Bloodstock Open Air

Bloodstock’s first M2TM Finals winners announced

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There’s a wealth of exciting news from BLOODSTOCK HQ in regard to their grass-roots-metal-supporting ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ scheme!  Coming on board as a premier sponsor is the newly resurrected, iconic metal label, MUSIC FOR NATIONS!  Also two more exciting prizes have been thrown into the hat for one of the lucky bands on the Hobgoblin New Blood bill.  

All those winning a slot on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage via the ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ initiative will already be in the running for the chance to receive endorsement deals from gear manufacturers and professional PR advice, but are also now eligible for these additional prizes.  One winner will get recording time with renowned producer, Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Angel Witch, Cathedral & many more) at his residential Orgone Studios in Woburn, Beds.  Metal Hammer have also pledged to support one winning band with exposure on Metal Hammer’s website and invite them to the magazine offices for a feature photoshoot and interview, plus a radio interview for Team Rock Radio.

Meantime, the ‘M2TM’ finals are already under way and continue through to 10th July (remaining dates below).  BLOODSTOCK’s ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ judging squad have been clocking up the miles (1800 to date!) and many lucky bands have won slots on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage!  Check out this lot for starters.  

 

Joining Friday’s bill are;

SEED OF SORROW (www.facebook.com/seedofsorrow), melodic death metallers from the Inverness final.  Five piece from the Scottish highlands, dedicated to producing the angriest metal possible!  

HUSK (www.facebook.com/HUSKUKMETAL), death metal from the Wolverhampton final.  With many of their dark, groove based tracks being built around bass player/vocalist Bob Taylor’s infectious bass playing, introducing elements of slap bass in death metal shouldn’t even be a thing …. But it really is.

BURNING THE DREAM (www.facebook.com/burningthedream), progressive death metal from Glasgow’s final.  Venomous groove-laden death with hooks galore!  

VEHEMENT (www.facebook.com/officialvehement), extreme/black metal from Brighton’s final.  Black clothes?  Black face masks?!  Check!  An unrelenting smoke machine and a bone fide MMA fighter on drums?!  Check, check!!  Extreme metal with real strength!  

TRIVERSE MASSACRE (www.facebook.com/triversemassacre), groove/thrash metal from Carlisle’s final.  “…like standing naked in a hurricane, or diving head-first into a nest of pissed-off hornets!”  Heavy as fuck!!

THE CRAWLING (https://www.facebook.com/thecrawlingband), down-tempo death from Belfast’s final.  When a band has the ability to set a scene in a mere 30mins, you’re on to a winner.  The Crawling say little between tracks allowing the sample of flies to draw the audience into an uneasy feeling of melancholy.  A grim blend of doom and death that’ll hve you scratching and questioning your own mortality.

TEN TON SLUG (www.facebook.com/tentonslug), stoner sludge doom from Dublin’s final.  Like being reverse kicked in the knackers by a disgruntled rhino!  These lads are not for those of a weak disposition.

 

Winning a Saturday slot:

BEARFIST (www.facebook.com/bearfistuk), metal from London!  It’s all about the riffs and these guys have ‘em in spades.  So much so, the guitarist won the handmade custom guitar from local sponsors, Empire Guitars!  Congrats lads!

RAMAGE INC (www.facebook.com/ramageinc), ambient prog metal from Glasgow’s final.  Already well established with prog/tech metal fans, these guys deliver with comparisons to the Devin Townsend writing style but with the Ramage stamp.  Tech bliss.

FAMYNE (www.facebook.com/famyneuk), doom from Kent’s final.  A young band with an old school sound, remiscent of Chronicles’-era Hawkwind mixed up with the epic sound of Candlemass.  An obligatory oversized gong and a rolling smoke machine were in full effect!

 

And the first one for Sunday:

ART OF DECEPTION (www.facebook.com/ArtofDeceptionofficial), melodic death from Norway’s final.  With frontman Sindre Johnsen having direct family ties to Kvelertak, his pedigree points to his ferocious vocal delivery and no shortage of notable twin lead skills.  These guys were a stand out choice.

As well as the fresh blood, sliding in to a Sophie stage slot are BEHOLDER (www.facebook.com/beholderuk)!  Fronted by M2TM Head Honcho, Simon Hall, he’ll be leading the way where many of his charges will hope to follow.  With a recently lauded new album…

There’s also a chance for punters at each event to win weekend tickets to BLOODSTOCK, a case of Hobgoblin Ale to take home, or various other BLOODSTOCK related prizes.  You can even shake hands with BLOODSTOCK’s ‘M2TM’ mainman, Simon Hall.  Remaining finals run as follows so get out, support and win those festival tickets for yourself!

