"10": The performances we’re expecting at Roadburn 2026 – Part D’

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As we feverishly prepare our schedules, the Roadburn Festival keeps expanding with exhibitions around the city, additional small sets by local artists, and of course its Offroad program, ensuring our days are filled with art and beauty. The final day of the Roadburn Festival is marked by fatigue, fewer stages perhaps, but a lot-really a lot-of interesting and experimental material throughout the day, which always carries that bittersweet feeling of the festival’s conclusion.
For the third time, Krallice will present their future vision on Sunday, April 19, while Slow Crush will return to perform "Thirst," as will Boris to dedicate the day to "Flood". Of course, we’ll also have the annual Q&A panel by Walter and Becky about their future plans, among the many different panels announced. After all, half the joy of Roadburn lies in the performances no one expects, also known as secret shows, usually held in the unique and beloved Skate Park venue. So, despite our selections and suggestions, we keep our eyes and ears open for sudden revelations, which in the past have given us incredibly powerful moments.
The anticipation is high-happy Easter to us, and stay tuned for our reports!

Spotify Playlist

Cover photo: Marilena Tsigkou

1

Siem Reap (15.10 - 15.50, The Engine Room)

Coming from the ranks of Oathbreaker and collaborations with Wiegedood, Gilles Demolder is a familiar figure in the scene and the festival alike. In his personal musical time, Gilles expresses himself through a softer in weight yet equally emotionally intense approach, via his solo project Siem Reap, which lies somewhere between folk and indie rock. Having already released two full-length albums, Gilles comes to deliver the antidote to the brutality we expect to endure from Oathbreaker the previous night. At the same time, he offers a great opportunity to get lost in his world and lyrics, which are full of conscious existentialism.

2

Primitive Man performing Observance (16.20 - 17.35, The Terminal)

Sometimes, the metaphorical heaviness we encounter in music forgets its units of measurement, defies the laws of physics, and turns into metaphysics. A case that fully fits this observation is the existence of Primitive Man. Their years of experience now establish them as an incomparable force within the realm of extreme heavy sludge sound, creating tensions and walls of sound matched by very few. Long compositions that shake you to your core are their main ingredient-so bring earplugs, and don’t say we didn’t warn you. For the second time-since in previous days they will present earlier material-Primitive Man choose to perform their latest work, "Observance," in its entirety, and we are ready for it.

3

Inter Arma performing The Cavern (17.20 - 18.20, Main Stage)

One song. Forty-five minutes. Absolute devastation. About ten years ago, Inter Arma conceived the idea of gathering various recordings from their past tours into one massive work, partly inspired by "Dopesmoker" by Sleep. Old acquaintances of the festival, since the year before last they presented a wide range of their material, both from the excellent "New Heaven", older tracks, and even a surprise covers set (something they really enjoy doing). They’ve told us a lot about all that, if you’re interested. So what was left for Inter Arma to do at Roadburn? Of course, to perform a work like "The Cavern" in its entirety-a rare opportunity for fans and new listeners alike. If you’ve ever looked Mike Paparo in the eyes while he invokes hell, you know what awaits you.

4

Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat (18.10 - 19.10, The Engine Room)

A major live wish and a huge love of ours, the music of Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat magically blends folk and electronic music. Absent from the spotlight for some time, Stef Heeren’s personal project returned at just the right moment-and what better place for that than Roadburn. Since the festival hosted him through the band Use Knife (a revealing experience, as you’ll read in our report), there was clearly room for Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat as well, whose very name evokes ritualistic incantations. One of the performances we strongly urge you not to miss, as you’ll rarely find anything like it again.

5

Sanam (18.40 - 19.40, Next Stage)

In a very difficult scheduling situation, with this set overlapping with both the previous and the next one, we may only manage to catch a brief glimpse of Sanam-the choice will be made in the queues-but we simply cannot overlook this multi-talented group. Western folklore and Eastern tradition coexist within Sanam, offering an intoxicating result fully reflected in their mysterious and almost fairy-tale-like album from last year, "Sametou Sawtan". A choice that those unfamiliar might pass by, but it would truly be a shame and unfair. Hopefully we’ll catch them, even for ten minutes.

6

Warning (19.10 - 20.10, Main Stage)

No more illusions. Warning return discographically after 20 years. They are, of course, old acquaintances of the festival, while their performance of "Watching From A Distance" at Roadburn 2017 was recorded and ultimately made history. Patrick Walker remains a loyal companion of the festival, and we also had the pleasure of enjoying him in a heartfelt and emotional set at Paradox last year as 40 Watt Sun-but here as well, let’s not forget that. As we await new material along with their iconic tracks (we saw them abroad last year-the fact that we’re still alive is a miracle), this performance is expected to be one of the most emotionally warm of the entire festival. We’re excited like little kids.

7

Street Sects (19.50 - 20.30, The Terminal)

The industrial noise duo Street Sects are made of a different creative fabric. Their rhythm is unparalleled, their inspiration almost inexhaustible. After taking quite some time to release a full-length album following their first two records (though EPs kept coming), last August’s double strike found them both as Street Sex (in this form we’ll enjoy them the previous day) and as Street Sects, releasing two fiery albums-more dance-oriented in the first case and more aggressive in the second. Their performance, however much of it we catch, will serve as a necessary injection of adrenaline after the visceral pain of Warning. 

8

Dan Meyer (20.10 - 20.50, Hall Of Fame)

This name might not immediately ring a bell-but it should, as he is the guitarist and one half of the vocals of Agriculture. Amid recordings and the overwhelming demands of a band that skyrocketed into the musical stratosphere within just a few years, Dan Meyer managed to find not only his spiritual path but also space for his personal album, "Kneeling." In this aspect, Dan moves away from obvious black metal, using his electric guitar to define a singer/songwriter creation based on the softer side of his voice and more primitive musical models. An interesting choice for those seeking something heavy-those needing a bit more joy will find Orcutt Shelley Miller across the road.

9

Ak’chamel (21.00 - 21.40, The Engine Room)

If we had to choose one performance closest to a shamanic ritual, Ak’chamel would win without any competition. Raw acoustic psychedelia with musique concrète elements, grotesque masks that ward off evil spirits, and an abundance of sincerity in their animistic world. After all, their name means "light from the sky." If one needs an introduction, it should be through their recent "Rawskulled", which presents their dark mysticism as an almost uninterrupted work, filled with voices of madness and growls of beasts. Whether drawn by the music or curiosity, a glimpse of their performance will be inevitable.

10

Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean (22.10 - 23.00, The Terminal)

A band named after Thou-was it possible they wouldn’t appear on the Roadburn stage? Of course not. Thus, the almost death metal sludge of Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean finds its place at The Terminal. With an impressive recent release-their second album "Obsession Destruction"-and a new, fierce and savage EP, "Let Us Not Speak Of Them But Look And Pass On," the band arrives at a pivotal moment to massively expand their audience. What’s interesting is that to this day, no one knows who is behind Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean, adding even more to their grotesque mystery.