Rabidfest 2026: Breaking Down The Bands #14: The Blade Itself!

“Back to the primitive, F*** all your politics, We got our life to live, The way we want to be!”

Everyone deserves a break from the nonsense this life has to offer so why not grab a friend, loved one or partner and head down to The Bullingdon in Oxford over Halloween weekend and let of some steam in the pit at Rabidfest? Oxfords finest Metal Weekender will take place on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November with twenty bands fighting to declare themselves as victors in the competition for inciting mosh pit violence. The bar will of course be stacked with your favourite beverages, you get a wrist band so you can step out for food during the 20 minutes between bands and there’s even a front lounge where you can chat with your mates if you so desire. What more could you ask for? How about the fact that Rabidfest are raising money for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation? What are you waiting for? Get a ticket and get in the pit! You know you want to!

Rabidfest itself will take place at The Bullingdon in Oxford over the weekend of the 31st October and 1st November 2026, here’s the line up in full:

Whether or not the band take their name from the dark, character-driven fantasy novel that serves as the first chapter of “The First Law” series by British author Joe Abercrombie or not, you’d have to ask The Blade Itself but one thing is for certain. The Metallic Hardcore band know how to write a razor sharp riff or two! The quartet have been all over the United Kingdom, sharing stages with the likes of Seething Akira, Stone Soup and Halloran not to mention Mind Over Metal Festival in August and a run in last years Metal 2 The Masses competition. Some might even argue that they earned their place at Rabidfest this year by playing warm up show Rabidfest Presents Sheri’s Birthday Black Mass last September which was headlined by Tribe Of Ghosts but that’s another story.

As a band The Blade Itself have influences that include Groove Metal, Hardcore and Metalcore and aren’t afraid to lean on those influences should their black hearts so desire as their freshly released EP “Lariat” demonstrates. A record which features songs that have been tried, tested and no doubt tweaked in the live arena since the bands inception in December 2024.  So check out the new record which we highly recommend, starting with the music video for “Innocent End” which is an absolute banger and then get ready to mosh, scream and bleed with The Blade Itself at Rabidfest!

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Rabidfest  again this year alongside Red Death Media, Moomin Merchandise, Chaos Under No Ties, Moshville Radio, 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 31st October and 1st November 2026:

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

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