NEWS: Bloodstock day tickets released on Friday, new bands announced and tonnes more fun planned

AS the countdown to Bloostock continues apace the festival has announced day tickets will go on sale on Friday as well as a tranche of new bands, joining Northern Ireland's Oracle and Sinocence.

All the news - including some more entertainment is in the press release below,

"With just six weekends to go, BLOODSTOCK release a limited number of day tickets at 9am this Friday, 29th June!  Adult day tickets are priced at £65 (+ booking fee) and child day tickets at £20 (+ booking fee) and will be available at http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om.  You can still also pick up four-day ‘weekend tickets with camping’, priced £145 (+ booking fee), and children’s weekend tickets at just £35 (+ booking fee). Children under 4 years old go free!  Weekend tickets are selling faster than ever and just like last year, are highly likely to sell out in advance, so don’t delay if you want to guarantee access to the UK’s best metal weekender!

"BLOODSTOCK can also share that blackened death metal band DEMONIC RESURRECTION (www.facebook.com/DemonicResur rection) are joining the Sophie Lancaster stage line-up on Sunday, replacing BIO CANCER who have regrettably had to cancel. Jetting in from Mumbai, India, DEMONIC RESURRECTION released their fifth album 'Dashavatar' earlier this year. Get familiar with their video for 'Narasimha - The Man-Lion', taken from that album, at: https://youtu.be/DVQkEAdVwUU.

The mighty Priest

"The regional METAL 2 THE MASSES finals have continued to storm across the UK, helping BLOODSTOCK to add the best of up n’ coming, grassroots talent to the New Blood stage for your attention this August! Friday brings melo-death Cardiff winners DEMOCRATUS (www.facebook.com/democratusba nd), Somerset champs KINASIS (www.facebook.com/Kinasis) with their brand of technical extreme metal, and Nottingham’s top dogs UNDERDARK (www.facebook.com/Underdarkuk) - think Alcest, Oathbreaker, Deafheaven with a touch of Cult of Luna. Also snatching a guest spot are filthy, southern-fried, metal n’ rollers KING BISON (www.facebook.com/kingbisonuk) .

"Joining the New Blood stage on Saturday, are thrash-tinged Newcastle victors KILONOVA (www.facebook.com/kilonovauk), hard rockers EQUINOX (www.facebook.com/EquinoxBandU K) who took first place in the Merseyside final, and Wrexham’s winners CADANCE NOIR (www.facebook.com/cadencenoir) , who describe themselves as goth folk n’ roll! 

"Sunday’s New Blood bill welcomes Devon/Cornwall conquerors ETHYRFIELD (www.facebook.com/ethyrfield), whose guitarist has even been mentored by the legendary Tony Iommi, doomy sludgers BARBARIAN HERMIT (www.facebook.com/barbarianher mit) who brought along all the riffs to win in Manchester, and from their excellent CD application, SERVERS (www.facebook.com/serversUK), described by Metal Hammer as "Mastodon meets Queen’s brand of intelligent riffs." Adding some international flavour, are Polish winners, the anonymous mask-wearing PSYCHOTYPE (www.facebook.com/PsychoType) and Norway victors SKYBRUDD (www.facebook.com/skybruddband ), a melting pot of doom/sludge/black/dark metal, as well as black n’ roll troubadours, SRD (www.facebook.com/SrdOfficial/ ), via our band swap with Slovenian festival Metaldays!

BLOODSTOCK’s also pleased to reveal a load of brand new entertainment will take place over at the Sophie Lancaster stage after the bands finish. For those of you less keen on sleep, the tent will transition into ‘The Lock In’, a fully immersive club night presented by Old Blue Last Beer and hosted by comedian Andrew O’Neill. Each night will feature a different DJ, celebrating a decade of metal! Thursday sees DJ Krusher unearthing tracks from the ‘70s, Friday rocks out to the ‘80s with dark lord Alexander Milas, on Saturday metal encyclopedia Dom Lawson brings you the best of the ‘90s, and Metal Hammer editor Merlin Alderslade rounds out Sunday’s fun with top tunes from the ‘00s. Not only that, you can expect movies, world record attempts, games, prizes, a giant can sculpture(!) and even more.

"Want to meet like-minded metalheads who’re going to BLOODSTOCK? Got tips to share, want a camping buddy, or just to chat about bands? Maybe you want to ask if you’re the only one taking a Hawaiian shirt for Cannibal Corpse’s set (https://youtu.be/8dM_TN7I5m8) ? Join these fan-run Facebook groups - Bloodstock Metal Forum 666 at  www.facebook.com/groups/bmf66 6/ and/or Bloodstock Camp Loners & Newbies at www.facebook.com/groups/171715 506329753/.

With Friday night headliners JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners GOJIRA and Sunday’s bill toppers NIGHTWISH announced, as well as EMPEROR, AT THE GATES, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, JASTA & FRIENDS, FEED THE RHINO, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, ALESTORM, VENOM INC., MR BIG, ORPHANED LAND, KAMELOT, POWER TRIP, CONJURER, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH, EXHORDER, PALLBEARER, MEMORIAM and many more, we’re counting down the final days ‘til BLOODSTOCK 2018!

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

NEWS: Alestorm and Pallbearer amongst latest added to Bloodstock

OH DEAR! Deary, deary me. Alestorm are se to play Bloodstock. A bunch of rum-laden pirate metal nutters playing to a crowd of boozed up metal nutters. What can go wrong? Fuck it, we do hope it goes wrong in the best possible way! (Read the review of their Belfast show here)

Yes, Bloodstock has announced four more bands for August’s best heavy metal weekender!  Tickets are moving fast for 2018 and we expect another advance sell-out, so don’t delay in picking up yours!  There's also only six days left to sign up to the deposit scheme...

We welcome pirate metal’s finest, Alestorm with a big ‘Oh Wow!’ as they join the bill on Saturday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage!

Frontman Chris Bowes said, “Oh wow! It's been 10 years since our debut album, ‘Captain Morgan's Revenge’ came out and somehow, it's also been 10 years since we last played Bloodstock Open Air!

"Let's have a very silly party time, Englandshire.  I promise we won't be shite."

Grab the 10th Anniversary edition of the debut, released just last month and raise your rum to the lyric video of the title track; https://youtu.be/GTyMhv7MCCs.

The much-lauded Pallbearer are set for a Sunday slot on the Sophie Lancaster stage, bringing their monumental, doom-laden, melodic heaviosity to Catton Park!

The Little Rock, Arkansas-based band have been praised by everyone from the New York Times to Loudwire, Decibel and SPIN, and rightly so!  The band’s third album, ‘Heartless’ made many journalists’ Top Albums of 2017 list.  Check out their video for ‘I Saw The End’, taken from that opus here - https://youtu.be/DNl_18Kr56g. 

Nottingham hard rockers Hahran pick up a Friday slot on the Sophie stage.  The band recently released a video for new track, ‘State Of Mind’ taken from their upcoming album, ‘VAPOURS’ - https://youtu.be/KW58TKJGyhw.  The opus is set for release this summer.  Stay tuned on their latest news at www.facebook.com/Fahranmusic.

