Welcome to Call of the Wild 2026. A festival where you can watch your fave band play, then go stand next to them in the crowd. Where no one can make it to the toilet in good time because everyone knows each other and we all need to have a chat and a catch-up on route. Where punk, thrash, prog, metal, piratecore, fancy dress, dancing, singing and sweating (goddamn, it was a hot one) and rock – lots and lots of glorious hard rock – fill the days and nights. Wanna go back there? Wanna live vicariously through us? Go get yourself a nice cup of something nice, then come have a read of Jo Wright, aka Goth Girl Writing’s, review…
SATURDAY: Day Two
HOLYRUDE VAULT
Trailblazer openers HolyRude Vault start their shift loud and full throttle, and let their cascade of attitude and adrenaline rock aggression loose. It’s not a full tent at the start, but those who are here move straight to the front, showing no fear for the highway-hitting hard rock coming their way. HolyRude Vault are throwing themselves around the stage and hurling out the tunes. They start the day as though they’re headlining it.
RANSOM
Bass, bass and more bass to wake not only those still asleep at COTW but also the dead. Ransom were frequently referred to as one of the weekend’s bands you HAD to see. And by God, this recommendation was accurate. Ransom really does have to be seen (and heard) to be believed. The crowd don’t mosh to country carnage “Tractor Chicks“. They line dance to it, ably led by frontman, the lovely Matt Fielder. “Even Nuns Watch Porn” is a choppy, riffed, punk-spirited, sharp-tongued rager. Ransom are premium quality rock n roll.
SURVIVALIST
Survivalist brutalize the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside with the most guttural of growls and throat-slashing vocals. This is harsh, abrasive, self-styled groovecore that makes your eyes bulge. The crowd witnessing this hardcore pummelling isn’t the biggest – but it’s the most badass. Because pretty much everyone who has come out to bear witness is bang into it, including the Pryma boys, who start a circle pit. Finishing with a version of Slipknot’s “(sic)” which somehow manages to be heavier than the original is truly terrifying.
FOR THE FORSAKEN
The For the Forsaken boys rock hard, tackle harder topics (lead singer/bassist Dan Hunsdon’s addictions) and bring banter and somewhat questionable choreography to Trailblazer. If For the Forsaken are on the stage, there is dance, demons and the results of life-changing dedication. This band can go from crazy heavy (“Bring the Fire“) to painfully honest (“Project Providence“) and are the self-professed fucked up family that you want to forever be a part of.
RECALL THE REMAINS
Heavy day continues out in the arena under the deathcore/metalcore command of Recall the Remains – the nicest of boys shoving forth the gnarliest of sets. Moving from melodic to demonic with distressing ease, Recall the Remains are absolutely merciless in the heft they so deftly inflict across this set, which is both jaw-dropping and jaw-breaking.
KING KRAKEN
Run, don’t walk, towards the Kilmister Stage. Because named-for-a nautical-nightmare thudding, chugging classic rockers King Kraken have brought the green smoke, the pyro and the raging tunes. Latest single “Call to War” sounds so damn good live. “Hero” is, as always, a tender moment in the set, while “March of the Gods” is absolutely thunderous. The Kraken lads play every single note with power and passion, and they don’t just fill the stage with their sound and presence. They own it.
VOODOO SIOUX
Did someone say soul-soaked blues with a country twang and a big old solid wall of sound? Because Voodoo Sioux have answered the call. With loads of bass, lots of fun and choruses you can learn quickly and sing back loud, this band give Trailblazer a good time.
PRYMA
It’s time for some of the most hotly anticipated verbal violence of the festival. Brace brace brace. Pryma are on the Southall Lawless stage and a LOT of the Call of the Wild faithful have been waiting for this. Lead singer Gaby prowls the stage. She snarls, twitches and stares through the dark-edged heaviness (which is most of the set to be fair), backed by pulverizing beats and guitars veering from melodic to menacing. Then she shares the meaning behind new song “John Doe“. And that’s when Gaby isn’t just ruling the stage this afternoon – she’s showing herself to be the fucking Queen.
