NEWS: Aborted head up seven new announcements for Bloodstock 2019

LIKE clockwork Bloodstock every couple of weeks announce another slew of acts for this year's metal extravaganza, topped by Aborted.

Full details below, as well as the full list of Big Green coach pick-ups. (We know many from Norn Iron will just be using the Birkenhead one, with the assemblage at the Brass Buckle on the return)

Here, is the official Bloodstock press release...

Lucky for some, BLOODSTOCK springs into March with news of seven more bands joining this summer’s best metal weekender and a massive thirteen more coach pick-up locations, making it easier than ever to get you, your mates, and all your camping gear to BLOODSTOCK for a very fine metallic time this August.

Belgian death metal kings ABORTED stride onto the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Sunday.  The band tell us, “BLOODSTOCK!  It’s been a while!  We couldn’t be more thrilled to lay waste to thee in the most offensive of manners this coming summer. Prepare my friends, the blastbeat is coming!”  Their current album ‘TerrorVision’ is blazing holes in our speakers over at BOA HQ.  See what we mean via the video for ‘Deep Red’, a track taken from that record here - https://youtu.be/ak4oeZwBfJs.

Cali death metallers, SKELETAL REMAINS join Saturday’s fray on the Sophie Lancaster stage. The band released their third album ‘Devouring Mortality’ last April via Dark Descent/Century Media, and returned to the road for extensive touring, which now includes a run of US dates with Hatebreed and Mexican headline shows this spring. Watch the video for that album’s earthquake-inspired first single ‘Seismic Abyss’, at https://youtu.be/jss2oSGJ604.

Aussie rockers THE LAZYS crash into a Sunday spot on the Sophie stage.  If you love a bit of AC/DC-style classic rock n’ roll, these boys are definitely worth a watch and are sure to bring the party!  The band’s current album, ‘Tropical Hazards’ came out last year, so crack a cold one and check out the video for their infectious tune ‘Nothing But Trouble’ - https://youtu.be/K7ngGOlna0A. 

3 HEADED SNAKE join the Sophie stage bill on Saturday.  The LA-based classic metal band was put together by current Ministry guitarist Sin Quirin and features the soaring vocals of Johnny Ray.  See their video for ‘Wisdom Screams’ at https://youtu.be/VsHERp-0LTg and if you like what you hear, go pick up the five piece’s eponymous 3-track debut EP from iTunes or Bandcamp.

BOSS KELOID land a Sunday slot on the Sophie stage.  With current album, ‘Melted On The Inch’ being released last year on Holy Roar Records to vast critical acclaim (Prog Magazine called it “an extraordinary piece of work”), we’re excited to welcome the prog metallers back to Catton Park.  Witness their musical mastery via the video for ‘Chronosiam’ here; https://youtu.be/PbajHpfW3cs.

German crossover thrash squad DUST BOLT snag themselves a Saturday slot on the Sophie stage. Their brand new album, ‘Trapped In Chaos’ was released last month via Napalm Records.  Check out the video for album opener, ‘The Fourth Strike’ - https://youtu.be/aKryFh-upx8 and warm up those necks for their thrashtastic set in August!

RED METHOD romp into a Saturday slot on the Sophie stage.  The band, comprising former members of Meta-Stasis and The Defiled, are set to release their debut album, ‘For The Sick’ sometime this year.  Investigate their sound by watching the video for ‘Split’ over on their YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/kb_hacCAId0.