British rock crew, Doomsday Outlaw land a spot on Sunday’s Sophie stage bill.  The five piece have just announced new album, ‘Hard Times’, which is set to arrive in May via Frontiers.  Check out lead track ‘Spirit That Made Me’ - https://youtu.be/eNMPo5DrsJM and if you like what you hear, you can pre-order the record at radi.al/HardTimes.

Final call for the 2018 Deposit Scheme!  There’s just 6 days left to sign up for BLOODSTOCK’s payment plan, which eases the shock of a ‘lump sum’ payment by breaking your ticket price into five more manageable amounts.

Sign up in the ticket store before the cut-off time of 11.59pm on Wednesday 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 and your 2018 ticket is secured!  Sign up over at https://bloodstock.seetickets. com. 

Standard weekend tickets are also available, priced at £145 for four days of metal fun, so grab yours now!  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 late June.  Register your day ticket interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/ register/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, AMARANTHE, 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 Doro, Flozzy, Bloodbath, and Septicflesh

GERMAN metal legend, Doro will be Bloodstock's Friday night Sophie Lancaster stage headliner. as the festival announces yet more bands to the 2018 line-up.

With a career spanning over 30 years and 17 studio albums under her belt (including 4 with Warlock), Doro’s current label Nuclear Blast recently celebrated her 30 year anniversary with a 3 DVD box set, ‘Strong & Proud’; a great place to start if you’re not clued up on the Metal Queen.

WWE wrestling star Chris Jericho’s band, Fozzy join Sunday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage line-up.  Currently rampaging across Europe, the Century Media outfit dropped their seventh album ‘Judas’ last month.

Swedish death metal outfit, Bloodbath plan to lay waste to the main stage on Friday.

Guitarist Anders Nyström said: “After eight years, our time has come to put the Blood back in Bloodstock!”  Not familiar with this supergroup featuring members of Paradise Lost, Katatonia Opeth?
Investigate their video for ‘Church of Vestitas’, taken from 2014’s ‘Grand Morbid Funeral’ opus at https://youtu.be/whjf6LKmFYQ and ready yourself for their long-awaited return!

Landing a Saturday spot on the main stage are Greek symphonic death metal squad, Septicflesh.  First formed back in 1990, the pioneers unveiled their tenth record, ‘Codex Omega’ in September. 

Record label, Season Of Mist are streaming the whole beast including a 360° video for ‘Dante’s Inferno’ over at https://youtu.be/gSE0UPuiVnM.

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday night headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday headliners, NIGHTWISH already announced, along with EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, COMBICHRIST, NAILS, ORDEN OGAN and MEMORIAM so far, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.

Bloodstock's first wave of Serpents Lair VIP tickets are now SOLD OUT!  The final allocation, the last batch of VIP deluxe packages and a limited amount of VIP upgrades priced at £145 (for those who’ve already bought ‘early bird’ tickets) will become available at 9.00am on 16th December in the ticket store.  Mark your calendars and don't delay if you want to join us in 2018’s VIP Serpents Lair, as they’re moving faster than ever before!

Weekend tickets are still available in very limited numbers at an ‘early bird’ price (just £125 for four days of metal fun) so grab yours now at the ticket store if you want to save £20!  To keep up with inflation and increased costs in 2018, standard weekend tickets with camping will increase from last year's £139 to £145 once the ‘early bird’ allocation sells out. Camper van pitches are also available now.

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

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?

NEWS: 37 Days to go ti Bloodstock - more bands and comedy nights announced

ARE you counting down the days yet to BLOODSTOCK 2017?  There’s just 37 days to go - that’s a mere 5 weekends!! Maybe you’re making plans which campsite you’re going to stay in? Perhaps the brand new Ragnarök campsite, named by you, the fans? Or maybe you’ve just picked up your day ticket?

Did you know that Bloodstock's online 'click & collect' service allows you to pre-order your 2017 merch for on site collection?  Festival attendees can snap up their faves now without fear of their size/design being already sold out on the day.  Just pre-order anything with a click & collect logo at https://bmerch.com/store/ bloodstock/ and collect at the merch stall in the arena at any point over the weekend, knowing your item is guaranteed and paid for! You can pre-order until Monday 7th August.

Want to win lots of Bloodstock goodies, plus a chance to meet bands, get your ticket upgraded, watch from side of stage, or just snap up some free tickets? Sure you do! You can win every week between now and the festival. Lots of prizes to be won just by sharing your fave Bloodstock YouTube video on your social media! Get all the info on how to enter at:  www.bloodstock.uk.com/news/ share-youtube-videos-and-win- tickets-to-bloodstock-2017.

As for bands, Bloodstock can now reveal that opening the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Friday will be hotly-tipped Danish rockers FOREVER STILL. Signed to Nuclear Blast for the release of their debut album ‘Tied Down’, get familiar with the video for epic single ‘Scars’ at https://youtu.be/-GrcVsgj8UU then learn more via www.facebook.com/Foreverstill/ .

Bloodstock is also pleased to announce the return of the Jagermeister Stage. Grab your mates and some shots, and get ready to watch all these! Appearing on Friday, are groove-infused rockers ELECTRIC MOTHER (www.facebook.com/ electricmotherband) who hail from the Viking isles of Orkney, Nottingham thrash n’ rollers HUNG DADDY (www.facebook.com/ hungdaddyband), underground groove thrashers TRENDKILL (www.facebook.com/trendkilluk) , the aptly-named BIGGUS RIFFUS (www.facebook.com/biggusriffus ), and metal warriors HANOWAR (www.facebook.com/ Hanowartruemetal). Livening up Saturday are SPYDERBYTE (www.facebook.com/ spyderbyteband) - think AC/DC, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, & Motorhead in a blender, thrash metal Londoners BANGOVER (www.facebook.com/pg/ BangoverUK), Brighton rockers TALES OF AUTUMN (www.facebook.com/ TalesOfAutumn), unique Mancunian progsters TWISTED ILLUSION (www.facebook.com/pg/ OfficialTIband), and classic rock road dogs DEPARTED (www.facebook.com/pg/ departedbanduk), who count The Treatment’s ex-guitarist amongst their ranks. Sunday brings prog metal sludgers EVEREST QUEEN (www.facebook.com/ everestqueenband) from Stevenage, Edinburgh doomsters ATRAGON (www.facebook.com/AtragonDoom) , the classic/blues rock sounds of Stoke’s SILVERCHILD (www.facebook.com/ silverchildband), and a ballsy blues riot from Manchester’s VOODOO BLOOD (www.facebook.com/ VBloodofficial). If there’s any Jagermeister left, BLOODSTOCK may yet add a couple more bands to the fray.

