners as far a field as Detroit Michigan for gowds sake! Nothing screams influence as much as a cover song and they’ve shared two in “The Product Is You” by Incendiary and “Hostile Architecture” by Every Time I Die whilst wearing Guilt Trip and Turnstile t-shirts respectively, which should tell you all you need to know…

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 will be going to the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation!

Rabidfest will take place at The Bullingdon in Oxford over the weekend of the 4th and 5th November 2023:

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

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