 

17th Jun – NEWCASTLE – The Cluny

18th Jun – SOUTH WALES / CARDIFF – Fuel Club

19th Jun – MANCHESTER – Grand Central

24th Jun – SWINDON – The Victoria

24th Jun – DEWSBURY – The Old Turk

25th Jun – MERSEYSIDE / LIVERPOOL – Bumper

1st Jul – LINCOLNSHIRE / LINCOLN – The Lincoln Imp

2nd Jul – READING – Facebar

9th Jul – BURNLEY – Sanctuary

9th Jul – BOURNEMOUTH – The Anvil

9th Jul – POLAND / BIELSKO-BIALA – The Rude Boy Club

10th Jul – BIRMINGHAM – The Roadhouse

 

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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

Bloodstock announces more bands

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BLOODSTOCK festival is excited to announce another batch of bands for August’s event at Catton Park!

Regrouped Brit industrio-metallers, KILL II THIS join the main stage for a Saturday slot.  Frontman, Mark Mynett says “BLOODSTOCK is one of the finest metal festivals there is; this year’s stunning line up says it all!  So we are both delighted and honoured to be playing the Ronnie James Dio stage.”  Check out their video for ‘The Universe In A Nutshell’ here;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myNgEf8I7jU.

Stepping into Friday’s special guest slot on the Sophie Lancaster Stage are Norway’s black jazzsters, SHINING.  Singer Jørgen Munkeby comments, “Last time we played at BLOODSTOCK was one of the best and most exciting shows we’ve ever done. We’re so much looking forward to be back at the UK’s best metal festival again!”  Remind yourself of their sound with the video for ‘The Last Stand’; https://youtu.be/7tNODbdyJaw

Also landing Friday slots on the Sophie stage are Brit crust/grindcore monsters, FOETAL JUICE and British apocalyptic metal crew, ANTI CLONE. Tunisian symphonic prog metallers, MYRATH play the Sophie stage on Saturday, as do French avant-garde extremists, MISANTHROPE.  Lastly, stepping into a Sunday Sophie slot are US progressive thrash beasts, VEKTOR.

The second wave of BLOODSTOCK club nights kicks off in June.  Get along to one of the following local events for a chance to win BLOODSTOCK weekend tickets and BLOODSTOCK-related giveaways.  Check with your local club for further details in case of changes and expect the unexpected!  Events for June and July stack up as follows:

Wed 1st June – Nottingham – Bodega

Thu 2nd June – Bury – Blind Tiger

Sat 4th June – Stoke-on-Trent – Bunker 13

Thu 9th June – Manchester Rebellion Bar

Sat 18th June – Stoke-on-Trent – Bunker 13 (Rawkus)

Fri 24th June – Middlesbrough – SUMO

Fri 24th June – Reading – Face Bar

Fri 24th June – London Elektrowerkz

Fri 24th June – Glasgow – Cathouse

Fri 24th June – Ipswich – The Cock and Pye

Sat 25th June – Birmingham – Eddie’s Rock Club
Sat 25th June – Sheffield – Corporation

Thu 30th June – Exeter – Timepiece

 

Fri 1st July – Leicester – Firebug

Sat 2nd July – Doncaster – The Vintage Rock Bar

Sat 2nd July – Brighton – Envy

Sat 2nd July – Coventry – The Phoenix

Sat 2nd July – Stoke-on-Trent – Bunker 13

Fri 8th July – London – Electric Ballroom

Thu 14th July – Winsford – De Bees

Sat 16th July – Birmingham – The Asylum

Sat 23rd July – Burnley – Sanctuary Rock Bar

Thu 28th July – Sheffield Leadmill

Sat 30th July – Birmingham – Eddie’s Rock Club

Sat 30th July – Sheffield – Corporation

Already announced for 2016 are the 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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

Bloodstock beef up and prepare for battle!

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There’s less than 100 days until BLOODSTOCK 2016!!  While we’ve been revealing many killer bands for you to mosh to all festival, there’s plenty more on-site to see and do besides watch the awesome bill (and for regulars, we don’t mean bin-jousting or Deli Kate)!  BLOODSTOCK knows the meaning of both heavy and metal…!

