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2025 marks the third incarnation of RADAR Festival at the O2 Victoria Warehouse. Despite the shroud of grey skies the impressive industrial red brick work contrasts against the sky and the modern buildings that surround it, including Old Trafford situated next door. RADAR prides itself in being an inclusive festival with wide appeal from prog to extreme metal, and that’s reflected in the love and diversity of fans eagerly waiting for this year’s festival to begin.
The run up to the 2025 edition hasn’t entirely been smooth sailing as the festival’s organisers were forced to remove Saturday headliners Bob Vylan from the line-up against their wishes and subsequently experienced a flood of hate comments from all sides online. It’s a nuanced and difficult situation for anyone to find themselves in, especially at the 11th hour. Despite this, there is excitement and optimism—determined to make this year another great one.
Bristol’s high octane Mother Vulture kick off the festival with an engaging rock sound infused with alt and punk. For the first set on the Sneak Energy stage, there’s already a good turn out among the crowd who are already getting stuck in with headbangers and dancers alike. Across the setlist is energetic mix of the rhythmic and the melodic cleans and fiery Harsh. RADAR is a safe space in metal, and Mother Vulture highlight this making clear their views: “Free Palestine”. The clear message of fighting for equality in this space, is evident from the off. First to step out onto the Kerrang! stage is German powerhouse FLOYA. Their fully immersive blend of rock and EDM also incorporates prog and post- elements. It’s dreamy and provides both moments of serenity and excitement. FLOYA’s setlist includes the uplifting Wonders and the anthemic, atmospheric Epiphany.
Tropic Gold unleash a genre blending setlist over on the Sneak Energy stage. It’s a significant mood shift from Floya’s uplifting vibe into an attack of thundering heaviness, immersed with alt pop aspects and electronics. Lake Malice go all out on the Kerrang! stage soaking the room in a haze of hyperpop-metal, anime aesthetics and a futuristic, dystopian vibe. Joined by dancers from Kaos Kreative, the energy is electric. Lake Malice use their art and their platform to call out injustice—Creepers highlights ongoing issues of groping and misogyny while openly exploring mental health struggles and neurodivergence in Scatterbrain.
AVRALIZE keep the momentum going over on the Sneak Energy Stage. It’s a hard-hitting heaviness that is balanced with soaring melodies. Breakdowns carry a destructive weight while also offering a vulnerability that resonates with their audience. As Everything Unfolds burst straight into their set, making their presence known with a dramatic entrance onto the Kerrang! stage. Despite an impromptu karaoke set two songs in sparked by a mic malfunction, the metal outfit dive straight back into to a ferocious display of crushing heavy breakdowns and emotive compelling melodies. Crowd favourites Ultraviolet and Felt Like Home resonate, and following a difficult year for the band since losing their drummer Jamie Gowers, they ensure to continue to remember him. Electro-pop-rock is on offer from Helsinki, Finland-hailing quartet Cyan Kicks, with the Sneak Energy stage ramped up with catchy hooks.
With a dinosaur, astronauts and mime artist in the mosh pit, As December Falls bring a wild celebration of all things emo to the Kerrang! stage. Rock party anthems soon have the crowd singing along as the quartet kick off the evening with their contagious spirit. German trio Future Palace take to the Sneak Energy stage for their first appearance at a festival in the UK. Thrilling heavy bursts and more melodic sections are delivered with Future Palace’s open and honest lyrics. Paradise is a personal expression of struggles with depression through anguish fuelled screams and dark themes with a touch of the anthemic. Calling out inequality and misogyny, The Echoes Of Disparity sees Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds join the band on stage for a powerful performance.
Zeal & Ardor’s unique fusion of African-American spirituals with black metal produces a haunting, atmospheric and emotional sound. Their avant-garde quality is entirely captivating. The band are in full command of the Kerrang! stage, with the audience fully mesmerised. Stunning vocal harmonies, sound effects reminiscent of metal chains and poignant lyrics make for an epic show. Switching it up with an industrial gothic flair, are this evening’s headliners on the Sneak stage: GHØSTKID. Visceral and monstrous, the almost cavernous setting of the stage evokes the perfect underground, goth-esque nightclub vibe complete with obliterating breakdowns. Carpenter Brut transform the Kerrang! stage into an industrial EDM paradise for their headline slot. Mesmerising pulsating beats, ‘80s-inspired synths, textural sound scaping all amasses into a sonic wave flooding the audience.
Words by Holly Royle
Photos by Will Robinson (Instagram)
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