Rabidfest 2025: Breaking Down The Bands #9: Raised By Owls!

Would you Adam and Eve it? On the eve of Bloodstock 2025 we’re talking about last years Bloodstock survivors Raised By Owls? Isn’t that a strange coincidence? Why you ask? The Extreme Metal band who love a bit of satirical humour are playing Rabidfest in November, that’s why! Oxfords biggest Metal weekender will of course take place on 1st and 2nd November at The Bullingdon with a pre-show at The Jericho Tavern on the 31st October. That means Halloween, so blood, guts and gore will be mixed in with the beers, sweat and tears when the mosh pits get crazy this year! This year the events will once again raise money for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation so you can enjoy yourself guilt free, knowing its all for a good cause! It’s even better if you bring a friend…

Here’s the line-up in full!:

Friday: The Fight Before Rabidfest on 31st October at The Jericho Tavern:

Confessions Of A Traitor
Ocean Planet
Imperial Avenue
Along The Pines

Saturday: 1st November at The Bullingdon:

Raging Speedhorn (headliner)
Kill II This
Raised By Owls
Arimea
Komatsu
Thrashatouille
Korrupto
Talassum
Break Them
R.P.C

Sunday: 2nd November at The Bullingdon:

Red Method (headliner)
Seething Akira
Redeemon
Froglord
Until 9
Collapser
Lethal Evil
Liquid Dogs
Aei-Fierlen
Mondegreen

Sometimes song titles speak for themselves and with Raised By Owls releasing cuts like “Going For A Pint With Corpsegrinder” , “Strictly Come Danzig” and “I’m sorry I wore a Dying Fetus t-shirt to your Babys Gender reveal” you might think you know what they’re all about. But wait. There is more. The Extreme Metal band who hail from Derby are known for creating a potent blend of Death Metal infused Grindcore and feature in their ranks a pair of former members of Outergods and a current member of Suodeth. A growing concern since their arrival on the scene in 2016 they’ve subsequently smashed out of the park an unholy trinity of albums as well as a handful of charity singles, raising money for the likes of Mental Health charity Mind and Ashbourne Animal Welfare because they have heart. As if that wasn’t enough, vocalist Sam Strachan has got his Mum on board to do comedy skits with him and the rest of the band because they love satirical humour. Their t-shirt slogans “Jesus probably isn’t that bad” and “Awful music for awful people” maybe familiar to Cradle Of Filth and August Burns Red fans but it’s done in jest in an era where some bands take themselves a little too seriously.

Having already seen Raised By Owls live back in April when they opened for Irish Thrash lords Gama Bomb, we can tell you based on our eye witness account that they’re a band you want to see on stage. That’s because aside from the fretboard smouldering riffs, skull cracking percussion and caustic vocals that are pretty much a given in Extreme Metal they are simply so much fun. It’s not just inflatables like Party Cannon but Mr Blobby, dildos and if you’re lucky you might win a prize in their game show. If their performance at Rabidfest is anything like the London show we saw them at, Strachan will put on a gold sequin covered jacket and become the host with the most, giving away prizes for best headbanger, best gutturals and best Barney Greenway dance between three of their finest unhinged masterpieces. What’s not to love about that? Get a ticket, get to to The Bullingdon and join us in witnessing one of the most entertaining bands this green and pleasant land has to offer at Rabidfest!

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Rabidfest again this year alongside Red Death Media, Moomin Merchandise, Moshville Times, Moshville Radio, Metalplanetmusic, GraphicsFix, TwoFace Promotions, Blackstar Amplification 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 1st and 2nd November 2025:

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

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