While you might be feeling a little weakened at times over the weekend (especially if you’ve been taking advantage of the real ales on site), BLOODSTOCK are delighted to welcome some of the strongest people in the world to the festival!  For the first time, BLOODSTOCK and the 100% CA team will host 2 special strongmen events. On Saturday, 20 top athletes from across Europe will compete for the title of ‘Europe’s Strongest Man Under 90kgs’. Then on Sunday, see what pure strength is all about, in the ‘BLOODSTOCK’s Strongest Man’ challenge, showcasing some of the biggest and strongest competitors handpicked from around the world.  Don’t worry, they’re not planning a face-off with festival attendees, but we wouldn’t recommend spilling their pint.

Over the 2 days, the athletes will complete 2 events in each title, including a max deadlift event, and we hope to see 400kgs pulled on Sunday!  Plus, an overhead log-press for reps, a loading medley consisting of 5 objects, 2 which weigh 19 stone!  Not to mention, a gruelling back-to-back tug of war. Joining us, will be World’s Strongest Man and Arnold’s competitor, the South of England’s Strongest Man Rob Frampton, and Dave Meer, the local Tamworth multi-record-breaking strongman who has competed in the UK’s Strongest Man numerous times.  With the support of XplosiveApe, USN, and Rebel Strength, we will be bringing you the best in the country!

If swords and armour are more your thing, don’t miss the ferocious BATTLE OF THE NATIONS UK historical fighting team, on site from Friday-Sunday!  BLOODSTOCK is thrilled – if slightly trepadacious – that they can lay waste to Catton Park again this August. The UK Federation regularly compete around the world, and are ranked among the very best.  Look out for their regular “demonstrations” (by which we mean, a no-holds-barred full-contact scrap with broad swords, maces, and an array of other brutal Medieval weaponry) in the main arena.  We wouldn’t recommend spilling their mead either.

Field Captain Rob ‘Moose’ Morris comments, “BLOODSTOCK is always the most popular event we host in the tournament calendar.  The unique atmosphere and amazing music always combine to a complete unreal experience.  Showing the music fans what being a real metal-head involves; wearing 16kg of armour and caning the hell out of your opponent in August!”  Wish them luck with their BLOODSTOCK warm up this month, taking on the Battle Of The Nations World Championships in both the classic 5v5 Bohurt and female fighter categories.

On the musical side, 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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many, many more.  Additional bands are being announced regularly so keep up to date via BLOODSTOCK’s official sites at www.facebook.com/bloodstock and www.bloodstock.uk.com, or via Twitter on @BLOODSTOCKFEST.

BLOODSTOCK adds more bands, ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ finals & announces first New Blood stage winners!

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BLOODSTOCK HQ is readying to send Team M2TM out on the road for the finals,
but in the meantime, there’s a few more band additions to the August bill!

Joining Friday’s main stage bill are newly re-grouped British death metal
overlords, AKERCOCKE.  The band are working on new music and BLOODSTOCK
will be their very first gig since their reformation.  Frontman Jason
Mendonca tells us: “AKERCOCKE have returned after 5 years absence from the
live circuit.  We are reinvigorated by the return of our original guitarist
Paul Scanlan and the ranks are completed by Dam front man Nathanael
Underwood on bass guitar.  Following the great experience the band enjoyed
in 2008, we are proud to return to the BLOODSTOCK main stage for a second
time.  Expect fan favourites from the past and killer new tunes from the
present.  See you down the front."

Stoner/blues rock five-piece, DESERT STORM join Sunday’s Sophie stage
bill.  Check out their video for ‘Signals From Beyond’ –
https://youtu.be/U2G-Tqhswsw.  The track can be snapped up on various
coloured vinyl as a split 7” (with Suns of Thunder) on 29th April from
http://www.h42records.8merch.com/presale.

Also landing a Sunday Sophie slot are thrash metal animals, DIVINE CHAOS.
Check out their video for ‘Fields of the Fallen’ –
https://youtu.be/wJn8qWmDt8A – and pre-order their debut album, ‘A New Dawn
In The Age Of War’ over at their webstore for a 29th May release –
http://www.divinechaosmetal.com/#!reviews/c9qb.