When the metal finishes in the Hobgoblin New Blood tent each evening, a different set of howls take centre stage with Bloodstock's comedy bill.  The laughs continue through the evening and wrap up before the headliners take to the main stage.  Friday’s gag-filled line up is compere’d by everyone’s favourite Ginger Viking comic, Chris Brooker, and welcomes razor-sharp one-liner king, Gary Delaney and the award-winning queen of comic observation, Debra Jane Appleby.  Saturday evening’s bill is compere’d by David Jordan who brings his hilarious, edgy musical approach to comedy, we also welcome The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre!  One that has to be seen to be believed and leaves everyone crying with laughter!  Also bringing the laughs is award-winning stand-up, Quincy.  You may recognise him from ‘off the telly’!  On Sunday, Chris Brooker returns to compere once again and we welcome the dark and deliciously different jokes of Bethany Black and the maddest, silliest, stupidest pairing on the circuit, The Raymond And Mr Timpkins Revue.

Already announced for 2017 are our three headliners AMON AMARTH, GHOST, and MEGADETH, plus ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR, BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, KING 810, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, SKINDRED, POSSESSED, ANNIHILATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, HELL, DECAPITATED, SOILWORK, CHELSEA GRIN, FALLUJAH, HAVOK, MACABRE, INQUISITION, DEVILMENT, SCARAB, WINTERSUN, ONI, DENDERA, KROH, ABHORRENT DECIMATION, PUPPY, THE ONE HUNDRED, BOSSK, WINTERFYLLETH, LIONIZE, BLIND HAZE, ARTHEMIS and many more.  For the full list, visit http://www.bloodstock.uk.com - even more bands are still be announced!  Stay tuned to BLOODSTOCK’s social media at https://www.facebook.com/ bloodstock and https://twitter.com/ bloodstockfest for the latest!

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2017.  Pick up weekend or day tickets at http://bloodstock.seetickets. com. Bring your mates or the whole family - if they’re under 4 years old, they can come for free!

NEWS: Day tickets for Bloodstock released and details for RAM Gallery unveiled

BLOODSTOCK release their day tickets at 9am tomorrow, 30th June!  Tickets will be priced at £60 (plus booking fee) and are available at http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om.  Four-day ‘weekend tickets with camping’ are also still available, priced £139 (plus booking fee).

Children’s weekend tickets are just £35 (+ booking fee) and under 4’s go free!  Weekend tickets are selling faster than ever this year and may well sell out entirely before festival weekend, so don’t delay if you want to guarantee access to the UK’s best metal weekender!

One thing that sets BLOODSTOCK apart from other festivals is festival founder, Paul Raymond Gregory’s on-site RAM Gallery.

In addition to showing selections from his own world-renowned portfolio, Paul invites some of his favourite rock & metal-related artists to exhibit.  This year he welcomes Berlin-based artist and illustrator, Eliran Kantor, who’ll show six pieces of work.  Eliran has created sleeve art for numerous metal artists including Testament, Soulfly, Iced Earth, and Hatebreed.

Returning to the RAM Gallery in 2017 is Orange County artist, Christian Sloan Hall, who show a few of the many pieces of work he’s created for our Friday headliner, AMON AMARTH.  Christian will be in the gallery to sign limited edition prints, which will be available for sale, so come by, say hello and snap up something extra special for your wall.  Also exhibiting will be Daniel P. Carter; artist, musician, and presenter of the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show.  Dan studied at the prestigious St Martins School of Art and has created sleeves for many albums, most recently Me And That Man’s debut (Nergal from Behemoth’s side project), ‘Songs of Love And Death’.  On the photography side, the RAM Gallery is also thrilled to welcome celebrated rock photographer, Paul Harries, who’ll show six photographic pieces from his incredible portfolio.

Adding a new flavour to the gallery this year is Heathen Waxworks.  Their hand-carved 3D candleware in a range of unique designs are based on RAM Gallery-appropriate mythical and esoteric themes; Nordic Storm, Pagan Woodland, Native American, Hammered Horror and Satanic Majesty.
Lastly but not leastly, regular RAM Gallery contributor and luthier Cynosure, creator of hand-made guitars as art, will be exhibiting two brand new bespoke instruments.  One of the new instruments is Saxon-inspired and will sit on the ‘Saxon Wall’ beside pieces of Paul Gregory’s original artwork for the British metal stalwarts.  The other….well, that’ll be a surprise.

The finals for this year’s ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ campaign steamroll on and BLOODSTOCK can now reveal the next round of winners landing a slot on the New Blood stage.  Livening up proceedings on Saturday are Merseyside winners REAPER (www.facebook.com/OfficialReap erUK), Nottingham champions RAISED BY OWLS (www.facebook.com/RaisedByOwls ), Burnley victors WARD XVI (www.facebook.com/WardXVI) and DECREPIT MONOLITH (www.facebook.com/decrepitmono lith) who landed the top spot in Newcastle.  The heavy riffage of PROGNOSIS (www.facebook.com/Prognosis1) who took first prize in Manchester, are added to Sunday’s bill.  BLOODSTOCK has also decided to extend an invitation to three other exceptional bands, so performing on Friday, are Dorset’s sludge/groove metallers THUUM (https://youtu.be/tyJfpdbE9Vs) and Carlisle’s runners up, the prog/tech death BLOOD THREAD (https://youtu.be/73sYRntuB94) .  Dublin’s second-placed NA CRUITHNE (https://youtu.be/Q5QzFgZFMq0) also join the bill Sunday, bringing a unique blend of groove & black metal, but with influences from traditional Irish, Scottish, and Breton music.

Ach! Enough of the blurb - just get yer tickets and come along!

NEWS: Just 51 days until Bloodstock!

WITH the countdown well underway the clock is ticking until we all gather at the sacred grounds of Catton Park - and to mark the 51 days to go this is the official statement that should keep everyone happy:

Not long now before the BLOODSTOCK faithful thunder onto the hallowed turf of Catton Park!  While you’re dusting off that tent and getting those cases of beer in, BLOODSTOCK HQ is announcing even more bands!!

Joining Saturday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage bill are Denver-based thrash animals HAVOK.  The band recently released their fourth studio album, ‘Conformicide’ via Century Media.  Warm up your necks in anticipation to ‘Claiming Certainty’, taken from that CD - https://youtu.be/Hc9JYLOCyG4. 

Also landing the opening slot on Saturday’s main stage are San Francisco tech death outfit, FALLUJAH.  Check out the video for ‘Abandon’, taken from their recently released Nuclear Blast album, ‘Dreamless’ - https://youtu.be/_uBXmb1TVxk.

Fleshing out the Sophie bill over the weekend are seven awesome bands.  Joining us on Friday will be Norwich thrashers SHRAPNEL (www.facebook.com/ShrapnelOffi cial), Leicester metal five-piece INTERNAL CONFLICT (www.facebook.com/internalconf lict), Yorkshire’s stoner blues squad, IRONRAT (www.facebook.com/ironrattheba nd) and London extremists, CORPSING (www.facebook.com/corpsingmeta l) who feature members of Akercocke and Aghast.  Bringing their critically acclaimed noises on Saturday are heavy prog beasts OHHMS (www.facebook.com/OHHMStheband ) and rounding out Sunday’s line up are British/Chilean thrash/death outfit, CRIMINAL (www.facebook.com/Criminal.Ban d) and purveyors of mammoth metal grooves, GRAVIL (www.facebook.com/gravil).

