Lineup additions for Bloodstock including Stormbringer and more!

All set to shred the main stage are Northamptonshire five-piece STORMBRINGER. The band live by their mission statement – “to rock as hard as we can, wherever we can, and have a good time doing it!”  Their debut album ‘MMXIII’ can be picked up on iTunes, via Transcend Music.  Stormbringer are more than ready… “We are really proud to be playing Bloodstock.  It's a great festival and having been there as punters, we are really looking forward to tearing shit up!”

With a record 39 skull-crushing bands performing on the New Blood Stage this year, you can be assured that Bloodstock has scoured the length and breadth of the country via the Metal 2 The Masses roadshow to find your new favourite band. The competition has just 4 dates remaining (Bristol, Bournemouth, Plymouth, and Cardiff) so if you don’t have a ticket yet, don’t delay, as most of the dates have sold out upfront!

The second wave of Metal 2 The Masses bands added to Friday’s New Blood bill are Cheshire tech-metallers, THIS IS TURIN who fuse extreme metal and hardcore with their acclaimed live show, East Midlands band CRUEL HUMANITY who blend death, black and doom metal with melody, electronics and aggression to create their own epic sound, and Glasgow five-piece, MAIR, who meld their Pantera, Sabbath, and Zeppelin influences with simple groove, tight rhythms, and soaring solos.  Also added to Friday is the very first Irish winner of Metal 2 The Masses heats.  Hailing from the beer soaked streets of Dublin, WARPATH claim the reputation as Death Metal’s ultimate party machine.  Their ‘Warparties’ are renowned in Ireland as carnage-filled episodes that have been known to last for days.  Their energetic live shows have been described as “ripping through venues like a drunken bull in a liquor store”.  The band are getting ready to bring their craziest live show to Bloodstock this year, so grab a beer and get ready for the Warparty!!

Cruel Humanity @ Bloodstock

Saturday inductees to the New Blood stage include forward-thinking Inverness four-piece, FALLEN RIOT, featuring big riffs and heavy hooks, plus GETHIKA, whose unique style of theatrical madness combined with extreme metal won themselves the Birmingham M2TM show, and Leicester brawlers INTERNAL CONFLICT, declared champions of the Nuneaton M2TM heat following their explosive live performance.

Showcasing their tunes on Sunday’s New Blood bill are Liverpool M2TM winners OCEANIS, who promise to bludgeon and soothe you at the same time, drawing their influences from Lamb of God, Textures, Opeth, Gojira, and Mastodon.  Joining them are Nottingham M2TM champions, LINE OF FIRE, who bring their own brand of southern Stoner Metal to Catton Park.  Featuring Lawnmower Deth’s Paddy, the band boast big riffs and bigger choruses, with just a hint of the blues.  Getting in on Sunday’s New Blood action too are West Yorkshire’s BLUDGER.  Their music is an homage to the progression of metal, blending old school hardcore vocals, the politics of anti-fascist punk, the savage riffs of bands like Anthrax and Pantera, with the polyrhythmic grooves of bands like Helmet and Meshuggah.

Jagermeister Stage announced for Bloodstock

BLOODSTOCK is only four weeks away, and the event have announced another handful of bands for the Jagermeister Stage at Catton Park.

MOTORHEAD guitarist, PHIL CAMPBELL is set to bring new project., the PHIL CAMPBELL ALL STAR BAND to top out the party on Sunday night.  Phil comments: “I am very excited to announce that I will be playing Bloodstock on August 11th with my new band, featuring members of Straight Lines, The People The Poet, Dopamine, and Attack Attack.  It’s gonna be a lot of fun so come along and rock out with us!”

Also stepping onto the Jager stage on Friday are re-formed Nottingham rockers, WRAITH.  WRAITH’s success back in the 90’s had them renowned for their signature ‘dual guitar’ attack and saw them touring globally with the likes of UFO, Saxon and Motorhead.  Lemmy even sang backing vocals on their debut album, ‘Danger Calling’.  They’re now back celebrating 25 years since their inception and brand new material recorded in 2012.