BULLETS AND OCTANE
Bullets and Octane are not just one of the festival’s surprise bands – they are one of the best. Blown away by their appearance here – and then their actual set, they were a highlight. Why? Because this is melodic mayhem that’s the best medicine. Forget your troubles (and the whereabouts of your tent) and dance (around frontman Gene, who spends most his set in the pit) til your heart hurts no more, but your feet are sore. Bullets and Octane are fun, ferocious, fast, weird and wonderful. “Caving In” is more of a mosher. “Pirates” is the band’s soooo popular earth-shatteringly heavy sea shanty. Bullets and Octane are sheer brilliance.
MUDDIBROOKE
It’s hot out there today, but the grungey alt-angst spine-tingling trio MuddiBrooke are chilling when key moments of their set hit. The band’s version of “You Don’t Own Me” and “Devil” stand out for their almost unbearable emotions. Brooke’s sweet vox is sliced with razors. She sugar coats nothing and sings the harshest lyrics about the shittest stuff through gritted teeth. MuddiBrooke are punky and spikey, and have an easy rapport with their crowd, despite the unease oozing from their sublime songs.
SOHO DUKES
We’ve had much sunshine, even more heavy music, and now it’s time for some metaphorical swinging from the (tent) ceiling. Here come scorching keys-fronted bar room bangers, from kings of decadence and debauchery, Soho Dukes. From underneath a fine selection of hats, the six Dukes send forth good old-fashioned guitar slinging fun. Dressed to thrill and doling out nostalgia and warmth with street urchin charm, Soho Dukes’ set is everything you need for the night of your life.
THE FIVE HUNDRED
Full firepower is deployed from metalcore royalty The Five Hundred. The boys are out of their cages tonight and it’s time to stand in awe and watch the masters at work. Their stage presence is threatening. The volume is deafening. The band are as far front as possible, death-staring throughout their seismic songs. “Rainmaker” results in possibly the politest wall of death ever, but lovely band leader John demanded one and he must always be obeyed. “Our Demise” drops fast and with little warning but maximum headbanging capacity. Terrifying stuff. We love it.
WOLFSBANE
Am I allowed to slip into the first person for a paragraph and tell you who my band of the weekend was? Wolfsbane. I honestly wasn’t overly familiar with them (yeah, I know, how can I call myself a music journalist?), but I was absolutely captivated throughout their entire performance. Off stage, Blaze is one of the nicest guys ever. On stage, Blaze is also one of the nicest guys ever. His charisma radiates into the crowd. He’s seen it all, sings about it, and gives every song a little explanation before he launches into it. And it’s lovely! Not the most technical term, but the most accurate. The day is coming to a close and Blaze is telling us tales and singing us stories, and it’s like a big British heavy metal lullaby. The horns are up, the crowd is mighty and they’re ready to rock and roll. Raised fists punching the air are rarely lowered as Wolfsbane tear through tracks including “Manhunt“, “Tough as Steel“, “Rock City Nights” and “Zombies“. Blaze and the boys have been performing these tracks for years, but they still give it the same power as when they were first released. The band are still hungry to play their music. And Call of the Wild are feral to hear it.
ONSLAUGHT
Onslaught by name, onslaught by nature. The kings of UK thrash shoot bullet after vocal bullet, powered by throat-scraping vocals and speed that could strip flesh from bones. There is smoke, fire and most probably brimstone coming from the main stage this evening, all under a blur of warning red lights. There is no rest in this set. No time to take stock of the ferocity which the anger attraction that is Onslaught spit. This set is a hellraising riot led by an ultra-impressive vocal range and land speed record-breaking beats. Onslaught finish the set with literal fireworks. Or it could be their amps blowing up. Who can say? They don’t just close the main arena for the night. This merciless set more or less demolishes it.
DANNY VAUGHN
The last set of the day is also the ‘worst kept secret’ set, in the words of man on the mic, Tyketto’s Danny Vaughn. Sometimes it takes a couple of songs for the artist and crowd to settle in. Not so with this ever-endearing singer. Everyone is comfy straight away. This is a set that feels like home. And by that we don’t necessarily mean where you stay at night, but somewhere you feel safe, secure, supported and loved.
CREDITS:
Photographs supplied by Ian “Roadie” Owen, shooting for CGCM Rock Radio in collaboration with Rock Radio UK. For more of Ian‘s captures, visit his Facebook page: Ian Owen Photo Albums
Stay tuned for Jo Wright (aka Goth Girl)’s report of Saturday at Call Of The Wild Festival 2026, coming soon to CGCM Rock Radio/Website. And check out her GothGirlWriting Website for more of her coverage of events and albums: Goth Girl Writing