Phase two of our ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ finalists are also locked down.  These lucky winners of regional heats land a slot on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage...  On Friday, fans of Lamb of God, Fear Factory, & Whitechapel should be sure to catch Carlisle champions, SEEK SOLACE IN RUIN (https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=3PYN-3cNtq0).  If Sylosis, Trivium, & Children of Bodom are more your thing, look out for Saltash heroes MANTRA (https://youtu.be/sk7_JuwS5v).   Also celebrating on Friday, are Leicester victors BLOODOATH (https://youtu.be/4_P0rG37WtE) and Wolverhampton top dogs ASHEN CROWN (http://www.facebook.com/ashen crown.uk), who are one for fans of Bolt Thrower & At The Gates.  Saturday brings Southern metal riffers TITAN BREED (https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=KiT_OMkzmlA), who clinched first place in Glasgow, Gravesend winners INFECTED DEAD (https://youtu.be/hq0bMAFN3Io) with their polished blend of modern death metal and visceral brutality, and three-piece progsters SOLAR SONS (https://www.facebook.com/sola rsonsofficial) who won the Inverness heat with their Rush/Budgie influences!  Joining them will be Cardiff conquerors MALUM SKY (https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=tFcEjrqDw3g), with their mix of progressive styles - think Periphery & Karnivool, but with a twist.  The kings of the Norwegian M2TM final are VORBID (https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=yemzlO_R8n8), and BLOODSTOCK is delighted to welcome their melodic/hard prog sounds to Sunday’s bill, sure to please everyone who digs a bit of Megadeth, Testament, & Annihilator, through to King Crimson, Rush, & Camel!
 Already announced for 2017 are our three headliners AMON AMARTH, GHOST, and MEGADETH, plus ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR, BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, KING 810, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, SKINDRED, POSSESSED, ANNIHILATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, HELL, DECAPITATED, SOILWORK, CHELSEA GRIN, MACABRE, INQUISITION, SCARAB, WINTERSUN, ONI, DENDERA, KROH, ABHORRENT DECIMATION, PUPPY, THE ONE HUNDRED, BOSSK, WINTERFYLLETH, LIONIZE, BLIND HAZE, ARTHEMIS, DEVILMENT and many more. For the full list, visit http://www.bloodstock.uk.com - even more bands are still be announced! Stay tuned to BLOODSTOCK’s social media at https://www.facebook.com/blood stock and https://twitter.com/bloodstock fest for the latest!

NEWS: 99 days ‘til Bloodstock – more acts announced ahead of NI's M2TM 2nd semi

WITH less than 100 days to go, Bloodstock has announced Manchester bruisers Broken Teeth, as Sunday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage opener. And, don't forget Friday's NI Metal2TheMasses semi final in the Voodoo - come and have your say.

Broken Teeth igned to Nuclear Blast last year, the hardcore youngbloods are set to wake everyone up and pummel your hangover into submission!  Check out ‘Show No Mercy’ from their debut full-length ‘At Peace Amongst Chaos’ at https://youtu.be/Cppa15f4sFw.

Here is the rest if the statement from Bloodstock:

Four more talented bands are joining the Last.fm-sponsored Sophie Lancaster stage bill.  Maryland, USA rockers Lionize (www.facebook.com/LIONIZEMUSIC /) bring the groove & funk to the party, and have been hard at work on their next record for new label The End (out this Summer), so expect a few new tunes!
Are you familiar with Black Moth (www.facebook.com/themothpit/) yet?  If not, you soon will be!  Hailing from Leeds, Kerrang! describes them, “like Electric Wizard meets Band Of Skulls, in a dungeon.”
Finnish metal outfit Wolfheart (www.facebook.com/WolfheartRea lm/) swoop in to showcase their new album ‘Tyhjyys’, released in March via Spinefarm.

And if black metal blended with doom and punk catches your interest, don’t miss Nuclear Blast’s brutal German duo Mantar (www.facebook.com/MantarBand/) .

After last year’s huge success, the 100%CA strongmen competition returns to the arena even bigger and better, and 2017 adds the women getting involved too!  Friday sees the ladies battling it out for England’s Strongest Woman, boasting an impressive line up of 8 Arnold's and 5 World's competitors as well as Jenny Todd (the reigning middleweight Arnold's champion) and Donna Moore (the current open weight Arnold's champion and World's Strongest Woman)!
Sponsored by XPLOSIVEAPE, there’s a £1200 prize up for grabs, a first for the women's sport.  Saturday brings the return of Europe’s Strongest Man u90kg.  Will reigning champ Rob Ward keep his hands on the title or will Tom Hibbert, Calum Evans, or Davy Wallace knock him off his throne?  Sunday’s finale offers a tiered prize pot of £2500 for the top 5 in XPLOSIVEAPE’s Strongest Man.  See some of the UK’s best athletes, including Graham Hick (current British log press holder, World's Strongest Man competitor, and third at Britain's), fast-rising demon Mark Steele, and current England's Strongest Man, Paul Smith.  Come along, cheer, and snap a photo with the strongest men and women in the country!

If that leaves you in need of refreshment, head over to Kracker’s Freaky Tiki black spiced rum bar, where you can indulge in dastardly concoctions amongst black palm trees, tiki torches, and shrunken heads. Adorn yourself with a black lei and keep an eye out for the KRAKEN Hunters patrolling the arena. Look for the totem pole, you won’t be able to miss it.

BLOODSTOCK’s also pleased to announce the return of the very popular JAGERMEISTER Stage, showcasing some of the hottest up’n’comers in heavy music. Bands performing will be revealed in the coming weeks!
If bourbon revs your engine, you’ll be thrilled to hear that BULLEIT are cruising in with their classic Studebaker truck bar, offering their infamous frontier whiskey, along with a host of other BULLEIT goodies! They might have a hair-raisin’ surprise up their sleeve too…

Prepare to be dazzled! Bringing their full production, BLOODSTOCK's three headliners for 2017 are AMON AMARTH, GHOST, and MEGADETH. Also already announced are ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR, BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, KING 810, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, SKINDRED, POSSESSED, ANNIHILATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, HELL, DECAPITATED, SOILWORK, CHELSEA GRIN, MACABRE, INQUISITION, KING PARROT, SCARAB, WINTERSUN, ONI, DENDERA, KROH, ABHORRENT DECIMATION, COURTESANS, WRETCHED SOUL, BOSSK, WINTERFYLLETH, GODS, BLIND HAZE, ARTHEMIS, SEASON’S END, BLIND RIVER, ENDEAVOUR, BLAAKYUM, DAKESIS, NORDJEVEL, and TORQUED.  Many more are still to come!  Stay tuned to BLOODSTOCK’s social media at https://www.facebook.com/blood stock and https://twitter.com/bloodstock fest for the latest!

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2017.  Standard weekend camping tix are on sale at £139 (+ booking fee) and car parking tickets (at a cheaper price than ‘on the day’ purchase) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om.  Children’s weekend tickets are also available, priced £35 (+ booking fee) and under 4’s go free!  Can’t come for the whole weekend but can join in for a day?  Sign up at https://www.seetickets.com/reg ister/bloodstock for a heads up when day tickets go on sale so you don’t miss out! VIP is sold out.

