Opensight, Crusaders, Medusa Touch, King Nobody, and Skaith head to Hordes X 2026
JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON THE SLOW DRAGON MUSIC DISCORD SERVER
Even more outstanding heavy acts step up to the Hordes X plate, including popular returns, first-timers, and a live debut!
This update puts us over the halfway mark in revealing this year’s full lineup, and what an update it is! We’re bringing back three of the best received bands from post pandemic Hordes, London cine-metal proggers, Opensight, original Scottish NWOBHM crew, Medusa Touch, and new breed Glasgow thrashers, Crusaders! On top of that, we have the first ever Dundee show from King Nobody, plus the live debut of East Scotland bruisers, Skaith. Find out more about them all below.
OPENSIGHT
The South UK sinister prog outfit summon The Director’s Cult to Dundee once more.
After making an impressive impact with the Hordes X audience back in 2024, Opensight are launching their sequel performance, but this time, they headline the Friday night warmup show, with an extended cut. Blending progressive metal with grind house, spy movie soundtracks, and their own unique universe, they are sure to close out the first day in true, individual style.
Earlier this year, they unwrapped their latest album, The Outfit. The record is out now, via their new label, Inertial Music, with Season of Mist handling North American distribution. Their recent live activity includes Z! Live Rock Fest in Spain, alongside Dream Theater, Meshuggah, VOLA, and Sepultura, plus Taunus Metal Fest in Germany, with Enforcer. A band keeping their stage chops as sharp as their suits.
“We’re genuinely excited to return to Hordes X.” they enthuse. “Our new album, The Outfit is finally out, the band feels sharper than ever, and the Friday headline slot feels like a great way to bring The Outfit into the Hordes world”
Buy The Outfit here: https://www.inertial-music.com/store/byartist/opensight
Stream it here: https://opensight.bandcamp.com/album/the-outfit
CRUSADERS
Also making their last appearance at Hordes X in 2024, Crusaders ride out to the fort of fire once again.
Offering up proper thrash, the Glasgow metal mob grew from the remains of Nocturne Wulf, delivering their debut album, Iron Vengeance: The Crusaders Fury, in 2025. Now working on the follow up full-length, the recently dropped 20th century comedy gold, with their video single, Wrestlemania. No bonus points for guessing what that one is about. Crusaders are always a lot of fun, backed up with tight musicianship. We look forward to their return!!!
“We are currently writing our follow up to our debut album, and have been looking to expand where we are gigging in 2026. Hordes X is such a renowned heavy metal festival in Scotland that we really wanted to be part of it. We cant wait to play up in Dundee and share the stage with so many other amazing metal bands from all genres.“
Check out Iron Vengeance: The Crusaders Fury here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0YCaM3jJvpG0Xxga6cstyG
MEDUSA TOUCH
Old school in a new formation is the big takeaway from Medusa Touch‘s return to Hordes X.
With their previous bassist stepping away, the have enlisted Kenny Lean, a friend of the band since their beginnings, back in the early 80s. Without dropping a stitch, the NWOBHM originals have stormed their way across the country’s stages, and set about a new album. Titled Demon Eyes, it is coming soon, through the band’s own label, Red Predator Records. If you can’t wait for that, they recently dropped the concert album, Whistlebinkies Live 2026. They absolutely smashed it at Hordes in 2023, with Hellripper, Dog Tired, and more, and we can’t wait to welcome them back.
Medusa Touch declare: “Medusa Touch are honoured, excited and thankful to Hordes for the opportunity to play this fantastic festival again. We played 3 yeas ago and it was a highlight of our year. Once again we eager to play and have the energy again for the remainder of the gigs this year.“
Listen to Medusa Touch here: https://medusatouch.bandcamp.com/
Opensight, Crusaders, Medusa Touch, King Nobody, and Skaith head to Hordes X 2026
KING NOBODY
In keeping with the Hordes X ethos of great openers, King Nobody kick off the main day’s second stage.
Making their debut appearance in Dundee, this Glasgow based crew have been growing in strength, always bringing something a little extra to each show. In 2025, they dropped their new EP, A Man So Forlorn, and set about taking it to the stage around Central Scotland. With that release under their belts, it brought bigger, heavier songs into their set (alongside more theatrics). That took them all the way to the Grand Final of M2TM Scotland, 2026, as they segued into a new era, with a new recording in the works. This is a top offering for the beginning of the day.
“We cannot wait to bring the noise at Hordes X this year,” beam King Nobody. “It’s been something we have wanted to do for a long time, and it feels like now is a better time than any to make our Dundee debut. We have never been up north as a band and to be able to play such an amazing festival, in such an amazing metal city is going to be awesome.“
Stream A Man So Forlorn here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4aqWgIPfhOPmlyeuoXHJkX
Opensight, Crusaders, Medusa Touch, King Nobody, and Skaith head to Hordes X 2026
SKAITH
…And talking of openers, the very first band of the weekend are making their live debut at Hordes X 2026…
Hailing from East Scotland, Skaith deal in blunt force trauma. Drawing influence from hardcore, death, black, thrash, sludge and post-metal, they deliver an unfiltered wall of weight and hostility. Featuring members of Threshold Sicks/Threshold 6 and At Their Mercy, the band is built on solid foundations within the Scottish scene. No wasted notes. No indulgence. Just punishing riffs, raw energy and the occasional descent into conversations about bastard wasps and Point Break.
The band comments: “Everything has come together pretty quickly for Skaith. We only got in the studio together just over a year ago,and the live demo is coming up sharpish. Kicking of our live shows with Hordes X as a first outing is a solid shout, and we can’t wait to bust it wide open! Get ready to hit the pit!“
Keep up to date with Skaith here: https://www.slowdragonmusic.com/features/the-brood/skaith/
Hordes X 2026 takes place at Hidden and Music Hall Dundee, September 18th – 19th. Mountains of heavy riffs! No clashes!
Early bird tickets are on sale now here: https://www.eventim-light.com/uk/a/64e4bd9fe21f656bd75a0c93/e/69ef7d2904285c8ef6d9dbcb
Prices increase once the full lineup is announced, and again for on-the-door purchases. Get yourself a bargain and grab one now – It’s only going to get more fierce!!!
Lineup so far:
De Profundis (Scottish Exclusive)
Ramage Inc (First show with new lineup – Only Dundee show)
Cnoc An Tursa (Dundee Debut)
Opensight (Playing new album The Outfit)
Saħħar (Exclusive Scottish debut)
Owlcusher (Scottish debut)
At Their Mercy (Hordes debut)
Crusaders
Medusa Touch (New lineup, new material)
Chekhov’s Gun (Hordes debut)
Bruxa (Dundee debut)
King Nobody (Dundee debut)
Skaith (Live debut)
In allegiance with:
Very Metal Art
Imperative PR
Ghost Cult Magazine
Moshville Times/Radio
Scotland Rocks Radio
Piraxa Studios
Breakout Music Studios
Angus Voice
!!!HAIL THE UNDERGROUND!!!
!!!!!!!!!HAIL THE HORDES!!!!!!!!!
READ MORE ABOUT HORDES X ON SLOW DRAGON MUSIC
Opensight, Crusaders, Medusa Touch, King Nobody, and Skaith head to Hordes X 2026
