Ramage Inc., Saħħar, At Their Mercy, Chekhov’s Gun, and Bruxa Join Hordes X 2026
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The next round of acts have been announced for Hordes X 2026, with five new bands added to the bill.
As September rushes ever closer, the lineup for Scotland’s longest running metal fest is getting mighty meaty! We previously made the opening salvo, with headliners De Profundis, top support Cnoc An Tursa, and Northern Ireland’s Owlcrusher. That was just the beginning… Keep reading below to find out the new batch to join them, September 18 – 19th, at Hidden and Music Hall Dundee.
RAMAGE INC.
Scotland’s greatest secret weapon in monolithic prog metal have returned to action after some time away.
Ramage Inc. now come back to the stage, bringing with them new material, renewed focus, and a sound that reaches back into the familiar weight and atmosphere of the band’s earlier identity. Currently working on a new recording, the band are leaning back into the raw, heavy, progressive edge that defined their sound, while carrying the experience of time away, personal battles, and a fair bit of mental healing into the music. Expect the usual Ramage Inc. blend of crushing riffs, emotional weight, and bleak optimism — heavy music that does not pretend everything is fine, but still pushes forward.
Now the four-piece are headed to Hordes X once more, to headline the second stage. No strangers to a festival, they have hit the likes of ProgPower Europe, Bloodstock, Download, and more, proving a formidable live experience at every turn. This is a band which excels in concert, and certainly not to be missed.
On their re-emergence, the band say “Our first gigs back are coming up, and it feels good to be moving again. We’ve had a long break, we’ve been working on new recordings, and somewhere in amongst all of that there has been a fair bit of healing, rebuilding, and reconnecting with what Ramage Inc. is supposed to sound like. We’re leaning back into that familiar Ramage Inc. vibe — heavy, emotional, progressive, and full of bleak optimism. See you down the front!“
Keep up to date with Ramage Inc. here: https://www.facebook.com/RamageInc
SAĦĦAR
Maltese black metal force, Saħħar flies to Scotland – and Hordes X – for the first time ever, bringing a unique take on the genre.
Saħħar (Maltese: Sorcerer), veteran of the Maltese metal scene, composer, lyricist, studio engineer, and live performer, has released six full-length albums, six EP’s, one demo and a live-in-studio album to date. Inspired by local folklore, the nature of death, and anti-religious sentiment, his lyrics are all expressed in his mother tongue. He has performed alongside bands such as Destroyer666, Gothminister, and Mayhem, as well as receiving nominations for Best Metal and Best Maltese Album (Qilla tal-Qrun – 2020). Now, in 2026, they present their new opus, Miġja ta’ Moħħ Miġnun, on Time To Kill Records.
Saħħar issue the following ominous portent: “Hot off the heels of an album that commemorates 2 decades of ruin, the sorcerer from the ancient caves of Malta sets his eyes on Scotland. Your ears will be hexed with tracks from the new album and seal the curse with prominent tracks from the ruinous past. The Great Work never ceases. Hordes, be prepared!“
Buy Miġja ta’ Moħħ Miġnun here: https://sahhar.bandcamp.com/album/migja-ta-mohh-mignun
Ramage Inc., Saħħar, At Their Mercy, Chekhov’s Gun, and Bruxa Join Hordes X 2026
AT THEIR MERCY
Hard hitting, rapid-fire, crossover thrashers, At Their Mercy have played just about everywhere except Hordes… Until now.
Whether it’s a curse or a miracle is yet to be decided. They have graced many other SDM shows over the years. Carved from the Scottish scene, and with their last album, Catechism, described by Maximum Rock N Roll as “a fusion of relentless aggressive music,” they are a sure fit for the fest. However, here we are, on their Hordes X debut!
Maybe we pissed them off by way of this omission. They certainly seem no less furious than we recall: “Our combined age of the 4 band members in ATM is 209.” they state . “However, we aren’t getting slower with age we are getting faster!!!” Devotees of furious and filthy hardcore/thrash, or vocalists who like to invade the pit, want to make sure and get in on this intense set.
Buy Catechism here: https://attheirmercy.bandcamp.com/album/catechism
CHEKHOV’S GUN
Scotland’s 2026 Metal 2 The Masses winners, Chekhov’s Gun, aren’t your usual metal band – Avant-garde barely even covers it.
Replete with violin, cello, and sometimes ballet/ballroom dancing, this young capital city crew deliver a stage show which needs to be seen. Ever evolving, they always bring maximum effort to proceedings, with a theatrical nouse growing beyond their years. Equally, their music continuously turns over new stones, never staying still for long, attempting to waste not a note. With their last EP, The Carnivorous, barely over a year old, and another record already in the works, we’re bound to hear some fresh delights at their first Hordes X appearance.
They state: “We can’t wait to immerse the Hordes X crowd in our dark and strange world for the first time. Securing our spot at Bloodstock through Metal 2 the Masses pushed us to completely elevate our live show, so you can expect a unique and immersive metal performance from us this year. And with the addition of cello and violin, Chekhov’s Gun is now complete for our Hordes debut. Another huge milestone is our upcoming debut album. We’re deep into the writing process, leaning heavily into experimentation, storytelling, and narrative-driven compositions. We can’t wait to see how the festival crowd reacts to what we’ve created.“
Buy The Carnivorous here: https://chekhovsgunofficial.bandcamp.com/album/the-carnivorous
Ramage Inc., Saħħar, At Their Mercy, Chekhov’s Gun, and Bruxa Join Hordes X 2026
BRUXA
Hordes X leaves no doubt – The openers are always something special. The first of this year lights up the main stage…
Edinburgh’s Bruxa are a fairly new band, but their time on the scene has been well served in other projects, and built up to something nasty! Pulling contributors from acts such as Marobaki, Ophanim, Geckohead, and Liquid Fear, the result is a vitally noxious concoction of thrash/death/extreme/noise metal. This lot will kick off the main day in fiery fashion!!!
“We are currently hard at work recording and finalising our debut EP, set to release before the year ends.” they divulge. “After a successful run of debut gigs, we are looking forward to making our debut at Hordes X in Dundee, which will mark another milestone for the band!“
Keep tabs on them here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585444035129
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!!!
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
Ramage Inc., Saħħar, At Their Mercy, Chekhov’s Gun, and Bruxa Join Hordes X 2026
