Today marks my third and final day here at Radar Festival in Manchester. After guiding you through two somewhat different ways of reviewing already, I’ve got one special approach left which challenges me to stay focused throughout the entirety of this day. As I found myself strolling around the festival grounds yesterday, I thought to myself that, if there was ever a moment for me to try and watch every single band perform at one particular day of a festival, tomorrow would be it. Well, tomorrow turned into today so here I am, at 1pm in the afternoon, ready for what will probably be a long but hopefully brilliant day of music. Ready to see every single band on today’s line-up.

Lucky for me, Radar only has two stages which makes this challenge quite straightforward, bar the fact that the first seven bands of today will all be playing back to back which means: no time for breaks. It certainly makes this day feel like a bit of a marathon run, but I’m all here for it. For the next five hours, I will consistently be treated to live music after which a short ten minute break between sets will be all I get to take a quick breather. Starting off at Stage Two, where Maebe is about to take stage.

Show 1: Maebe, 13:00-13:30, Stage Two
If this show is a harbinger of what’s to come for the rest of this day then bloody hell, I’m up for a great one. Maebe’s instrumental math rock is probably the best start I could’ve wished for on this jam-packed day. Reminding me of early days Bicurious (except for Maebe having an additional three members and a total of three guitarists, too), this stuff is right up my street and I wonder if this band, together with Benthos, will turn out to be my favourite act of this day. Or so he says with another 11 bands to watch today… Ha! Also, Maebe’s members are amongst those with the prettiest guitars I’ve seen so far this weekend. What’s up with these math musicians always rocking out on the sexiest gear?

Show 2: Ihlo, 13:30-14:00, Main Stage
My first transition of this day will be one towards some slightly more traditional progressive metal, brought to me by Ihlo. Even though I don’t listen to music like this all too often, it’s always a guarantee for some high quality songs brought to you by class musicians. And, if I’m honest: no matter the genre, I always enjoy watching masters of their instruments take the stage. As a drummer myself, I will easily be able to keep myself entertained for the duration of the set just by watching a prog drummer alone.

Show 3: Benthos, 14:00-14:30, Stage Two
Sadly suffering a little from the generally disappointing mixes I’ve heard at Stage Two this weekend, Italian experimental metalists Benthos were still absolutely stellar and did in fact turn out to be one of my favourite bands of this weekend. Not all too surprising, since Benthos was one of the main reasons I came to this festival in the first place. Also, seen as they have released one of my favourite albums of 2025, I was naturally going to have a great time seeing these guys play. Benthos really deserves more credit than they have gotten up to this point. I mean, bassist Alberto Fiorani switches between a 7-string bass and a fretless 6-string bass every other song. Need I say more?!

Show 4: Elwood Stray, 14:30-15:10, Main Stage
Being an up and coming metalcore band such as German Elwood Stray must be tough. Like, you’re doing everything right: you’ve released some perfectly produced tracks, got a great stage performance, and you incorporate some of the slickest breakdowns into your songs. Yet, since nobody quite knows you yet (and it’s only half past two on a Sunday afternoon, also), you have to deal with a crowd that’s only just as awake as I would be at this time of day when I was 16-years-old: barely. I guess I can barely blame lead singer Maik Nehrkorn for calling out the minimal moshing going on.

Show 5: LUNA KILLS, 15:10-15:50, Stage Two
Not only does Radar offer a wide variety of metal sub genres (every band I’ve seen today alone falls under a totally different umbrella!), they also make sure to live up to their name by booking some of the hottest up and coming and under the radar acts from across the border. Metal hotspots such as Finland and France have been well represented this festival, something that Helsinki based LUNA KILLS showcases quite clearly at Stage Two right now. Being yet another band with high production standards and very well-rounded songs, they got one up on many others by also having a lead who’s living up to that name like no other in singer Lotta Ruutiainen. Also, quick shout-out to the tech of this band as they hands down provided the best mix at this stage all weekend.

Show 6: Einar Solberg, 15:50-16:30, Main Stage
What an entrance! Norwegian giant Einar Solberg walks on stage looking as smart as ever in his full-blown dinner suit. The lead singer of Leprous showcases his solo stuff here today and is assisted by some great prog musicians and… a cello! All in all, an enjoyable and slightly whimsical prog set, though I’m struggling to get the full grasp of it after all the madness I’ve seen today already.