Making your travel plans yet and usually come by coach?  We asked you to let the good folks at Big Green Coach know if you wanted a new pick-up point in your town and if there was enough interest, they'd look into it.  They had such great response, they've added an extra 13 pick-up points for their BOA coaches!  Travel direct from your town and get dropped off inside the BLOODSTOCK gates, bringing your camping gear and supplies with you!  Say hello to a total of 34 locations, with prices for a return ticket starting at just £32.  The full list now runs as follows; ABERDEEN, BIRKENHEAD, BIRMINGHAM, BRADFORD, BOURNEMOUTH, BRISTOL, CAMBRIDGE, CARDIFF, CARLISLE, CHESTER, DUNDEE, EDINBURGH, EXETER, GLASGOW, GLOUCESTER, LANCASTER, LEEDS, LIVERPOOL, LONDON (Victoria Coach Station), MANCHESTER, MIDDLESBROUGH, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, NEWPORT, NORWICH, OXFORD, PERTH, PLYMOUTH, PRESTON, SHEFFIELD, SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDERLAND, SWANSEA, TAUNTON and WORCESTER.   Head over to www.biggreencoach.co.uk/events/bloodstock-festival-tickets-coach-travel to book your seat or your coach + ticket bundle!   Big Green Coach's services were hugely popular last year and many routes sold out in advance of the event, so please book early to guarantee your spot!  If you're coming by train instead and need a shuttle ride from Lichfield City rail station to the festival site, Big Green Coach do those too, so click to their site to secure your place for just £10 (it's more expensive on the day) and get ahead of the rush!

The final allocation of VIP tickets, plus Podpads, Luxpads, Bellepads and Octopads are now on sale, plus a limited number of VIP upgrades (for those who’ve already purchased a standard ticket).  For full details click to http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/vip-camping. Standard weekend tickets are also in the ticket store, priced £145 (+ fees), snap yours up at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com.

Friday night’s headliner SABATON, Saturday’s top dogs PARKWAY DRIVE and Sunday’s bill toppers SCORPIONS, join ANTHRAX, DIMMU BORGIR, CHILDREN OF BODOM, CODE ORANGE, POWERWOLF, SOILWORK, CRADLE OF FILTH, THY ART IS MURDER, TESSERACT, METAL CHURCH, SOULFLY, DEATH ANGEL, DEE SNIDER, QUEENSRYCHE, ELUVEITIE, SWALLOW THE SUN, EVIL SCARECROW, ROSS THE BOSS, GRAND MAGUS, ROTTING CHRIST, INCITE and HYPOCRISY on the Catton Park stages this August.  With more than 80 bands to go, stay tuned for even more artists to be announced soon!

Subscribe to the BLOODSTOCK e-mailout to get band and news announcements as they happen!  Click through to http://eepurl.com/dKZrG-/ to sign up.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 8th-11th August 2019.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

NEWS: Four more added to Bloodstock line-up

RINGING in 2019 Bloodstock has announced Powerwolf, Soulfly, Incite and Swallow The Sun as the latest addition to another burgeoning August festival line-up.

For full details below is the full official announcement...keep going like this they're going to need a bigger poster!

"BLOODSTOCK welcomes in 2019 by announcing four new bands for August’s best metal weekender.

"If you’ve dropped all your money on Christmas and are counting the pennies, the popular ticket payment plan is also now open, breaking that weekend ticket cost into five much more manageable chunks.  First things first though, four more join the fray....

"POWERWOLF land the coveted main stage special guest slot on Friday.  The band tell us "We're looking forward to returning to the mighty BLOODSTOCK Festival after almost ten years to celebrate the metal mass with our friends in the UK - this is going to be a truly wild one!!"  The German power metallers released their seventh studio album, ‘The Sacrament of Sin’ in July of last year, from which spawned the vampire-themed video for ‘Killers With The Cross’; https://youtu.be/cXOAcuNhFS4.

"SOULFLY also step into a Ronnie James Dio main stage spot on Friday.  Frontman Max Cavalera is looking forward to playing at Catton Park, telling us “BLOODSTOCK 2019, get ready!  It will be a Cavalera invasion!  SOULFLY will be playing a lot of songs off our new album, ‘Ritual’.  My son, Richie, is coming with INCITE too and together we will make a day to remember!  Fuck yeah!  Let the Ritual begin!”  SOULFLY released their eleventh studio album, ‘Ritual’ via Nuclear Blast earlier this year.  Check out the groove laden title track here; https://youtu.be/z2LHZs7xx-w.

"As Max Cavalera pre-empted, Phoenix metal squad, INCITE come to Catton Park for the first time, picking up Friday’s hotly-contested main stage opening spot!  With their fifth studio album, ‘Built To Destroy’ landing in stores on 25th Jan via MinusHEAD Records, there’s plenty of catalogue to check out if you’ve not listened to the band before.  Maybe start by watching the video to the new album’s title track here; https://youtu.be/CCoGid3u-wc.

