Damnation Festival has quickly become one of the biggest dates on the Extreme Metal calendar. Based in a venue with more than a little bit of Rock history, it's been showcasing some of the best underground Metal, alongside some of the most anticipated UK exclusive shows, many of which end up being the most memorable shows of the whole year. And this years line up is no different; the array of bands on offer to festival goers this year is easily one of the best that the festival has put on in its illustrious eleven year history.

SAVAGE MESSIAH start the proceedings on the Jagermeister Stage, and help to set the bar for the rest of the show on all four stages. They play very well, despite falling victim to a few technical sound issues, and get those who've made it down early warmed up for what's to come in the next ten hours.

Meanwhile, one the Electric Amphetamine Stage, OHHMS make their Damnation debut, with their thick, groovy and serene Sludge making a mark very quickly. Front man Paul Waller  really throws himself into his live performance, mirroring the tone and pace of the music as it ebbs and flows throughout their set, which is sadly a little bit too short. They're music may be much more mellow, but they still leave a huge impact on those who have ventured down to see them.

By the time that VOICES begin their set on the Terrorizer Stage, the venue is absolutely heaving. They bring a lot of intensity to their live show, and despite a few technical issues with the bass rig, the show is practically flawless. This is one of the highlights of the day without a doubt, not just for this particular stage, but for all four of them, and very few bands manage to exceed the bar that this band has managed to set with this show.

VREID play an excellent set comprising of really tight, solid Blackened Rock. They play a fair few numbers from their latest record, "Solverv", which sit well alongside some of their more established and loved songs from their varied and extensive back catalogue. Their command over the crowd belies their experience and their prominent contribution to the underground Black Metal scene. They play incredibly well and leave the stage to rapturous applause.

KEEP OF KALLESSIN play a strong set which not only gets the crowd going, but also manages to capture the epic elements of their music perfectly. Translating these musical qualities from a record to a live setting is hard to do, but these guys do it very well. The crowd really get into it and give the band all they have, and by the time their show is over, everyone is suitably stoked for the rest of the evening.

ALTAR OF PLAGUES prove to be hard to watch live, as the Eyesore stage is filled to capacity by the time they start their set, making it very hard for everyone who wanted to see them to actually get into the venue. They go down really well, however, and play strongly, commanding the stage and making sure that the crowd leave completely blown away by what they've just witnessed. This is a rare show for them, and they've certainly left a mark and lived up to their aura.

WITCHSORROW's classic, catchy Doom goes down really well on the Electric Amphetamine stage. The tiny venue is packed by the time the band takes the stage, and both the crowd and the band throw themselves into the show. The material from the new record sits really well alongside established fan favourites like "God Curse Us", which goes down really well as well. This kind of venue, with its much more intimate feel, suits the band down to the ground, and they end up exiting the stage at the end of their set having played one of the most impressive sets of the day.

ASPHYX take the stage and pretty much whip the crowd into a frenzy. This is a rare UK show, and the Death Doom legends certainly don't disappoint. They're every bit as intense and ferocious on stage as everyone expects, performing some of their best and most loved songs, and feed off of the crowds energy and answer it with their own. They dedicate "Last One on Earth" to the late BOLT THROWER drummer Martin "Kiddie" Kearns, and play this particular song with a stage presence and power that acts as a fitting tribute to a great drummer. They definitely raise the bar in terms of performance, and it's hard to think that any of the bands will be able to top them in this regard.

HIGH ON FIRE practically dominate the Jagermeister Stage with their brand of thick, crushing Sludge. Right from the opening notes of "The Black Plot", through to the climactic moments of "Snakes for the Divine", the trio manage to captivate the audience and blow the rest of the bands who've played this particular stage out of the water. Matt Pike and co. settle into a tight, flawless groove and look at ease on stage in front of a relatively large crowd. They are excellent from their first to their last moments on stage, and crowded hall shows their appreciation with the appropriate amount of devotion that music like this demands.

PRIMORDIAL are, without a shadow of a doubt, the  best act of this years festival, and their stage presence and aura is arguably one of the most palpable of the day, regardless of what stage or act we're comparing them to. They take to the stage to thunderous applause and launch into a set that is played with confidence and style. Nethemanga has a strong hold on the crowd, and helps draw a great response from the packed venue. There set consists of some of the bands greatest hits, but heavily features tracks from last years "Where Greater Men Have Fallen", with four of the eight songs in their show being pulled from this record. "The Coffin Ships" is conspicuous in its absence, and it's a shame that the band aren't able to have a longer set and throw in a few more of their best known tracks, or even a rare performance or two. Nonetheless, they are the best band of the day, at least in my humble opinion.

AT THE GATES finally take their place on stage, providing a razor sharp, tight and energetic headlining set that tops this already stellar day off perfectly. They play a very good set, which is based mostly off of material from their latest record, "Slaughter of the Soul" and "The Red Sky is Ours", as well as the new record, resulting in a show that is not only amazing to watch, but also varied enough to maintain the interest of both old and new fans alike. Tomas Lindberg is an energetic and powerful front man, as always, and does a great job of getting the crowd invested in their response to the show. The band as a collective perform with an ease and grace that comes with years of onstage experience. As the final notes of "The Night Eternal" fade away, there's no doubt that they've managed to leave a strong impression, and ultimately acted as a great end to an equally great festival.

This is definitely one of the best installments of Damnation Festival to date, which is saying something, as the line up and quality of the show every year is always extremely high. There's been a great mix of bands on this year that showcase some of the best underground Metal coming out of this country at the moment, from Sludge and Doom through to Death and Black Metal, as well as some of the best bands that have shaped and defined the landscape of the scene. This year has definitely lived up to, and indeed exceeded, expectations. It will be interesting to see what the 2016 edition of Damnation will bring to the table to top this.