NEWS: Bloodstock announce yet more bands

BLOODSTOCK has six more bands lined up for the Sophie Lancaster stage and four lucky bands win slots on the New Blood stage to celebrate the start of the ‘Metal To The Masses’ finals.

Landing slots on the Sophie Lancaster stage are Leeds metal trio BLIND HAZE (www.facebook.com/Blindhazeban d), Italian power/classic metal outfit, ARTHEMIS (www.facebook.com/arthemis.off icial/), sludgy groove beasts GODS (www.facebook.com/therealgods) , symphonic goth outfit SEASON’S END (www.facebook.com/seasons.end) , Bristol progressive rockers ENDEAVOUR (www.facebook.com/EndeavourMet al) and classic rock n’ rollers, BLIND RIVER (www.facebook.com/pg/BlindRive rUK).

Bloodstock is also thrilled to welcome back Last.fm as sponsors of the Sophie Lancaster stage for 2017. Check out their Spotify playlist of bands on the Sophie stage and get excited for August!  https://play.spotify.com/user /lastfmofficial/playlist/2mbVU 7viKYgRh5CPhhOwl8. 

BLOODSTOCK’s ever tenacious search for the best breaking bands culminates soon with the kick off of the ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ finals on 22nd April.  The festival’s incentive to give up-and-coming acts a break by offering slots on the bill at Catton Park has helped give many acts a career launchpad and the finals see the M2TM team narrowing it down and picking their winners for 2017.  This year, M2TM ran in 29 UK regions, plus events in Ireland and Norway to find bands for the New Blood Stage.  Attendees at the finals can also win weekend festival tickets or prizes from our sponsors, Kraken rum and Hobgoblin ale.  The lucky bands winning a slot on the New Blood stage will also be in with a chance of landing extra goodies from our friends at Gibson Guitars, Studiomaster & Carlsbro or recording time with Russ Russell at his Parlour Studios in Northampton (http://www.parlourstudios.co. uk/).

Having won a slot on BLOODSTOCK’s New Blood stage in 2016, the Northern Irish band, THE CRAWLING are announced as winners of Metal 2 The Masses’ prize of a slot at the Slovenian festival, Metaldays.  Congratulations to them!
BLOODSTOCK is also proud to announce the first bands landing a slot on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage, hand picked from CD and online applications.  Hailing from Beirut, Lebanon are BLAAKYUM (www.facebook.com/blaakyum).  The band’s blend of thrash & groove metal is infused with crushing Middle Eastern percussion and oriental guitars.  Check out ‘Baal Adon’ live - https://youtu.be/6KwsoLIHKVE.

British power-proggers DAKESIS (www.facebook.com/dakesis) also land a slot.  The band’s sound ranges from powerful metal anthems to expansive, progressive instrumental and orchestral soundscapes.  Check out ‘The Great Insurrection’ here - https://youtu.be/a_rcIORrxFo.
Norway’s NORDJEVEL (www.facebook.com/nordjeveloff icial) will bring some black metal to the New Blood bill.  Featuring ex-Ragnarok and Marduk members in their ranks, their pedigree is second to none.  Check out their video for ‘Djevelen I Nord’ here - https://youtu.be/zS1YAM7KdvQ.
Lastly, British groove metal animals, TORQUED (www.facebook.com/Torquedband) also win a slot.  They claim they’re here to ‘rip faces and blow gauges’.  Decide for yourself by checking out their set at in August!

Bands still wanting to throw their hat in the ring for a New Blood slot can apply via the Hobgoblin video upload platform - https://www.wychwood.co.uk, or by contacting simon@bloodstock.uk.com for further details.

Already announced for 2017 are our three headliners AMON AMARTH, GHOST, and MEGADETH, plus ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR, BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, KING 810, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, SKINDRED, POSSESSED, ANNIHILATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, HELL, DECAPITATED, SOILWORK, CHELSEA GRIN, MACABRE, INQUISITION, KING PARROT, SCARAB, WINTERSUN, ONI, DENDERA, KROH, ABHORRENT DECIMATION, COURTESANS, WRETCHED SOUL, BOSSK, and WINTERFYLLETH.  Many more are still be announced!  Stay tuned to BLOODSTOCK’s social media at https://www.facebook.com/blood stock and https://twitter.com/bloodstock fest for the latest!

BLOODSTOCK takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2017.  Standard weekend camping tix are on sale at £139 (+ booking fee) and car parking tickets (at a cheaper price than ‘on the day’ purchase) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om.  Children’s weekend tickets are also available, priced £35 (+ booking fee) and under 4’s go free!  All VIP tickets and camper van packages are now SOLD OUT!

NEWS: Bloodstock add four more - Kreator and King 810 among the additions

BLOODSTOCK is powering ahead with even more bookings for 2017 with four more bands added to the already burgeoning line-up! 

Remember how impressed we were with German thrash legends KREATOR when they played Dublin (review is here). They are now set to shred their way on to BLOODSTOCK’s main stage this Summer in Saturday’s special guest spot! 

Vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza declares, “We are happy to finally return to BLOODSTOCK!  KREATOR will give you the full treatment this time.  WE SHALL KILL.”

The band released their fourteenth studio album, ‘Gods of Violence’ in January via Nuclear Blast.  Check out the video for the title track at:

https://youtu.be/xeUBJ2Ha-FM and get up to speed on all things KREATOR over at: https://www.facebook.com/ KreatorOfficial/.

Flint firebrands KING 810 land a Ronnie James Dio main stage slot on Saturday in a UK festival exclusive, so will be your only chance to catch the band on these shores this summer!  Their genre-busting album, ‘La Petite Mort (Or A Conversation With God)’ was hugely lauded upon release last year, with leading US outlet, Metal Injection pronouncing it “2016’s best example of what an album should be”.  Check out their visceral video for ‘Alpha & Omega’ at https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=gcLmQDr7GGw. This happened in Flint this week... https://youtu.be/QsmoWV_HQII.

Black metal marauders INQUISITION will headline the Sophie Lancaster stage on Friday.  The duo of Dagon and Incubus released their seventh album, ‘Bloodshed Across The Empyrean Altar Beyond The Celestial Zenith’ via Season Of Mist last August.  Listen to ‘Wings Of Anu’ from that disc at https://youtu.be/UGdbsGFrvbY and prepare for a ferocious finish to Friday night.

Lastly, KING PARROT fly in from their Aussie homeland for a Sophie stage slot. The self-dubbed “grindin’, thrashin’, punk wrecking machine” are on the road in support of their Phil Anselmo-produced disc, ‘Dead Set’.  Lend your ears at https://agoniarecords. bandcamp.com/album/dead-set, or watch their 2012 video for ‘Shit On The Liver’ at https://youtu.be/cinvIr-O1k8 - it was a finalist in the Australian Music Video Awards and has racked up nearly half a million YouTube views!  Learn more Parrot at www.facebook.com/ kingparrotband/.

Check out BLOODSTOCK’s latest video trailer here and get excited for August! 