"Finnish prog doomsters, SWALLOW THE SUN grab themselves an early main stage spot on Saturday.  Introduce yourself to their sound with ‘Rooms And Shadows’ - https://youtu.be/0_veG-Hv4I8 - taken from their 2015 album, 'Songs From The North I, II & II'.  The band also released the atmospheric and ethereal ‘Lumina Aurea’ EP on the Winter Solstice in December via Century Media.

"These four bands join the previously announced Friday night headliner, SABATON, Sunday’s bill toppers SCORPIONS, together with ANTHRAX, DIMMU BORGIR, CHILDREN OF BODOM, CODE ORANGE, SOILWORK, CRADLE OF FILTH, THY ART IS MURDER, TESSERACT, METAL CHURCH, DEATH ANGEL, DEE SNIDER, QUEENSRYCHE, ELUVEITIE, EVIL SCARECROW, ROSS THE BOSS, GRAND MAGUS, ROTTING CHRIST and HYPOCRISY on the Catton Park stages next August.  Stay tuned for more bands to be announced soon!

"BLOODSTOCK’s very popular ticket payment plan is available now, where you can spread the cost of your standard weekend ticket over 5 affordable instalments!  Your first payment of just £36 (initial instalment of £29, plus £7 booking fee) is due at sign up - which you can do at any time until 28th Feb - then four further instalments of £29 will debit your bank account on 3rd April, 1st May, 3rd June, and 2nd July respectively.  Please note, VIP tickets are not available on the deposit scheme.

"The final allocation of VIP tickets, plus Podpads, Luxpads, Bellepads and Octopads are now on sale, plus a limited number of VIP upgrades (for those who’ve already purchased a standard ticket).  For full details click to http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/vip-camping. Standard weekend tickets are also in the ticket store, priced £145 (+ fees), snap yours up at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com.

"You can also subscribe to the BLOODSTOCK e-mailout to get band and news announcements as they happen!  Click through to http://eepurl.com/dKZrG-/ to sign up.

"BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 8th-11th August 2019.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com."

NEWS: Bloodstock announce Grand Magus and much more

BLOODSTOCK has announced yet more bands - get your Viking row boats ready and paws ready for the Crabulon..

Here's the official statement from Bloodstock:

The Friday headliner on the Sophie Lancaster stage will be Swedish heavy metal trio, GRAND MAGUS!  Frontman & guitarist JB commands us; “Dear Bloodstockers!  The Magus returns to the UK to lay waste to your eardrums with metal!  We are honoured to be headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage and we will put our hearts and souls into making it something special for all of you.  Can't wait to see you all!"  The band have been hard at work in the studio on the follow up to 2016’s ‘Sword Songs’.  Check out a sneak peek from the studio with JB here: https://youtu.be/RJa_c2ZFSF8.

Bringing some thrash to the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Friday are Bay Area five-piece, DEATH ANGEL.  Frontman Mark Osegueda comments, “We haven’t played BLOODSTOCK since 2013, when we had to run straight from the stage after a blistering set to a van that took us to the airport to make it to our next show!  So we look forward to experiencing this incredible festival properly in all its glory in 2019!  It will have been six years since we graced that stage and we have been dying to return.  We promise to show you how eager we’ve been to get back to BLOODSTOCK with a pure thrash set fuelled by raw human aggression and passion!  Thank you BLOODSTOCK for bringing us back!!!!”  The band have also been working on new material for their ninth studio album set for release in 2019 with producer, Jason Suecof.  In the meantime, check out ‘Lost’ from 2016’s ‘The Evil Divide’ album here - https://youtu.be/GVYl_hiD1oQ.

METAL CHURCH step into a main stage slot on Friday.  The American heavy metal trailblazers are set to release their twelfth studio album, ‘Damned If You Do’ on 7th December via Nuclear Blast in the UK.  Their 2016 release ‘XI’ marked the return of former frontman Mike Howe.  Check out a taster with new track, ‘By The Numbers’ here - https://youtu.be/SZTPkSdOF5U.  Mike tells us “We can’t wait to get over to the UK and bring ‘Damned If You Do’ to our fans overseas.  BLOODSTOCK is going to be an incredible time and a show not to be missed.”