Meanwhile, back at BLOODSTOCK HQ, the first acts for the New Blood stage
have been chosen!  After throwing their hat in the ring via CD
applications, the following bands win slots on the New Blood bill;  London
doomsters POSEIDON, Bristol’s darkly melodic MORDRAKE, Belfast metal
beasts RABID
BITCH OF THE NORTH and Austria’s REST IN FEAR all snare themselves stage
time at BLOODSTOCK!

BLOODSTOCK’s ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ judging squad are also ready to hit the
road, as the M2TM finals get under way soon!  The local heats have been
oversubscribed with entries and many playing to packed houses countrywide,
so anticipation is already running at fever pitch.  Get along to your local
event and support grass-roots metal!  Not only will be a fun night out,
there’s a chance at each event to win weekend tickets to BLOODSTOCK, a case
of Hobgoblin Ale to take home, or various other BLOODSTOCK related prizes.
You can even shake hands with BLOODSTOCK’s ‘M2TM’ mainman, Simon Hall.
Finals run as follows:

1st May – KENT / GRAVESEND – The Red Lion

6th May – NORTHERN IRELAND / BELFAST – Voodoo

7th May – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND / DUBLIN – Fibber Magees

14th May – NORWAY / SANDNES – The Tribute

20th May – WOLVERHAMPTON – Slade Rooms

21st May – LONDON – Nambucca

22nd May – BRIGHTON – The Green Door Store

27th May – GLASGOW – Ivory Blacks

28th May – INVERNESS – Mad Hatters

29th May – CARLISLE – Club Rock

2nd Jun – EAST ANGLIA / NORWICH – The Brickmakers

3rd Jun – LUTON – The Castle

3rd Jun – NOTTINGHAMSHIRE / MANSFIELD – The Intake Club

4th Jun – LEICESTER – Leicester De Montfort Hall (plus headline sets from
Phil Campbell’s All Stars and more)

17th Jun – NEWCASTLE – The Cluny

18th Jun – SOUTH WALES / CARDIFF – Fuel Club

19th Jun – MANCHESTER – Grand Central

24th Jun – SWINDON – The Victoria

24th Jun – DEWSBURY – The Old Turk

25th Jun – MERSEYSIDE / LIVERPOOL – Bumper

1st Jul – LINCOLNSHIRE / LINCOLN – The Lincoln Imp

2nd Jul – READING – Facebar

9th Jul – BURNLEY – Sanctuary

9th Jul – BOURNEMOUTH – The Anvil

9th Jul – POLAND / BIELSKO-BIALA – The Rude Boy Club

10th Jul – BIRMINGHAM – The Roadhouse

There’s still time to enter your band via the third method to win a spot on
the New Blood stage.  You have until 8th July to upload your band’s video
to Hobgoblin’s Video Upload site.  An outright winner lands a slot at
BLOODSTOCK, but a selection of runners up will win airplay for their band’s
video on Scuzz TV!!  Get all the details here –
www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/hobgoblin.

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, GHOST BATH, VENOM,
UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional
bands are still to be announced.

Bloodstock adds Vallenfyre and more…

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Less than four months to go and BLOODSTOCK HQ is a hive of activity!  With the ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ heats well under way and finals scheduled to kick off in May, the booking team are racking up more and more bands for the UK’s best metal weekender this August!

Brit death metallers, VALLENFYRE step into a main stage slot on Saturday.  The band recently tore up the stage on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise in Florida, so check out what’s in store via this fan-filmed footage of the band steaming through ‘Savages Arise’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Z0Mb7FxqE.  Warm up your necks for August!

Progressive tech metal group, BRUTAI are set for a Sophie Lancaster stage slot on Friday.  The hotly tipped band are set to release their debut album this summer, so be sure to catch ‘em on the Sophie stage to hear the new material.  Get the gist on their sound via the video for ‘Deep’ here – https://youtu.be/zrYnWehkSCQ.

Also joining Friday’s Sophie bill are female-fronted Dutch metallers THE CHARM THE FURY. The band’s new album, due Autumn 2016, is said to be influenced by Pantera and Slipknot.  No strangers to the Euro festival circuit, here’s hoping for a taste of the new tunes at BLOODSTOCK!  Meanwhile, watch the video for ‘Colorblind’ from their last album at: https://youtu.be/Ri5qMMonxrE.

Extreme tech beasts, META-STASIS also join Friday’s Sophie ranks.  Following the band’s recent tour of India that saw them play to festival crowds of 25,000, META-STASIS are back in the studio working on their third album.  The masked Anon describes it as "throwing out the rule book, cutting edge, boundary redefining electronic death metal".  Check out their video for ‘Disintegrate’ taken from the 2015 album, ‘The Paradox of Metanoia‘ here – https://youtu.be/6GyxpOxtYGQ.