Meanwhile, back at BOA HQ, we received some awesome news about ‘The Beast of Bloodstock’, our very own ale brewed by The Boot Beer microbrewery in Repton, Derbyshire.  It scooped the Gold Award in the CAMRA East Midlands Champion Beer of Britain ‘Strong Ale’ category!  ‘The Beast…’ at 6.66% alcohol is a hefty beast but has a luscious, dark chocolate and caramel character.  Now you want one, huh?!  If you like a strong ale, check it out and follow The Boot Beer’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheBootBeer.

Already announced for 2017 are Friday’s headliners AMON AMARTH, Sunday’s headliners MEGADETH, plus ARCH ENEMY, BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, SKINDRED, POSSESSED, ANNIHILATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, HELL, DECAPITATED, SOILWORK, CHELSEA GRIN, MACABRE, SCARAB, WINTERSUN and ONI.  Many more, including our Saturday headliner are still be announced!  Stay tuned to BLOODSTOCK’s social media at https://www.facebook.com/ bloodstock and https://twitter.com/ bloodstockfest for the latest!

BLOODSTOCK takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2017.  Standard weekend camping tix are on sale at £139 (+ booking fee), plus increasingly limited VIP packages/upgrades and car parking tickets (at a cheaper price than ‘on the day’ purchase) from http://bloodstock.seetickets. com.  Children’s weekend tickets are also available, priced £35 (+ booking fee) and under 4’s go free!

NEWS: Bloodstock announces four more bands for August 2017

As 2017 settles in, four more top notch bands have been added for August’s Bloodstock festival.

Swedish metal marauders, Soilwork are confirmed for a main stage slot at Catton Park.

Frontman Björn ‘Speed’ Strid said:  "We are really thrilled to return to UK soil after a killer mini-tour with Arch Enemy last year.  That ended with one of the most spectacular and sweatiest shows to date at The Underworld in London.  

“Bloodstock is always a riot and we cannot wait to hit the stage this summer.  Bring it England!"  Check out their ‘Death In General’ video, taken from 2015’s ‘The Ride Majestic’ album here - https://youtu.be/kme-sxY2pAQ.

‘Murder metal’ outfit, Macbre are set for a headline slot on the Sophie Lancaster stage.  The Chicago-based band blend elements of true crime, math rock, punk, thrash, folk melodies, death metal, jazz fusion, black metal and more.  Guitarist/vocalist, Corporate Death said: “We haven’t been back to the UK in several years but Bloodstock is exactly where Macbre should play if you know our music.” 

Metallic Finns Wintersun are also lined up to headline the Sophie Lancaster stage.  The band are hard at work on new album, ‘The Forest Seasons’ which is set for release this Summer via Nuclear Blast. 

The band said: “It’ll be great to come back to the atmospheric Bloodstock.  We had a blast in 2011, but this year is extra special since we’re going to play new music for you guys!  See ya in August!"  In the meantime, remind yourself of their epic sound with a clip of ‘Time’, taken from 2012’s ‘Time I’ album - https://youtu.be/alo7A0NLmxU.  

Keen to include bands from less obvious parts of the world too, Bloodstock is delighted to welcome back Egyptian death metallers, Scarab to the Sophie stage.  Warm up your neck with the title track for current album, ‘Serpents Of The Nile’ - https://youtu.be/uI6k2oAiGYM, and follow all their latest news at www.facebook.com/Scarabegypt.  The band are currently recording their new album, ‘Martyrs Of The Storm’ so expect some new material at Catton Park this August!

If you’re coming to BLOODSTOCK by coach, you might want to secure your spot now to ensure you’re not disappointed.  BIG GREEN COACH have 21 departure cities for coaches directly to BLOODSTOCK in 2017; Birkenhead, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Chester, Glasgow, Gloucester, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Newport, Oxford, Preston, Sheffield, Southampton, Sunderland, Swansea, and Worcester.  BIG GREEN COACH will bring you, all your camping gear, & beer supplies and drop you hassle free right inside the festival grounds.  Check out the details and secure your seat for only a tenner (the rest is payable in July) over at http://www.biggreencoach.co.uk /events/bloodstock-festival-ti ckets-coach-travel.

Also available now is the very popular ticket deposit plan.  The payment scheme helps ease the pain of paying for your standard weekend ticket by breaking it up into five smaller, more manageable sums.  Sign up in the ticket store before 28th Feb with an initial payment of £34.80.  Thereafter, four additional instalments of £27.80 will debit your bank account on 1st April, May, June and July respectively.  Get full info over at http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om/content/ticket-options.

Already announced for 2017 are Friday’s headliners AMON AMARTH, Sunday’s headliners MEGADETH, plus BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, SKINDRED, POSSESSED, ANNIHILATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, HELL and DECAPITATED.  Many more, including our Saturday headliner are still be announced!  Stay tuned to Bloodstock’s social media for the latest!

Bloodstock takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2017.  Standard weekend camping tix are on sale at £139 (plus booking fee), plus limited VIP packages/upgrades and car parking tickets (at a cheaper price than ‘on the day’ purchase) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om/content/ticket-options.  Children’s weekend tickets are also available, priced £35 (+ booking fee) and under 4’s go free!  Camper van pitches have now SOLD OUT.

NEWS: Three more added to Bloodstock line-up - Annihilator, Municipal Waste and Skindred

AS if you weren't already getting hyped up for Bloodstock 2017 they have only gone and announced three more top notch bands.

Rather than us waxing lyrical here's the official statement:

"As we pelt into December, Bloodstock HQ is getting some Christmas treats ready!  As well as preparing the on-sale dates of VIP upgrades, the remainder of the VIP ticket allocation and this year’s deposit scheme, we’ve three more bands to announce for 2017!

"Joining the BOA fray for the first time are Skindred. The boisterous Welsh crew mix a unique blend of reggae, punk and metal and are renowned for their live shows. If you’ve ever taken part in Evil Scarecrow’s epic ‘Crabulon’ before, get ready to join in with the Newport helicopter!  Check out the video for ‘Sound The Siren’ from their current album ‘Volume’, out now via Napalm Records - https://youtu.be/GFfnWl_kTjA.

"Also landing a main stage slot are Canadian thrash icons, Annihilator.  Last year’s ‘Suicide Society’ album - the band’s fifteenth! - spawned tour dates around the globe, but rumour has it they’re heading back to the studio this month!  Check out Jeff Waters and his cohorts slaying through their classic track ‘Alison Hell’ at Wacken 2015 and get a taster of what’s in store at BLOODSTOCK via https://youtu.be/P6cDYteXJpA!  Minus the mud, of course!

Rounding out today’s announcement are our crossover thrash buddies, Municpal Waste!  With last album ‘The Fatal Feast’ coming out four years ago, maybe Bloodstock will get treated to a new tune or two?!  Frontman Tony Foresta tells us “We are very excited to be finally returning to one of our favourite metal festivals - Bloodstock!  We’re looking forward to getting greasy with all of our UK fans!”  Meanwhile, check out the space-gore-tastic video to the title track here: https://youtu.be/GLY4Rpii7bM.

Already announced for 2017 are Friday’s headliners AMON AMARTH, plus BLIND GUARDIAN, HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, BRUJERIA, WHITECHAPEL, POSSESSED, HELL and DECAPITATED.  Many more are still to be announced!