Noted for founding both punk group The Dictators and the legendary Manowar, Ross Friedman and his band ROSS THE BOSS join the bill.  Having been introduced to Manowar co-founder Joey DeMaio by none other than Ronnie James Dio, it seems only fitting that ROSS THE BOSS will perform on the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Sunday.  Check out the video for the title track of current studio album, ‘By Blood Sworn’ here; https://youtu.be/0BMyWdNfJBQ.

Last but not least, a Catton Park favourite, EVIL SCARECROW will bring their intergalactic party to the main stage on Saturday.  The band have an array of fabulous vinyl and special editions available for recently released studio album, ‘Chapter VI: Antartartica’ over at PledgeMusic - www.pledgemusic.com/projects/evil-scarecrow-antartarctica.  While you peruse the goods on offer, check out new track, ‘Red Riding Hood’, about a martian invasion (naturally) over on their YouTube; https://youtu.be/eIXO2aXhwxE.

These five join the previously announced Friday night headliner, SABATON, Sunday’s bill toppers SCORPIONS, together with CHILDREN OF BODOM, CODE ORANGE, SOILWORK, CRADLE OF FILTH, SKELETONWITCH, DEE SNIDER, QUEENSRYCHE, ELUVEITIE, ROTTING CHRIST and HYPOCRISY on the Catton Park stages next August.  Stay tuned for more bands to be announced soon!

Standard weekend tickets are still currently available at ‘early bird’ prices (just £132 for four days of metal fun), so pick up yours at the ticket store - http://bloodstock.seetickets.com - if you want to save a few quid.  Camper van passes are also available in limited quantities, but be quick, as limited spaces remain.

BLOODSTOCK’s first wave of 2019 Serpents Lair VIP tickets are now SOLD OUT!  A second wave, including Deluxe VIP packages (Luxpads, Bellepads, Podpads, etc) and a limited amount of VIP upgrades (for those who’ve already purchased standard weekend tickets) will become available on Monday 17th December at 9am.  For full details click to http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/vip-camping.

You can also subscribe to the BLOODSTOCK e-mailout to get band and news announcements as they happen!  Click through to http://eepurl.com/dKZrG-/ to sign up.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 8th-11th August 2019.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

NEWS: Bloodstock rolls out six more bands

BLOODSTOCK is racing towards the weekend with some heavy metal Easter treats.

Six more bands have been added to August’s best heavy weekenderand the annual Easter Egg hunt on the Bloodstock website, kicking off Friday 30th March! Check out www.bloodstock.uk.com from 8am Friday for details on how to hunt for Easter eggs and win a pair of festival tickets.

Joining the line up in a Friday Ronnie James Dio main stage slot are British thrash icons ONSLAUGHT.

The band are working on their new studio album set for release later this year via AFM Records, so expect the world premiere of a brand new song at Bloodstock. The band said:

"ONSLAUGHT have always loved playing at Bloodstock, the UK’s finest metal festival and this year the show is going to be something special indeed! We’ll see you maniacs at the front!” Get warmed up by watching the video for ‘The Sound of Violence’.

Also nabbing a Friday slot opening the main stage are British metal crew, Feed the Rhino. The quintet’s latest album, ‘The Silence’ landed last month via Century Media with lead track, ‘Heedless’ landing its premiere via Daniel P. Carter on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show. Have a listen!

The band said “We are beyond honoured to be performing at this years BLOODSTOCK Festival. See you in the Pit!"

Japanese power metal ladies, LOVEBITES join us for a slot on Friday’s Sophie Lancaster stage. The five piece release a new mini-album, ‘Battle Against Damnation’ on 6th June, but if you’re not up to speed on the band, make sure you investigate this video for ‘Shadowmaker’ and additional news info over at their Facebook page.

London death metallers, DE PROFUNDIS join us in a Sophie stage slot on Friday. The band are readying the release in May of new album, ‘The Blinding Light of Faith’. Get a load of this new track ‘Bastard Sons of Abraham’ and then view the array of purchase options (digital, physical and special bundles) over on their Bandcamp page.