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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

Bloodstock: More bands and Club Nights

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The clock’s ticking! There are just 133 days ‘til BLOODSTOCK, the best heavy metal party weekender of the year and BLOODSTOCK HQ has a bumper batch of Sophie Lancaster Stage bands to announce to cheer you into April.  

Plus, if you didn’t win festival tickets in the very popular BLOODSTOCK website’s Easter Egg hunt, fear not, you could win a pair at one of the upcoming BLOODSTOCK raucous club nights – the first batch of party nights detailed below!

Joining the Sophie stage on Sunday are the new, but old school death metal outfit MEMORIAM. Terrorizer magazine got the lowdown on this new outfit, featuring ex-Bolt Thrower and ex-Benediction members, which you can read at: http://www.terrorizer.com/news/karl-willetts-speaks-to-terrorizer-about-memoriam/. Still curious?  Visit: www.facebook.com/Memoriam2016.  London’s symphonic metal six-piece, PYTHIA are looking forward to rocking your face off on Sunday.  Perhaps you caught them in London in Feb, playing with BLOODSTOCK alumni, Ensiferum?  Check them out at www.facebook.com/PythiaBand.  THIS IS TURIN will be showcasing their brand of British tech metal on Saturday at BLOODSTOCK this Summer!  The band have been busy working on their forthcoming release ‘Thrones’ – learn more at www.facebook.com/thisisturin.  Inspired by Game Of…?  We’re not sure.  Also partaking in Saturday’s Sophie Lancaster stage shenanigans are ONE MACHINE, the thrashtastic brainchild of Steve Smyth (Nevermore, Testament, Forbidden).  Soon to hit the road with Overkill, stay up to date via www.facebook.com/OneMachineOfficial.  Sunday’s final addition are Londoners, DERANGE. Tipped by Metal Hammer (http://teamrock.com/feature/2015-10-13/hot-new-band-derange), watch their video for ‘Echo’ at https://youtu.be/QoQYAzu5LM4.  For more, head to:  www.facebook.com/DerangeUK.

Have you watched the brand new BLOODSTOCK 2016 trailer yet? Turn up your volume and click to https://youtu.be/T7gpYjVIH7o.  Popcorn not included.

The first batch of 2016’s BLOODSTOCK club nights are also ready to go!  That’s thirty-three pre-festival parties already planned!!  More will be added for June, July and early August, so don’t despair if your nearest rock club isn’t listed yet.  In the meantime, get along to one/some/all of these, check out the headbangin’ tracks being kranked out from BLOODSTOCK bands old and new, and be in with the chance of winning weekend tickets and BLOODSTOCK-related giveaways.  Check with your local club for further details and expect the unexpected!  Events for April and May stack up as follows:

Fri 1st April – Stoke on Trent – Bunker 13

Fri 1st April – Woking – Schism

Sat 2nd April – Norwich – The Waterfront

Fri 15th April – Ipswich – The Cock and Pye

Sat 16th April – Coventry – The Phoenix

Sat 16th April – Liverpool – Krazyhouse

Mon 18th April – Reading – Sakura

Fri 22nd April – Middlesbrough – SUMO

Fri 22nd April – Camberley – Agincourt

Sat 23rd April – Birmingham – The Asylum

Thu 28th April – Exeter – Walkabout

Fri 29th April – Plymouth – Envy

Sat 30th April – Manchester – Satan’s Hollow

Sat 30th April – Birmingham – Eddie’s Rock Club

Sat 30th April – Sheffield – Corporation

Fri 6th May – Woking Schism

Fri 6th May – Leicester – Firebug

Fri 6th May – Portsmouth – Edge of the Wedge

Sat 7th May – Stoke on Trent – Bunker 13

Sat 7th May – Brighton – Envy

Sat 7th May – Norwich – The Waterfront

Sat 14th May – Camberley – Agincourt

Sat 14th May – Bristol – Basement 45

Mon 16th May – Reading – Sakura

Fri 20th May – Bournemouth – Sound Circus

Fri 20th May – Glasgow – The Cathouse

Fri 20th May – Ipswich – The Cock and Pye

Sat 21st May – Coventry – The Phoenix

Fri 27th May – Mansfield – The Intake

Fri 27th May – Nottingham – The Landing (Nottingham Trent SU)

Sat 28th May – Birmingham – Eddie’s Rock Club

Sat 28th May – Cardiff – Fuel

Sat 28th May – Sheffield – Corporation

*clubs can be subject to change, so always check locally*

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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

Bloodstock: More bands and Club Nights

by

The clock’s ticking! There are just 133 days ‘til BLOODSTOCK, the best heavy metal party weekender of the year and BLOODSTOCK HQ has a bumper batch of Sophie Lancaster Stage bands to announce to cheer you into April.  