Early bird weekend camping tix are on sale at a discounted £120 and due to exceptional demand, a limited number of VIP packages were put on sale last month on a first come, first served basis.  This allocation quickly SOLD OUT!

The remaining VIP allocation and a number of VIP upgrades (to accompany previously purchased early bird tickets) and will be available from 16th December, but don’t hang around if you want these, as VIP is set to sell out even earlier in 2017.  Also stay tuned for details of 2017’s ticket deposit scheme (payable over 5 instalments) in just a few weeks time!

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2017.  Early bird weekend tickets with camping are available now, priced from £120 (+ booking fee) at http://bloodstock.seetickets.c om/event/bloodstock-2017/catto n-park/1010726/.  Children’s weekend tickets are also available, priced £35 (+ booking fee).  Camper van pitches have now SOLD OUT. 

NEWS: The Crawling, Rabid Bitch Of The North and Zlatanera speak ahead of Bloodstock slots

WITH a mere three weeks until festivities get underway for Bloodstock, we caught up with the three Northern Ireland bands as they get final preparations underway to decamp to Catton Park.

Metal2TheMasses NI winners, The Crawling are already running a BOA competition via Facebook and this is what they said when asked about their appearance at the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage.

"Every now and again, when you are in a band, something cool happens; and then there's playing Bloodstock. It's just brilliant to be part of such an iconic UK festival - we can't fucking wait!"

For Rabid Bitch Of The North they are returning to what has proved to happy metal hunting grounds, and have gained an ever greater exposure in the UK after a mini-tour on the mainland a few weeks ago.

“Bloodstock Round Two is what I’m calling it in my head - our second chance to impress and even larger audience than two years ago,” said singer and bassist Joe McDonnell.

“I think I only got really excited when Bloodstock officially announced us, and I read all the really positive and encouraging feedback on loads of different forums online.”

Joe continued: “People who had seen us on BOA 2014 and those that had heard of us. Any new audience and stage away from home is exciting to play, but the New Blood Hobgoblin Stage will be immense this year.

“It’s the dogs balls to be on the same bill as Twisted Sister (last ever UK show), Venom, Anthrax, Slayer, Diamond Head, Phil Campbells Band, Acid Reign, and the list goes on. The line-up is what Id call actual Heavy Metal this year and we fit right in.”

Satan’s mates, Zlatanera, are all set after this week’s official confirmation of their slot at Bloodstock. Bassist Anthony McKee summed up the band’s thoughts ahead of their appearance.

“Zlatanera feel privileged to be a part of Bloodstock 2016, playing the Jäger stage,” he said. “This will be our first gig outside of Ireland and what better way to make our mainland UK debut, than at one of the most prestigious and diverse metal festivals.

“We look forward to treating Bloodstock to our familiar blend of riffs, immersive rock and songs about the devil and hope to see an unquantifiable amount of horns being thrown and heads being banged. This is going to be good/evil!”

Bloodstock are you ready for this trio of Northern Irish monsters stamping their way towards you?

NEWS: Only seven weekends until Bloodstock and more band announced

THERE’S just 48 days until your wait is over for Bloodstock - the biggest heavy metal party weekender of the year!  Bloodstock HQ is a hive of activity; the sunshine is on pre-order and there are still more bands being confirmed!

And, don’t forget that Northern Ireland acts Rabid Bitch of the North and The Crawling will be on the line-up…

New bands added incluse are rising Century Media metalheads, Heart Of A Coward (https://www.facebook.com/heartofacoward) who have a Sunday slot snagged. Check out the video for ‘Hollow’ from last album ‘Deliverance’ at: https://youtu.be/C-h3c2VnA7A.

Joining Friday’s Sophie Stage bill are German symphonic metal outfit Beyond The Black (https://www.facebook.com/beyondtheblackofficial), Wigan’s own progressive sludgelords Boss Keloid (https://www.facebook.com/bosskeloidband), and self-described ‘epic fantasycore’ group Fury from Worcester (https://www.facebook.com/furyofficial).   

Meanwhile, snagging a Sophie Stage slot on Saturday are heavy psych merchants Vodun (https://www.facebook.com/VODUNBAND) fresh from Stone Free festival last weekend and fast-rising London melodic metallers, The Raven Age (https://www.facebook.com/TheRavenAge).

Bloodstock is very pleased to welcome back TEENAGE CANCER TRUST as their official charity partner once again.  After shattering all previous fundraising records in 2015 with a colossal total in excess of £13.5K, Bloodstock hopes you’ll join them to raise even more cash in 2016 to help TEENAGE CANCER TRUST support young people with cancer all over the UK.

Maybe you waded through D(r)ownload?  Or you’re paddling off to Glastonbury?  First timers and old timers, everyone’s welcome at BLOODSTOCK.  If you’ve a little ‘un under 4 yrs old, they can even join you for free.  No mates to go with or a bit unsure on your first visit?  Make new friends with the “Bloodstock Loners & Newbies” camp, a Facebook group set up by some regulars (https://www.facebook.com/groups/171715506329753/).

Already announced for 2016 are our three headliners, TWISTED SISTER (in their last ever UK show), MASTODON and SLAYER, plus special guests BEHEMOTH, GOJIRA and ANTHRAX.  Also on the bill are FEAR FACTORY, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, METAL ALLEGIANCE, STUCK MOJO, ROTTING CHRIST, MISERY LOVES CO, AKERCOCKE, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

Weekend tickets with camping, plus various VIP packages, are available now priced from £139 (+ booking fee) at http://Bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/Bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838.  Learn more about VIP via https://youtu.be/fAzkTVvjnn0 but don’t hang about, as these tickets always sell out in advance!!

BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 11th-14th August 2016.  Keep up to date with the very latest info on BLOODSTOCK’s official sites at www.facebook.com/Bloodstock and www.Bloodstock.uk.com, or via Twitter on @BLOODSTOCKFEST.

NEWS: More announced for Bloodstock

WELL, with just 133 days until Bloodstock Open Air shatters the peace of summer in Derbyshire yet more bands have been added to the bill. As if it wasn't burgeoning enough...

The latest batch includes symphonic metal six-piece Pythia, This Is Turin, Derange and One Machine.

One Machine is a name you will be getting very familiar with when they play in Belfast on April 9th, as openers for the Overkill and Vader Limelight1 show.

One Machine is the new project of Steve Smyth. If that name rings a bell, it is because Smyth's talents have been seen on the likes of Nevermore, Testament and Forbidden.

We have it on very good information that more bands are to be added soon, so stay tuned!

More bands? How in the name of Beelzebub are we going to cope with all the clashes across the four stages?

Already there are Twisted Sister, Mastodon, Slayer, Behemoth, Gojira, Anthrax, Fear Factory, Corrosion of Conformity, Symphony X, Satyricon, Paradise Lost, Dragonforce, Metal Allegiance, Stuck Mojo, Rotting Christ, Venom, Diamond Head, Goatwhore and shit tonnes more...

Weekend camping plus VIP packages are still available starting at £139+ booking fee.

