Angel Of Rage Returns This November: Four Bands, One Stage and a Cause Worth Fighting For

Four heavy acts unite in Cheltenham this month for the third annual Angel Of Rage charity festival, headlined by Bristol melodic hardcore outfit Downpour and raising funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Heavy music has always had a remarkable ability to bring people together. Whether it's a packed venue, a shared love of thunderous riffs or the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a music community, there's often something much bigger happening beyond the stage.

On Saturday 28 November 2026, that spirit will be at the heart of Angel Of Rage III, as the annual charity festival returns for its third instalment, bringing four bands from across the Midlands and South West to The Frog & Fiddle in Cheltenham.

Following a sold-out 2025 event at Worcester's Marrs Bar, headlined by former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley, this year's festival will be headlined by Bristol melodic hardcore outfit Downpour, with support from UNTO the AGES, Birmingham's Dead Mob UK and Bristol/Bath alternative-metal band Avicide.

Founded by Worcestershire musicians and brothers Mike Avraam and Xen Angeli in memory of their late brother Anj Avraam, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2021, Angel Of Rage has grown into an annual celebration of heavy music, creativity and community, raising funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

For those who believe music can make a difference beyond the stage, it's an event with a particularly important purpose.

From Worcester to Cheltenham: A Growing Celebration of Heavy Music

Following the success of its previous two editions, Angel Of Rage is preparing for its first Cheltenham event, bringing together established and emerging talent from across the regional underground metal and hardcore scenes.

Last year's festival, featuring former Iron Maiden frontman Blaze Bayley alongside UNTO the AGES and Last Agony, sold out The Marrs Bar in Worcester and raised approximately £2,500 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

For 2026, the festival moves to The Frog & Fiddle, one of Cheltenham's established live music venues. With its longstanding association with alternative and heavy music, the venue provides a fitting setting for the event's third instalment.

The timing also carries particular significance. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, making this year's festival an opportunity not only to enjoy an evening of live music but also to highlight a disease that continues to affect thousands of families across the UK.

With four bands representing different corners of the contemporary heavy-music scene, the evening promises plenty of musical variety while remaining united by a common purpose.

Four Bands, One Stage and a Shared Purpose

DOWNPOUR | HEADLINERS

BRISTOL | MELODIC HARDCORE

Headlining this year's event are Bristol's Downpour, whose emotionally charged melodic hardcore and ferocious live performances have earned them growing recognition within the UK underground scene.

Combining crushing riffs, powerful melodies and an intense live presence, the band have been building momentum beyond their Bristol roots. Their appearance at Angel Of Rage III offers Cheltenham audiences an opportunity to experience a band whose sound balances raw aggression with an unmistakably melodic edge.



For a festival built around both musical intensity and genuine emotion, Downpour make a particularly fitting choice to close the evening.

UNTO THE AGES | MAIN SUPPORT

WORCESTERSHIRE / GLOUCESTERSHIRE | GROOVE METALCORE

Main support comes from UNTO the AGES, the Worcestershire and Gloucestershire-based metal outfit fronted by Angel Of Rage co-founder Xen Angeli.

Firmly rooted in groove metal, the band's sound incorporates elements of metalcore and '90s post-grunge, combining heavy, groove-driven riffs with melodic vocals and an uncompromising approach to live performance.

Having previously supported Blaze Bayley and received BBC radio airplay, the band return to Angel Of Rage following the release of Never Fade, a song written in memory of Anj Avraam and produced with Ben Rhys Thomas of Sylosis.

The band have adopted the distinctive calling cards Metal From Middle England and No Half-Way Tricks, reflecting their musical identity and commitment to delivering an energetic live performance.



With such a close personal connection to the festival's origins, their appearance is about more than another date on the live calendar. UNTO the AGES remain an important part of the story behind Angel Of Rage itself.

DEAD MOB UK

BIRMINGHAM | HARDCORE / METAL

Birmingham's Dead Mob UK bring their uncompromising blend of hardcore punk and heavy metal to the Cheltenham stage.