Show 7: DALI / The Dali Thundering Concept, 16:30-17:10, Stage Two
Previously known as The Dali Thundering Concept but now simply as DALI, the French modern metal band really is one of the few bands to be considered hardcore I’ve seen all weekend. Safe to say: it makes for a fun contrast after coming from Einar Solberg’s somewhat calm set just now. DALI’s deathcore/progressive metal cocktail brings a little bit of 2000trees’ The Cave to Radar Festival.

Show 8: Voyager, 17:20-18:10, Main Stage
After a brief food break (and accidentally sitting down in a puddle of water…), it’s time for me to continue my journey with Voyager: an Australian progressive metal band not averse to a proper show. Apparently, they even participated in (check notes) the 2023 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest where they finished up being ninth overall, but all I see is a couple of joyful Aussies in glittery outfits rocking about with some of the catchiest and most comical tunes of the weekend, though lead singer Daniel Estrin’s story about battling cancer was really heartfelt and brought us down to earth real quick.

Show 9: Employed To Serve, 18:20-19:00, Stage Two
One of the UK’s hottest metal bands out there. Period. Employed To Serve obliterated Stage Two and were really setting a high standard for up and coming metal bands from the United Kingdom, though they obviously have many years ahead of many young’uns out there already. Top act. They could’ve easily been playing the main stage, I reckon…

Show 10: The Pineapple Thief, 19:10-20:10, Main Stage
…especially since the next show I’m seeing there is The Pineapple Thief. It’s clear the Radar Festival crowd is still lingering in the heavy metalcore vibes rather than slowing down again since the turnout for the late 90s/00s progressive rock band isn’t all too great. To be honest, I can’t blame ‘em. If anything, I also find myself settling down and zoning out while the Bruce Soord fronted group (featuring Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison on drums) is just doing their thing in the background. After almost seven hours of going hard to all sorts of metal, I can’t complain about taking it easy for a minute. Great band, but it did feel a little like programming Mew at the back of an early days The Wombats or Arctic Monkeys set.

Show 11: ten56., 20:10-21:20, Stage Two
Can’t believe I’m about to wrap up my Stage Two experience here already. I don’t think I could’ve ended it on a better note, though. This stage has proven itself to be the heavier one of the two and by having ten56. closing it off, we’re really going out with a blast. Nothing beats a little bit of deathcore on a Sunday evening, especially not after the dull set I’ve just witnessed at the Main Stage. 100% will be checking out more of ten56.’s stuff online after this weekend. Awesome band.

Show 12: Animals As Leaders, 21:30-22:50, Main Stage
There it is. That wall of sound I’ve been waiting for all this weekend. Yes, I did get a good taste of it at times but Animals As Leaders – the only Main Stage headliner I’ve been able to see this weekend – really know how to do things properly. Instrumental prog metal things, that is. Honestly, all you can really do at this point is stare at these three musicians with your mouth wide open, trying to capture everything you see happening right there in front of you. At times, I could barely follow anything drummer Matt Garstka was hitting, let alone Tosin Abasi’s ridiculous guitar picking or Javier Reyes killing it on the band’s ‘replacement bass’, or second 8-string guitar. This band truly is one of a kind and plays some proper djent like I’ve never witnessed live before. Everyone that has ever touched a guitar or sat behind a drum kit can only watch in awe how this band unfolds itself into one of the most impressive acts I’ve seen out there. Instrumental metal compositions of the highest order.

And there you have it. A late one, I warned you! But, alas, after three days of Radar Festival: it’s time to call it a day. I started off my reviews this weekend by saying how my first day will be all about discovering music for me. How wrong could I have been. In fact, all three days were chock full of fantastic acts I will pick up as I travel back home to The Netherlands and prepare myself for my final festival of 2026: Haldern Pop. For now, I’ll be calling it a day. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with three different styles of reviewing. I didn’t really enjoy editing these reviews at 12:30am on a Monday morning as much, so I’m not quite sure if I will review my forthcoming festivals and gigs in the same style as these ones. Who knows where we’ll end up. For now, I would like to thank you for reading my festival reviews and I hope to welcome you again on Jam of Today for another Jam, tomorrow. Or, Today. A Jam. Every day. For now: good night!