All the latest BOA news can be followed here, via twitter @bloodstockfest, or by keeping checking here.

LIVE REVIEW: Metal2TheMasses launched in style as By Any Means, Rabid Bitch of the North and Overoth pound the Limelight

BLOODSTOCK Open Air - one of the finest festivals and a gathering of like-minded souls. And, it has long been a champion of the unsigned artists, a dedicated group determined to expose audiences to new acts.

One of the initiatives that the festival organisers undertake is Metal2TheMasses, an annual competition across the UK and further afield that sees the winners given a slot at the festival; invaluable exposure and a chance to network and play.

Last year the Northern Ireland regional winners were Overoth, so it was fitting that they headlined the launch party for the 2016. And, what a fucking loud party it was.

Openers By Any Means - who were guests at Bloodstock last year - shook the fillings of the audience with their unique brand of metallic tinged hardcore. Paul, as energetic as ever coerced ever ounce of energy from his frame, with Gavin beating the living daylights out of his kit.

Chris' bass was locked in and monstrous, but Paul was suffering...Despite a huge dose of the flu and confession later that he almost passed out the guitarist manned up and kept going to the bitter end. 'Built on Respect' - damn right.

Rabid Bitch of the North played Bloodstock in 2014 and have consistently honed their contemporary metal/NWOBHM blend to a potent level. Opening with 'Trapped in 1999' Joe's vocals had dogs flocking to the Ormeau Road thinking a new frequency had attuned to their aural tracts.

But underlying that was the rumbling bass lines as the likes of 'Us Against Them' and 'Defending Two Castles' attacked with their usual ferocity with Gerry laying down crafted solos while Chris delivered drum beats to shake castle walls.

And, like By Any Means we were treated to a new track!

There is a sense of drama every time Overoth take to the stage. Blackened death metal, deliberately scruffy make up portray a band who understand it is a show, albeit an intense metal show.

Andy towers over the audience, the bass like a weapon of mass metal destruction, his growls and gritty vocals bringing terror and keeping the heads banging.

Flanked by Andrew and Daniel's guitars this is a full-on sound, rich in its dark menace.

 
Taking tracks from 'Kingdom of Shadows', throwing them in the face of the audience, as Jay laid down drum doom this is a band who not only played Bloodstock, but owned the unsigned stage with their dark metal in the same way as BAM harangued the BOA attendees with hardcore hell.

As we look to the closing of 2015 bands are already tuning up their instruments, re-arranging live songs and getting ready for the Metal2TheMasses challenge.

The final is set for May, and the dates for the heats will be announced soon. Details of how to apply rest with James of The Distortion Project - and if you don't know who James is you really are not in the game right now.

Several bands have already taken the leap. Will you?

Review by Jonny
Pictures by Darren McVeigh
Overoth picture from archive owing to lighting issues

NEWS: Anthrax, Gojira and Satyricon join burgeoning Bloodstock bill

AS the festive season looms, Bloodstock comes bearing early gifts with hree more bands for 2016!

French heavyweights GOJIRA are set to bring their whale-sized riffs to Catton Park as Saturday’s special guests!  A crowd favourite every time they play, and with a brand new album on the way, being recorded in their own studio, their Bloodstock set is sure to be a sight to behold.

Frontman Joe Duplantier said: “Bloodstock is one of our favourite festivals in the UK!  The quality of the bands playing is always a high standard and we love the passion of the people who come to rock out!  It’s an honour to be a part of it again.” Look out for updates from the studio at www.facebook.com/GojiraMusic.

Axe legend Scott Ian said: “On the most metal of days we will once again have the privilege to rage with you crazy fuckers!  Bloodstock !!!  A festival fit for all kings!!!  See what I did there?  See ya soon, my friends.”  Get excited by checking out their latest single ‘Evil Twin’, released last month, at: http://youtu.be/xPmLkF3e6Fc.

Playing their only UK show for 2016 are Norwegian trailblazers SATYRICON, performing their classic ‘Nemesis Devina’ album in full on Sunday.

“Next year it’s 20 years since Satyricon made its live debut as a band, and 20 years since we released Nemesis Divina,” frontman and visionary Satyr said.

“There's a nemesis walking through life, for all to face.  And there's a Divine Nemesis, for all to face that come to see Satyricon at BLOODSTOCK 2016.  Let us celebrate the 20th anniversary of a milestone album like only Norsemen and Brits can!"  Learn more at www.facebook.com/SatyriconOfficial.

They will be joining the acts already announced: Mastodon, Twisted Sister, Behemoth, Venom, Dragonforce, Paradise Lost and Rotting Christ.

A further headliner is yet to be announced

Early bird weekend tickets with camping are available now, priced £120 (+ booking fee) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838.  BLOODSTOCK is family-friendly and welcomes rockers of all ages!  A weekend ticket with camping for kids aged 4 - 11 is just £35 (+booking fee) and if your little mosher is under 4, they can join you for free (Note: all children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over the age of 18)!  Campervan pitches are already on sale and these move very quickly, so pick yours up ASAP to avoid disappointment. Rock Society passes are already sold out.

BLOODSTOCK: By Any Means, Overoth, Dead Label and many more at one of the best fests

BLOODSTOCK'S joy, beer and searing heat (yes, the sun shone for all four days of a UK festival!) still resonates in the memory.

It was not our intention at any stage to work at this festival - we were there to relax. But somewhere along the way some of our colleagues managed to con us into interviewing a few bands and giving an overview of the fest.

Before getting down to the interviews it's fair to say that with more than 100 bands playing some of the most extreme forms of metal it was still one of the friendliest festivals we have ever attended.

Headliners apart the music was intense across all four days, and Northern Ireland and Irish did themselves proud.

Just days away you'll have the chance to see Dead Label support Gojira in Limelight1. They put in a great set on the Sophie Lancaster Stage before talking to us about forthcoming plans.

Representing Northern Ireland By Any Means and Overoth ripped apart the New Blood Stage. Overoth gave a death metal masterclass, while BAM brought their own unique brand of hardcore mayhem (even attracting Ben Ward from Orange Goblin down for half their set).

By Any Means interview


To sum up Bloostock is almost impossible. More than 100 bands across four stages - from the Ronnie James Stage, through the Sophie Lancaster Stage, the Unsigned Stage and the Jagermeister Stage (basically a bar with a stage attached) there were more bands to see than even the most determined fan could catch up with.

Overoth interview


Of the many bands who appeared there were several stand-out sets. Armored Saint, Belphegor, Sabaton, the uncommunicative Black Label Society, Onslaught were among those that shone.

Dead Label Society interview


What was unanimous amongst those at their first Bloodstock was that they will be back each and every year - no matter that the headliners weren't the stars they could have been the vibe, the totality of the musical experience and the madness in Camp Midgard....[See below]

Foul Body Autopsy Interview
[Parental notice - sweary bits within!]


Footnote - Camp Midgard was were we pitched our tents (with your editor experiencing some issues on that task) and it was the scene of the madness only metalheads can generate....bin jousting, metal wrestling, a parade with a Slayer flag and a 'Christ on a Stick' and a bon homie few can match...

Words by Jonny