Drawing influence from bands including Discharge, The Exploited, Slayer, Black Sabbath and Bury Tomorrow, the four-piece combine gritty hardcore aggression with the weight and intensity of traditional heavy metal.

Their appearance adds a distinctly Birmingham flavour to the lineup, representing a city with a formidable history in heavy music and a continuing appetite for bands that refuse to soften their sound.

For anyone who prefers their riffs loud, their rhythms relentless and their live performances delivered without unnecessary compromise, Dead Mob UK should feel right at home.

AVICIDE | OPENING ACT

BRISTOL / BATH | DOOM METAL / HARDCORE

Bristol and Bath-based Avicide will open Angel Of Rage III at The Frog & Fiddle on 28 November 2026.

Opening the evening are Bristol and Bath-based Avicide, whose distinctive sound combines alternative metal, hardcore and gothic influences.

Blending crushing riffs, atmospheric passages, powerful clean vocals and aggressive breakdowns, the band have been establishing themselves on the underground circuit, with appearances at venues including The Exchange in Bristol and Komedia in Bath.

Their performance will set the stage for an evening spanning several different styles of contemporary heavy music, from atmospheric alternative metal through to groove-driven heaviness and melodic hardcore.

It's a varied lineup, but one connected by the energy and community spirit that have always helped underground heavy music thrive.



A Lasting Legacy for Anj Avraam

Beyond the music, the story behind Angel Of Rage is what makes the festival particularly meaningful.

Anj Avraam was a musician, artist, writer, poet and actor whose creativity and passion for music left a lasting impression on those around him. Following his death from pancreatic cancer in 2021, his younger brother Xen established Angel Of Rage alongside their brother Mike as a way of celebrating Anj's life while helping others affected by the disease.

What began as a personal tribute has gradually developed into an annual fundraising event, bringing together musicians, audiences and supporters who share a belief in the importance of creativity, community and remembering those we've lost.

The organisers also have ambitions to develop Angel Of Rage into a wider community initiative, creating opportunities for emerging musicians, artists and other creative talent while continuing to support Pancreatic Cancer UK.

At its heart, however, the festival remains a tribute to one person and the lasting influence he had on those closest to him.

Speaking about the event, founder Xen Angeli explained:

"Angel Of Rage has always been about so much more than putting on a gig. We started this in memory of my brother Anj, who was an extraordinary musician, artist and creative influence in my life. Seeing the event grow year after year, and watching so many people come together to support it, means an enormous amount to me.

"Last year's show with Blaze Bayley was a huge milestone for us, and we're determined to build on that success. We've got four fantastic bands coming together in Cheltenham this November, and we're looking forward to another unforgettable night while continuing to raise money and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

"Ultimately, this is about keeping Anj's memory alive, celebrating the music he loved and turning something deeply personal into something positive that can continue to grow."

It's a sentiment that speaks to something familiar within the heavy-music community. Behind the volume, the distortion and the aggressive imagery, there has always been a powerful sense of solidarity among people brought together by a shared passion.

Angel Of Rage is an example of what that solidarity can achieve when it's directed towards something beyond the music itself.

Angel Of Rage III: Event Information and Tickets

Saturday 28 November 2026

Venue: The Frog & Fiddle, 313–315 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3HW

Headliner: Downpour

Main Support: UNTO the AGES

Also Appearing: Dead Mob UK and Avicide

Charity: Supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK

Tickets: www.angelofrage.com

With four bands, a venue known for its live music and an important charitable cause at the centre of the evening, Angel Of Rage III promises to be a memorable night for Cheltenham's alternative music community.

For those who have followed the festival since its beginnings in Worcester, it's another chapter in a story that continues to grow. For newcomers, it's an opportunity to discover some excellent underground heavy music while supporting a cause that deserves far greater awareness.

And perhaps that's the most important thing about Angel Of Rage. The festival may have been born from loss, but what it continues to create is something positive: a place for music, remembrance and community to come together.

Angel Of Rage III takes place at The Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham, on Saturday 28 November 2026. Tickets and further information are available at www.angelofrage.com.