Plus, if you didn’t win festival tickets in the very popular BLOODSTOCK website’s Easter Egg hunt, fear not, you could win a pair at one of the upcoming BLOODSTOCK raucous club nights – the first batch of party nights detailed below!

Joining the Sophie stage on Sunday are the new, but old school death metal outfit MEMORIAM. Terrorizer magazine got the lowdown on this new outfit, featuring ex-Bolt Thrower and ex-Benediction members, which you can read at: http://www.terrorizer.com/news/karl-willetts-speaks-to-terrorizer-about-memoriam/. Still curious?  Visit: www.facebook.com/Memoriam2016.  London’s symphonic metal six-piece, PYTHIA are looking forward to rocking your face off on Sunday.  Perhaps you caught them in London in Feb, playing with BLOODSTOCK alumni, Ensiferum?  Check them out at www.facebook.com/PythiaBand.  THIS IS TURIN will be showcasing their brand of British tech metal on Saturday at BLOODSTOCK this Summer!  The band have been busy working on their forthcoming release ‘Thrones’ – learn more at www.facebook.com/thisisturin.  Inspired by Game Of…?  We’re not sure.  Also partaking in Saturday’s Sophie Lancaster stage shenanigans are ONE MACHINE, the thrashtastic brainchild of Steve Smyth (Nevermore, Testament, Forbidden).  Soon to hit the road with Overkill, stay up to date via www.facebook.com/OneMachineOfficial.  Sunday’s final addition are Londoners, DERANGE. Tipped by Metal Hammer (http://teamrock.com/feature/2015-10-13/hot-new-band-derange), watch their video for ‘Echo’ at https://youtu.be/QoQYAzu5LM4.  For more, head to:  www.facebook.com/DerangeUK.

Have you watched the brand new BLOODSTOCK 2016 trailer yet? Turn up your volume and click to https://youtu.be/T7gpYjVIH7o.  Popcorn not included.

The first batch of 2016’s BLOODSTOCK club nights are also ready to go!  That’s thirty-three pre-festival parties already planned!!  More will be added for June, July and early August, so don’t despair if your nearest rock club isn’t listed yet.  In the meantime, get along to one/some/all of these, check out the headbangin’ tracks being kranked out from BLOODSTOCK bands old and new, and be in with the chance of winning weekend tickets and BLOODSTOCK-related giveaways.  Check with your local club for further details and expect the unexpected!  Events for April and May stack up as follows:

Fri 1st April – Stoke on Trent – Bunker 13

Fri 1st April – Woking – Schism

Sat 2nd April – Norwich – The Waterfront

Fri 15th April – Ipswich – The Cock and Pye

Sat 16th April – Coventry – The Phoenix

Sat 16th April – Liverpool – Krazyhouse

Mon 18th April – Reading – Sakura

Fri 22nd April – Middlesbrough – SUMO

Fri 22nd April – Camberley – Agincourt

Sat 23rd April – Birmingham – The Asylum

Thu 28th April – Exeter – Walkabout

Fri 29th April – Plymouth – Envy

Sat 30th April – Manchester – Satan’s Hollow

Sat 30th April – Birmingham – Eddie’s Rock Club

Sat 30th April – Sheffield – Corporation

Fri 6th May – Woking Schism

Fri 6th May – Leicester – Firebug

Fri 6th May – Portsmouth – Edge of the Wedge

Sat 7th May – Stoke on Trent – Bunker 13

Sat 7th May – Brighton – Envy

Sat 7th May – Norwich – The Waterfront

Sat 14th May – Camberley – Agincourt

Sat 14th May – Bristol – Basement 45

Mon 16th May – Reading – Sakura

Fri 20th May – Bournemouth – Sound Circus

Fri 20th May – Glasgow – The Cathouse

Fri 20th May – Ipswich – The Cock and Pye

Sat 21st May – Coventry – The Phoenix

Fri 27th May – Mansfield – The Intake

Fri 27th May – Nottingham – The Landing (Nottingham Trent SU)

Sat 28th May – Birmingham – Eddie’s Rock Club

Sat 28th May – Cardiff – Fuel

Sat 28th May – Sheffield – Corporation

*clubs can be subject to change, so always check locally*

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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

More bands announced for Bloodstock 2016

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BLOODSTOCK HQ is currently a hive of activity, with even more bands being confirmed for this August’s best heavy metal weekender.