Transcending Obscurity Brit thrash outfit REPRISAL also land a Friday Sophie slot. Their new album, ‘None Survive The Sun’ lands this Friday 30th March via Hostile Media. Feast your eyes on the video for ‘Nephila’ and head over to pick up a copy of the album at
http://reprisal.bigcartel.com. 

Progressive death metal New Yorkers UNCURED land a slot on Sunday’s Sophie stage. Having just wrapped a 28-date US run with Soulfly, the four piece come to Europe this Summer to play shows with their friends in JASTA. Check out their video for ‘Stygian Valley’ below and if you're curious for more, get further info on the band over on their Facebook page .

Come join us in August! Standard weekend tickets are on sale now, priced at £145 for four days of metal fun. Grab yours at https://bloodstock.seetickets.com. If you already know you can only attend for one day, sign up for an email reminder so you don’t miss out when single day tickets go on sale at the end of June. Register your interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/register/bloodstock.
With Friday night headliners JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners GOJIRA and Sunday’s bill toppers NIGHTWISH announced, as well as EMPEROR, AT THE GATES, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, JASTA & FRIENDS, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, VENOM INC., MR BIG, ORPHANED LAND, KAMELOT, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH, EXHORDER, PALLBEARER, MEMORIAM and many more, we’re more excited than ever for BLOODSTOCK 2018!

BLOODSTOCK takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018. Get additional information at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

LIVE REVIEW: Metal2TheMasses NI Heat 5 has all the weirdness...

CAN we be clear for a moment - Bloodstock is a metal festival. It is for bands that play metal, who have metal running clear and molten through their veins. It gives a platform for some of the most extreme music, while celebrating the heritage of metal.

Why the rant? Read on...

With every heat of Metal2TheMasses you can see the acts who 'get it' You can tell the ones that have either been to Bloodstock - you can even tell the ones who have watched the YouTube and understand why it is one of the most unique festivals across the country.

But some just don't get it...

One act that do was openers Wintriness, The two-piece like many of their ilk rely on samples for the full all-out aural assault.

However, at times the sampled drums and bass overtook some of the exemplary playing. Indeed the melodic lines from both players screamed for more prominence.

What was apparent is that Wintriness have bucketloads of talent. They need the time to develop the balance between backing tracks and their undoubted talent.

After that...well we do not enjoy slagging any band. Often, we prefer the old "sandwich feedback", as in here's what was good, here's what was bad, and here are some more good points.

But fuck us pink, call us sherbert dip and throw our heads in some sugary mixture, but Cloakroom Q should have never been anywhere a Metal2TheMasses show.

Given the right audience we're sure that they are a perfectly entertaining band for that audience...but come on, this is Bloodfuckingstock!

A sound that is 'edgy' on Scuzz or KerrangTV jut sounds out-of-placed at a Metal2TheMasses. The clue is in the word "metal". Not alt, not indy, not quirky...it's METAL!What could have been a post-rock triumphh had all the hallmarks of a band that would go down well at Reading or, may the Lord Baphomet forgive them, Glasto.

Good rhythm section...enough said.

In contrast Victim Royal understand what the heats are about. They play the combination of old school metal, noughties grooves delivered with a three lead attack.

Sure, some of it echoed Maiden's first two albums and invoked some BOMV, but there was some fine melody playing on display. In fact, with a little more harmony vocals and a tad more muscular delivery it could have been a great set.

Did we fancy a dig to the bake, a sucker punch to the ballsack and a kick on the shins? No choice -because that is what Cursed Sun delivered.

Immediately it was clear that that everything that had passed before was not ready for the challenge.

It is a long time since they cast aside their Lamb Of God influences - they have taken that live (and recorded) template, kicked it around the room and stamped a big size fucking nine Norn Iron foot all over that with a resounding "fuck you".

Vigorous and vile no-one but the near death or tone deaf would have been unmoved by the charisma oozing from the Voodoo stage.

When the votes were cast by judges and audience the results showed the qualifiers to the semi finals were Cursed Sun and Victim Royal.

Review by Jonathan Traynor
Pictures by Keri Clarke (Exposing Shadows Photography)

Unfortunately we weren't able to see Ten Ton Slug owing to that shit thing called work...but we are reliably informed they tore a new roof in the Voodoo...

