Rabidfest 2024: Breaking Down The Bands #11: 40,000 Leagues!

The beautiful thing about a Metal Weekender like Rabidfest is that the chances are you’re going to hear a band who you did know of prior to the occasion. If you’re lucky they’re going to infect your mind with their infernal nonsense and inevitably convert you to their way of thinking. It’s happened before and it will happen again. Hopefully the artists in question are sandwiched between two bands you know and love (and you don’t spill your beverage of choice when your jaw hits the floor). One thing is however for certain, Rabidfest 2024 will be taking place at The Bullingdon in the heart of Oxford over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd November with 20 bands taking to the stage over two days! Here’s the line up in full…

Evile (Saturday Headliner)
Viscera (Sunday Headliner)
Cloven Hoof
Fury
Recall The Remains
Voidwalker
From Her Ashes
Imperium
Eschalon
Draconian Reign
Existentialist
Damaged Reich
As The World Dies
Rats Eat Rats
Forlorn
Ocean Planet
40000 Leagues
Theorist
Dead Man’s Pistol
Halfway Home

…and if you fancy the aforementioned pre-show, you can witness Seething Akira, Crostpaths and Eliminate The Middle Class at “The Night Before Rabidfest” warm up at The Jericho Tavern in Oxford on Friday 1st November!

So… who the f*** are 40,000 Leagues and are they worth spilling your pint for as you rush to get into the pit? Formed in 2016, they’re a Progressive Metalcore five piece hailing from Greater Manchester who have had the pleasure of turning stages to sawdust with everyone from Bokassa to the invading Americans Keith Wallen (of Breaking Benjamin) and Ryan McCombs (of Soil). Launching themselves into the Seven Seas of Rhye [Really?! A Queen joke?! FFS! ~ Ed.] with half an hour of power in debut EP “A New Beginning” back in 2017, they haven’t looked back since, waterfall releasing a collection of singles including an audacious cover of “Ain’t Nobody” by Rufus and Chaka Khan. If that was their audition for a spot on Fearless Records long running series “Punk Goes Pop” then they’d have a golden handshake at this point. Why? Because they take the finest elements of 2003 era American Metalcore and Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal and put in a teaspoon full of Iron Maiden style Progressive Metal. If that wasn’t enough, they have a sense of humour about them as their fun filled music video for “The Dragon Will Rise” demonstrates! So what can you expect when they take to the Devolution Magazine sponsored stage at this years Rabidfest? Think duelling guitar harmonies in the vein of Trivium from axe wielding pair Joe Leonard and Harry Hulme, pummelling percussion from drummer Paul Beesley, bombastic bass from Rick Wiltshire and classic raspy clean-ish vocals from Nathan ‘Nips’ Crossdale. Consider yourselves warned!

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Rabidfest again this year alongside Red Death Media, Moomin Merchandise, Metalplanetmusic, Moshville Times, GraphicsFix, TwoFace Promotions, Blackstar Amplification, DC Sound Attack 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 2nd and 3rd November 2024:

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

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