Joining the Ronnie James Dio stage are the recently reformed industrial outfit, MISERY LOVES COMPANY.  The band inform us, “The UK was always special to MISERY LOVES CO, our very first show outside of Scandinavia was in London and without the support of the British people we probably would have stayed in Scandinavia for ever, listening to ABBA, eating herring and dreaming of the outside world…  MISERY LOVES CO + Britain = a true love story.  Now, when we return to the stage, we’re extremely happy to showcase our industrial demons in front of the British crowd once more.  Doing a summer of festivals without coming to the UK would have been a failure, so, we can’t wait to come to BLOODSTOCK!”  Check out a clip of ‘My Mind Still Speaks’ – https://youtu.be/ZiPENHSeFYM.  

Opening the RJD stage on Saturday are Brit tech metallers, CAMBION.  As proud BLOODSTOCK alumni (2012/2014), the band are currently at work on their debut album, having released the Virus Extended Edition EP in 2014.  Check out the video for ‘Heterodox’ here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpeerilbWqU, and keep up with plans for the album street date over at http://www.cambionofficial.co.uk/.

Stepping into the Friday night headline slot on the Sophie Lancaster stage are NWOBHM icons, DIAMOND HEAD.  The likes of Metallica have often stated that without DIAMOND HEAD, they’d probably not exist, such is the Stourbridge band’s influence.  Check out this fan-filmed clip of the ‘Big 4’ (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax & Megadeth) covering DIAMOND HEAD’s classic ‘Am I Evil’, joined by the band’s very own Brian Tatler – https://youtu.be/K9P-H_Qd908.  Brian and his cohorts are set to release their first album of new material in over 8 years on 22nd April, simply titled ‘Diamond Head’.  Don’t miss ‘em at BLOODSTOCK!

Also joining Saturday night’s Sophie stage shenanigans are Brit metallers, KRYSTHLA.  The band’s debut album, ‘A War Of Souls And Desires’, can be snapped up at their Bandcamp – http://www.krysthla.bigcartel.com/.  Also check out the video for lead track ‘Luminosity’ here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjJwiBVlcFc.

With Easter weekend also looming, BLOODSTOCK are once again gearing up the website’s very popular Easter Egg hunt, as they’ve done in years past.  Will you be one of the lucky winners of a pair of weekend tix with camping?!  Click over to the BLOODSTOCK website at www.bloodstock.uk.com on Good Friday 25th March to take part.

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, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more.  Additional bands are still to be announced.

Bloodstock clock up more bands for 2016

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Headbangers….ready!?!  The BLOODSTOCK gladiators have been out marauding and have rounded up five more metal beasts for your entertainment this August.  First up, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY join the Ronnie James Dio main stage bill.  Now reunited with Pepper Keenan up front, BLOODSTOCK’s faithful can look forward to a slew of classics from their three-decade-plus career.

Pepper tells us,
"It’s been a real pleasure after all this time to get back with the COC lads and start jamming again and creating music.  We are having a blast!  We've have had so much support from all over the globe and landing on a fest like BLOODSTOCK really sums it up.  We’re honoured and cannot wait to up the fuckin' hammers in the middle of nowhere in merry ol' England!  Thank you!  Ohh yeah, don't forget me cider ….!”

CoC kicked off 2016 by launching their own ‘Wiseblood’ beer with the Three Floyd’s Brewing Co, announced a US run with Lamb of God & Clutch, and are also hard at work on a brand new album.  Get the latest news at www.coc.com UNEARTH also join the BLOODSTOCK bill for the first time.

If you’re fast, you can get clued up on their new material in time for August by picking up current album, ‘Watchers of Rule’ at a discounted price of around a fiver over at their merch store – http://unearth.merchnow.com/products/185256/watchers-of-rule-cd Wherever they can, BLOODSTOCK is proud to bring you bands who don’t often grace UK shores, so joining the main stage bill to play their first ever UK show are atmospheric US black metal outfit, GHOST BATH.

