Once again, I would like to thank the incredible team at Rabidfest for allowing Chaos Under No Ties to come to their event. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
Mondegreen opened Sunday at Rabidfest with a set that was nothing short of explosive. A clear evolution from their Metal to the Masses days, they brought the energy needed to wake up a crowd. It’s not very often that Mikki and I agree on things, however one thing that never gets argued over is that NuMetal reigns supreme. Their set drew the biggest Sunday morning crowd seen at the festival (according to my terrible memory), proving that NuMetal isn’t just alive but thriving.
Ael‑Fierlen were up next, and our very own Chaos Gremlin OB took the stage with his bandmates Steph, Rob, and “Ginger”/Will. As a death metal band, you know that means we only get two songs (I’m only partially joking) and they go on forever, but hearing them live, it felt like no time at all. By the time they finished, I was rooting for more! Steph’s beautiful clean vocals hit stellar notes, perfectly balanced against Rob’s harsh screams, and together they created the first mosh pit of the day.
I have to give a special shoutout to OB for powering through even when his in‑ear monitors were cranked way too high, a quick fix, but I definitely saw the grimace on his face. Their staging was bold, with nature‑themed mic stands adding atmosphere, and despite the crowd not being typically mosh‑heavy, a pit broke out. Of course, Mikki dove straight in. Riding the wave of their September EP release, Ael‑Fierlen are charging ahead with a second headlining gig on the horizon, and after this set, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
On a not so positive note, a piece of gear was stolen from the vehicle of one of the Ael-Fierlen members – if spotted please reach out!
Liquid Dogs brought their funk‑metal fire back to Rabidfest after tearing up Metal to the Masses. With dual vocals, head‑banging breakdowns, and infectious energy, the Reading crew proved why they were welcomed back. Loud, tight, and impossible not to move to! Liquid Dogs are a band I can’t wait to see again!
Making their Oxford debut, London’s Lethal Evil smashed their set at Rabidfest. With only two tracks on Spotify, “Lone Wolf” and “We Fight,” they summoned hellfire on stage after the vocalist’s cry to “open the gates to hell.” And open them they did. Their groovy thrash-death metal sound hit hard, backed by fun stage names like Evil E, JP Lethal, and Diabolical C. As someone who uses a pseudonym, Doll is rather jealous she did not have these guys to help her out.
Though I’m biased toward Oxford’s Metal to the Masses (obviously), it’s worth noting Lethal Evil reached the finals of the London edition in 2023 and tore up Bloodstock in 2024. Oxford, don’t sleep on them and please make sure this isn’t their last visit!
I couldn’t be happier to announce that we finally had a band who steered clear of yet another Limp Bizkit cover. Instead, they tore into “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against The Machine, and absolutely nailed it!!! The dual vocals hit hard and kept the crowd fired up. Just a killer set from start to finish!
Having first caught Until 9 at Hammerdown, my expectations for their Rabidfest set were high and they absolutely delivered! This powerhouse three‑piece proved that a small lineup can pack a massive punch, bringing top‑tier live quality and infectious energy to the stage. As another nu‑metal band on the rise (and maybe proof that nu‑metal really is making a comeback, god I thoroughly hope so!!), they played a tight, focused set with incredible vocals and razor‑sharp instrumentation. Every track hit hard, every moment felt locked in, and by the end of their performance, they had definitely made some new fans!
We managed to catch Until9 after their set and I even strongarmed OB into joining me for the interview!
Today really was the day for excellent staging, with Ael-Fierlen taking us to the woods, Froglord took us to the altar? Praise the frog I guess. It may have been my first time seeing Froglord, but they made sure it won’t be the last. Their crushing doom metal sound filled the room, drawing one of the busiest crowds of the day. The merch line stretched from table to bar, and their name kept popping up in conversations all afternoon. With robes, frog masks, and eerie green lighting, their staging was as immersive as their sound. Managed by Mikki or not, Froglord proved they’re a standout act – no bias needed.
Redeemon stormed this year’s Metal to the Masses with a set that stood out thanks to their very cool trombone solos, adding a unique twist to their sound. I say unique, I am very new to Sca-Metal. Their stage presence was impeccable, and the lead singer gave it everything, delivering a cracking show from what I caught before I had to duck out mid‑set for an interview.
As Mikki very lovingly put it, Seething Akira have been in the game for a while and it shows, not in their appearance but rather by their incredible performance. They were absolutely mesmerising to watch, with the crowd going wild from start to finish. We caught up with them afterwards for an interview, and I’ll happily keep repeating this: they told us we were really fun and even enjoyed my little hammer games! That’s officially part of every sign‑off now! And if you missed them this time, don’t worry!! You can catch Seething Akira tearing it up at Bloodstock next year.
I had seen Red Method before and knew they would bring the festival to a fantastic end, and they absolutely brought the house down. I even caught my train with just 30 seconds to spare, but honestly, if I had missed it I wouldn’t have been upset; Red Method are worth suffering a rail replacement bus for. They played an incredibly heavy set, had the stage presence to turn anyone into a fan and their talent showed in waves. From start to finish I did not know who to focus on! Everyone put their all into the performance and I doubt a single person walked away with anything negative to say – unless they’re saying the set was too short!
To top it off, they teased the possibility of something new coming our way soon, so the future looks exciting! Red Method also brought out possibly my favourite instrument purely because of the name, a Keytar, from what I understand – it doesn’t take much to entertain me obviously!
Rabidfest 2025 was truly a work of art from start to finish, the bands bounced off each other so well and with the incredible headliners, this is a festival to remember for many years to come!
Some shows are live, some pre-recorded. All times are GMT
