Mangata Festival returned to Nottingham on July 12th, bringing with it a thunderous celebration of heavy music spread across multiple venues in the city. But the festivities began even earlier with Solgata, the official pre-party held at Saltbox Sports Bar & Kitchen.
A fitting warm-up to the weekend ahead, it set the tone for what would become a relentless sonic assault on the senses. XS Noize was there across both days to witness it all unfold.
At Solgata, Employed To Serve, the formidable metalcore act from Woking, tore through the intimate venue with blistering intensity. With vicious vocal work and groove-laden guitar riffs, they set the bar sky-high for the rest of the weekend. The energy was unrelenting, and the crowd matched it beat for beat—an explosive start to Mangata.
The following day saw the city centre transformed into a headbanger’s haven, with four venues—Rescue Rooms, Ghost Nightclub, Red Rooms, and Tap’n Tumbler—hosting a non-stop rotation of metal, hardcore, and everything in between. Wherever you went, crowds were moshing, headbanging, and soaking up every riff and roar with glee.
Over at Ghost Nightclub, Black Coast brought their Stoke-on-Trent-flavoured nu-metal swagger to a packed room. Their slick, high-energy performance was impossible not to move to—smiles, dancing, and chaos in equal measure.
In the gloomier, grittier Rescue Rooms, local favourites The Fifth Hundred kept the crowd on its toes—both musically and literally. As inflatable toys flew across the room, their crushing set proved they know how to blend brutal sounds with playful spirit.
Back at Tap’n Tumbler, Pulse delivered one of the heaviest sets of the day. Their blend of thunderous breakdowns and precise metalcore groove hit like a freight train, shaking the venue to its foundations.
One of the final performances came from Esoterica at Ghost Nightclub. Their arrival shifted the atmosphere entirely—ushering in a cinematic, melodic wave that swept over the room. Their unique soundscape brought a sense of grandeur to the festival’s close and reminded everyone of the beauty that lies in contrast.
From bone-shattering breakdowns to soaring atmospheres, Mangata Festival 2024 was a celebration of heaviness in all its forms. A true showcase of both local talent and national acts, this year’s edition only reinforces Nottingham’s place on the UK’s metal map. We’ll be counting down the days until next year’s return.
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