Local heroes, EVIL SCARECROW also make a triumphant return!

As serious contenders for the ‘most fun had on stage’ prize, what do they make of their return? “We’re back!  Again!  We’re like the BLOODSTOCK house band or maybe a bad STD that you can’t get rid of. Either way, we’re hoping to bring our biggest ever show and even some new material.  After the historic, record breaking crowd of 2014, we’re looking forward to being back on that stage, although a custom-built, floating glass pyramid ‘Scarecrow Stage’ would have been nice.  We’re genuinely overwhelmed and beyond excited to be back partying with our BLOODSTOCK brothers and sisters.”  Keep up with Scarecrow’s shenanigans via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evil.Scarecrow

Also, joining the Sophie stage bill are XII BOAR.  A big slab of rock n' roll-infused, southern-fried metal, this power trio are determined to make sure everyone has a good time. Ric Flair raves, "We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing our trademarked XII BOAR grooves to BLOODSTOCK.  This year's line-up is already beyond words and we're so stoked to be a part of it. Get your dancing shoes on and get down to the super massive XII BOAR sound as we're assembling the biggest party BLOODSTOCK has ever seen!  See you there!” 
 

Bloodstock add more bands for 2016

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BLOODSTOCK is breezing through February with another clutch of confirmations for 2016’s best heavy metal weekender.

Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage on Thursday night, our welcome party night, will be PHIL CAMPBELL’S ALL STARR BAND.  The Motorhead axeman will also officially open the newly christened ‘Lemmy’s Bar’ with the first drink at 5pm!!  Were you there in 2013 when Phil and his band played ‘Killed By Death’ on the Jagermeister Stage?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGe85gq2ZU4.  Come along to Catton Park early, pitch your tent and kick off the weekend’s festivities with Phil at Lemmy’s Bar!!  You know Lem would approve!!   If you’re on Instagram, go follow Phil’s brand new page (@phil_campbells_all_starr_band).

In addition to Phil and friends, two more bands get added to the Sophie Lancaster Stage.  Brit extreme metallers THE KING IS BLIND are delighted to return to Catton Park, following their crushing BLOODSTOCK debut in 2014 and release of their debut album, ‘Our Father’ (Cacophonous Records) last month.  Frontman Stephen Tovey tells us "The BLOODSTOCK crowd welcomed us with open arms and raised fists on our last visit, so on the back of ‘Our Father’, we’re primed and chomping at the bit to bring a savage and energetic set of the heaviest metal to Catton Hall this August.  You bring the beers, the horns and the headbanging, we’ll bring the riffs and the truly crushing metal.”  Watch the first video from their ‘Our Father’ album at https://youtu.be/Ua-4Q5-R7Ks then pay homage via http://www.facebook.com/TheKingIsBlind.  We’re sure the Lannisters send their regards.

Homegrown doomsters, WITCHSORROW also join the bill.  Says frontman Necroskull;  “It gives us no small amount of pleasure to once again rain doom down upon BLOODSTOCK.  It is an incredibly special place for us, and we are incredibly proud to stand alongside Twisted Sister, Venom, Slayer, and Paradise Lost in bringing heavy metal madness to Catton Park.  Doom forever. Forever doomed.”   Check out their track ‘Made Of The Void’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmrlMcqF08, taken from their ‘No Light, Only Fire’ album. Grab it for just £7 over at their Bandcamp page – https://candlelightrecordsuk.bandcamp.com/album/no-light-only-fire.

LAST CALL for the Deposit Scheme!!!  There’s also just a couple of weeks left to sign up for BLOODSTOCK’s very popular payment plan.  This year it’s even more manageable to pay for your ticket in stages, with the scheme expanding the number of payments from 3 months to 5 months.  To pay this way, just sign-up before 29th February.  The 1st payment of £34.80 is payable immediately, then 4 additional payments of around £30 will debit your account on 28th of March, April, May and June.  (Exact amounts; £27.80 for Mar/Apr/May, £31.30 in June to include postage).  Sign up over at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838.  We regret that VIP tickets are NOT available via the payment plan, although pending VIP availability, you could purchase a VIP upgrade in July or August and still be in time for the festival!

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, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, METAL ALLEGIANCE, STUCK MOJO, ROTTING CHRIST, VENOM, GOATWHORE and ACID REIGN.  Many more are still to be announced.