NEWS: Bloodstock reveals eight more bands with just six months to go!

AS we head into February, the days are clicking by and BLOODSTOCK is just six months away!  Tickets are moving faster than ever in 2018 so don’t delay in picking up yours!

There's another batch of bands announced; one main stage band and seven more to flesh out part of the Sophie stage line up.

Swedish metal crew AMARANTHE (www.facebook.com/AmarantheBand) are on the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Sunday. Featuring three vocalists, the band are a unique mix of death and power metal. Their video for single ‘Maximize’, at https://youtu.be/nfk7YZJtmeo, has already racked up more than 5.5 million views!

Landing a Sophie Lancaster stage slot on Friday are Mancunian bruisers, INGESTED (www.facebook.com/ingesteduk). The Century Media-signed band have built a reputation for savage death metal, taking their influences from classic gore and splatter movies.

Joining them on the Friday line-up are MORTISHEAD (www.facebook.com/mortishead) - definitely not to be confused with Portishead! - who bring their hybrid of industrial, thrash, groove & sludge metal to the Sophie stage.  As former victors of Bristol’s Metal 2 The Masses, we’re thrilled to see the band progress since their debut on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage in 2015.

Joining the ranks on Saturday’s Sophie bill, we welcome back Irish trio, DEAD LABEL (www.facebook.com/DeadLabel).  The three piece are rapidly growing a reputation and we’re thrilled to have them as BLOODSTOCK alumni!

All the way from Perth, Australia, prog metallers VOYAGER (www.facebook.com/voyageraustr alia) join the fray on Saturday. The long-running group dropped their sixth album, ‘Ghost Mile’ last May.

After having to pull out last year, Nuclear Blast’s brutal German duo MANTAR (www.facebook.com/MantarBand/) are able to join Sunday’s Sophie bill in 2018!  Don’t miss them if you love a bit of black metal combined with doom and punk.

If thrash is more your thing, be sure to catch Brighton beasts, KING LEVIATHAN (www.facebook.com/KingLeviatha nMetal). 
Fans will welcome heavy supergroup, ACT OF DEFIANCE.  Formed in 2014, by ex-Megadeth men Chris Broderick & Shawn Drover, plus Henry Derek (ex-Scar The Martyr) & Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall), check them out at http://metalblade.com/actofdef iance/.

Standard weekend tickets are now available priced at £145 for four days of metal fun, so grab yours now at https://bloodstock.seetickets. com.

If you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet and are still broke from Christmas shenanigans, BLOODSTOCK’s payment plan helps ease any ‘lump sum’ shock by breaking your ticket payment into five smaller, more manageable amounts.  Sign up in the ticket store any time before 28th Feb for an initial deposit of just £36.  Thereafter, four additional instalments of £29 will debit your bank account on 3rd April, 1st May, 1st June and 2nd July respectively.  Find out full details or sign up over at https://bloodstock.seetickets. com. 

If you already know you can only attend for one day, sign up for a day ticket reminder email as day tickets do not go on sale until June.  Register your day ticket interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/reg ister/bloodstock.

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday’s bill toppers, NIGHTWISH already announced, as well as EMPEROR, AT THE GATES, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, JASTA & FRIENDS, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, VENOM INC., MR BIG, ORPHANED LAND, KAMELOT, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH, EXHORDER, VOLA and MEMORIAM so far, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

NEWS: Bloodstock adds At The Gates and more as Serpent's Lair VIP tickets sell out.

WITH Serpent's Lair VIP camping already sold out Bloodstock are continuing to add band after band, with Sweden's At The Gates, New Orleans thrashers Exhuder among the latest additions.

Below is the full release:

BLOODSTOCK is excited to announce four more bands for 2018!  Tickets are moving faster than ever for 2018’s weekender, with ‘Serpent’s Lair’ VIP tickets sold out completely!  Don’t delay in picking up your ticket before August comes around.  We’re expecting another weekend sell-out this year!  Now for the latest band announcement... 

Sunday’s special guest on the Ronnie James Dio main stage will be AT THE GATES.   The Swedish melodeath overlords are hard at work on the follow up album to 2014’s ‘At War With Reality’ which is set for release on 18th May via Century Media.  Check out their latest studio report over on drummer Adrian Erlandsson’s YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/auP9OpZaKaQ.

