ALL DAY METAL FESTIVAL

Royal Riot '26

Get ready for an electrifying day of metal music at The Queen's Academy in Newport, South Wales!

On August 22, 2026 (11am - 7pm!) , experience a powerhouse lineup featuring featuring headliners Earthtone9 joined by Defences, thefivehundred, Continents and a massive selection the best of local Welsh metal talent.

This event proudly showcases the vibrant metal scene rooted in Wales, bringing together passionate artists and fans for an unforgettable celebration of heavy music.

Don’t miss your chance to witness the raw energy and fierce spirit of Newport’s metal community all under one roof. Join us at The Queen's Academy for Royal Riot '26—where Welsh metal reigns supreme!

MEET THE BANDS – Your Royal Riot '26 Headliners: Earthtone9

Earthtone9 are widely regarded as one of the most forward-thinking, musically sophisticated and creatively ambitious acts in the history of British metal. Emerging in the late 1990s as nu-metal began its commercial surge, the band's nuanced palette and intelligent approach immediately set them apart — hailed as something special and excitingly against the grain from the very beginning.

Releasing an album a year between 1998 and 2000 — from their expertly crafted debut Lo-def(inition) Discord through to the staggering Arc'tan'gent — their work rate was as relentless as the music was uniformly brilliant.

Following their split in 2002, the band made a surprise return in 2013 with the crowdfunded album IV. Sporadic live appearances followed — including a celebrated appearance at the ArcTanGent Festival, which took its name from their third record — before the band once again fell into hiatus.

Now, eleven years on from their last release, Earthtone9 return with In Resonance Nexus — a thrilling work of both brains and muscle. The album sees core members vocalist Karl Middleton and guitarists Owen Packard and Joe Roberts rediscovering what makes them so singular. It is the heaviest, fiercest and most intense record they have ever made; a striking combination of almost feral energy and the refined songwriting craft showcased on IV.

"In Resonance Nexus, as a title, is saying that we've found the core and the essence of the band again," says Karl. "We were digging deep to find common musical ground, and between Joe and Owen, and I, it really felt like there was a resonance there. It feels like we've landed on a really legitimate, 21st century version of the band. We were asking, 'Why are we doing this?' — and having a very authentic answer."

Description supplied by the event organiser.