Cruising into a Saturday night special guest slot on the Sophie stage are seminal New Orleans thrash pioneers, EXHORDER.  Arguably the creators of the original sound that Pantera honed and took to the masses, when we learned the band had reformed, we *had* to bring them to BLOODSTOCK!  Check out their classic 1990 debut studio album, ‘Slaughter In The Vatican’ at https://youtu.be/3pF8S_ssMmI.

Las Vegas sludge metal beasts, WEIGHT OF THE TIDE land a Sophie stage slot.  The band released second album, ‘All Told’ via Undergroove Records late last year.  Check out a taster of that release via the video for ‘The Architect’ here - https://youtu.be/QLWbEYoDdxA.

California death metal outfit, SANGRE also join the Sophie stage bill.  Not familiar with SANGRE?  Then get a taster over at their Bandcamp page - https://sangremetal.bandcamp.c om/.

If you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet and are a little broke after the Christmas shenanigans, BLOODSTOCK’s payment plan helps ease any ‘lump sum’ shock by breaking your ticket payment into five smaller, more manageable amounts.  Sign up in the ticket store any time before 28th Feb for an initial deposit of just £36.  Thereafter, four additional instalments of £29 will debit your bank account on 3rd April, 1st May, 1st June and 2nd July respectively.  Find out full details or sign up over at https://bloodstock.seetickets. com. 

If you already know you can only attend for one day, sign up for a day ticket reminder email as day tickets do not go on sale until June.  Register your day ticket interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/reg ister/bloodstock.

If you like a good podcast, BLOODSTOCK Radio has returned for the 2018 season!  Listen in to Squatter chatting all things BLOODSTOCK at www.BloodstockRadio.com or look up the show via iTunes or Podcast Addict to get a regular lowdown.

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday’s bill toppers, NIGHTWISH already announced, as well as EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, JASTA & FRIENDS, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, VENOM INC., MR BIG, ORPHANED LAND, KAMELOT, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH, VOLA and MEMORIAM so far, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

NEWS: Jasta and Venom Inc added to Bloodstock line-up

BLOODSTOCK has welcomed in the New Year with new acts and the festival has revealed that there are less than 50 of the highly prized VIP tickets remaining.

Standard tickets, as well as the very popular Deposit Scheme and the last few camper van pitches are all currently available in the ticket store.  So, those band announcements...

JASTA & FRIENDS are set for a Ronnie James Dio main stage slot on Sunday!  As a great friend of BLOODSTOCK, we’re thrilled to welcome Jamey Jasta, frontman of Hatebreed, Kingdom of Sorrow and Icepick, back to the festival with his solo band, JASTA.

However, this is not just JASTA, this is JASTA & FRIENDS, so expect some special guests to jump on stage for various songs, just for the BOA faithful at BLOODSTOCK 2018! Guests will be revealed in due course, but the mighty Kirk Windstein (Crowbar, Down, Kingdom of Sorrow) will be one of them!

Jamey said: “I’m beyond excited and honoured to have my first UK show with JASTA be at the mighty Bloodstock Festival! So many legends have graced the Bloodstock stages, we will channel their energy and give the fans a killer set with some special surprise guests!” Check out JASTA’s recent video for ‘The Same Flame’ here - https://youtu.be/P7PnbooaTOE.

VENOM INC also join Saturday’s main stage bill!  With new album, ‘Avé’ released via Nuclear Blast last year, the seminal British metal icons will be bringing both classic tracks and new to BLOODSTOCK next August.  Check out the lyric video for ‘Avé Satanas’, taken from that album here - https://youtu.be/Xt_yGt0ET0U and get ready to welcome The Demolition Man, Mantas and Abaddon to Catton Park!

Our Saturday night Sophie Lancaster stage headliner will be ORPHANED LAND!  The ground-breaking band’s new album, ‘Unsung Prophets And Dead Messiahs’ is set for release later this month via Century Media and features guest appearances from Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kürsch, Tomas Lindberg from At The Gates and Steve Hackett.  Check out the epic album teaser here - https://youtu.be/GNm20DFCO7Y.

Also joining the bill are the hotly tipped Danish prog metal outfit VOLA, who join the Sophie stage bill on Saturday.  The band are hard at work on their new studio album, set for release through Mascot Records this year.  Get a taster of their sound via the video for ‘Stray The Skies’ taken from 2016’s debut album, ‘InMazes’ - https://youtu.be/EipdyUZfrG0.

If you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet and are a bit stretched post-Christmas, BLOODSTOCK’s payment plan helps ease the ‘lump sum’ shock of paying for your ticket by breaking it into five smaller, more manageable amounts.  Sign up in the ticket store any time before 28th Feb for an initial deposit of £36.00.  Thereafter, four additional instalments of £29.00 will debit your bank account on 3rd April, 1st May, 1st June and 2nd July respectively.  Find out full details and sign up over at https://bloodstock.seetickets. com. 

If you already know you can only attend for one day, sign up for a day ticket reminder email as day tickets will not go on sale until next summer.  Register your day ticket interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/reg ister/bloodstock.

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday’s bil toppers, NIGHTWISH already announced, as well as EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, MR BIG, KAMELOT, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH and MEMORIAM so far, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

NEWS: Belfast once again announced to host the Northern Ireland Metal2TheMasses heats

BLOODSTOCK’s annual, hugely popular ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ initiative offers unsigned and DIY bands the chance of being part of the Bloodstock festival experience and once again Belfast is hosting the Northern Ireland heat.

For 2018, your band could be playing on the bill alongside the likes of JUDAS PRIEST, GOJIRA, NIGHTWISH and many more amazing bands.

 
The Distortion Project is once again organising M2TM - and applications are open now. Email DP here if you’re in a self-signed or unsigned band and want to try out for a slot on the Bloodstock bill.

One winner from each event will win a slot on Bloodstock's ‘New Blood’ stage, with many more additional prizes to be announced.  In August 2018, your band or your favourite local act could be one of the lucky bands stepping on stage at Bloodstock.

For further details on M2TM, check out https://www.facebook.com/group s/m2tmofficial or for bands wishing to submit applications outside Metal2TheMasses, please email Simon here.

Standard weekend tickets for Bloodstock are currently available at ‘early bird’ prices (just £125 for four days of metal fun) so grab yours now at the ticket store if you want to save £20!  In order to keep up with inflation and extra costs in 2018, standard weekend tickets with camping will increase from last year's £139 to £145 once the ‘early bird’ allocation is gone. 

Bloodstock takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com.

NEWS: Bloodstock ups the ante with three stellar acts in the metal universe

PEOPLE got excited and a little bit overcome when Bloodstock announced Judas Priest as the Friday night headliner, but today's announcement saw thousands swoon in delight.

Yep, added to the bill are Emperor, Devildriver and Nails. Geologists across Derbyshire are warning of earthquakes and the possible tilt of the earth's axis with the addition of these three.

Emperor fans have had to be revived after they learned that the legendary act will be playing 'Anthems To The Weilkin At Dusk' in its entirety.

Frontman Ihsahn confirmed they’ll be performing a special set based around it.  “We're finally bringing the 20th Anniversary show for ‘Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk’ to the UK," he said  "We’ll be performing the album in its entirety and look forward to celebrating with everyone at Bloodstock!”

With Devildriver on the bill we humbly suggest that from now until August you get yourself circle fit....

Dez Fafara said: "Devildriver is playing Bloodstock in 2018 and we couldn’t be more fucking ready to bring the heavy and get the whole festival moving!

"We are thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to see everyone there!  Get ready to get the fuck in the pit!”

Keeping the heavy theme three piece Nails will be throttling the fuck out of Catton Park.

Todd Jones said: “I've been following Bloodstock and looking at their advertisements online for the past few years, admiring how great a job the festival does having a great mix of underground bands and some of metal's biggest and finest.

"We're proud to finally say we're part of what Bloodstock is doing to fight the good fight!  We'll see all you motherfuckers at Bloodstock!!!"

With Gojira and Nightwish (fuck up haters, there'll be something in the Sophie Lancaster stage for you) we only eagerly await the confirmation of Toto as Thursday night headliners :)

And, if you haven't got your tickets yet what the fuck are you waiting for?