AWAKE BY DESIGN get added to Saturday’s bill.  The melodic, modern metal band blend a combination of classic and prog rock, which has seen them garnering attention from the rock press and snapping up support slots with the kindred-spirit likes of Anathema, My Dying Bride, Apocalyptica and Sonata Arctica.

Also jumping in to a Saturday slot are INCASSUM.  Having released their debut, ‘Rites of Passage’ late last year, this melodic death metal outfit feature one of the best female vocalists in the genre.  Having met at Manchester’s Salford University in 2004, the band have built their reputation on the North West’s live circuit and are excited to make the cut for Bloodstock, enthusing; “We're thrilled to be chosen to play Bloodstock this year.  This is a milestone achievement realised & we can't wait to get started". 

Rounding out Sunday’s bill are THE BASTARD SONS.  Formed in late 2011, the York-based outfit are still fairly new, but have already courted a number of indie labels and have released a debut EP of ‘dirty rock n’ roll’, titled ‘Bones’.  Come over to the Jager stage on Sunday to check ‘em out for yourself.

There’s other fun and games going on in the arena all weekend.  To celebrate the legendary KING DIAMOND’s headline slot, there’s THE KING DIAMOND CHALLENGE face-painting competition on Friday.  Paint yourself up with your favourite KING DIAMOND make-up (any era you choose), visit the Sophie stage and speak to the DJ team there to register your entry.  The overall winner, judged later that day, will receive some Bloodstock goodies.  Also to add to the weekend’s fun, there’s an overall BLOODSTOCK weekend ‘fancy dress’ competition.  Take a photo of yourself on site, dressed in whatever crazy outfit you reckon will win, upload it to the Bloodstock Facebook page to enter and you could win yourself some special Bloodstock prizes.

Limited one-day tickets are on sale now.  The last batch of VIP packages are also moving fast.   Click on over to www.bloodstock.uk.com for your ticket needs, plus all the latest news and practical info for planning your visit to the UK’s best metal weekender.

10 more acts added to Bloodstock Open Air lineup

Canadian prog thrash pioneers, VOIVOD are set to play their only UK show of 2013 at Bloodstock Festival!!  The band’s latest album, ‘Target Earth’ was released in January and marks a landmark 30th anniversary in the band’s illustrious career.  If you’re not up to speed on this legendary band, check out the EPK for ‘Target Earth’ and get yourself educated! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab8Q3bCBxrU

Swedish metallers, SABATON also step up into a main stage slot.  The band are currently on the road in Europe on their Swedish Empire tour and have been making regular video blogs from the road.  Watch the latest episodes at http://www.youtube.com/user/Sabaton?feature=watch, or click on over to Facebook and give them a ‘like’ and catch the updates there: http://www.facebook.com/sabaton.  The band’s current album, ‘Carolus Rex’ was voted the ‘Best Album of 2012’ by Sweden’s biggest metal mag, Sweden Rock.  Prepare to raise your horns aloft!!

WOLFSBANE headline the Sophie Lancaster stage on the final day of the fest.  Guitarist, Jase Edwards comments: “It is an absolute honour and we can't wait to bringing our brand of fuckin’ Howling Mad Lunacy to Bloodstock for the first time!!  To play alongside such bands as ANTHRAX and SLAYER is a huge privilege.  We're really looking forward to catching up with the bands we have played with in the past and we're also very excited to be headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage on the last day as we have been active supporters of the charity and have taken part in fundraising events locally.  We'll close the Sophie Lancaster Stage with full on Wolfsbane Howling Madness!!!  Cum on!!!”

Brit thrash pioneers, XENTRIX join the bill at Catton Park as special guests on the Sophie stage.  Xentrix’s guitarist, Kristian Havard is looking forward to it; "We can't wait to play Bloodstock, this is the first festival for Xentrix for over 20 years. The line-up this year is awesome, so to be included on the bill, is a massive honour.  We're going out with one mission, get the crowd thrashing like it’s 1989!!!!".

Also added to the Sophie stage are POWERQUEST, who play their final show ever at Bloodstock. Steve Williams (keyboards) enthused,  “I’m really thrilled that we will be taking to the stage for the last time at BOA in 2013.  There’s a certain symmetry about it as we played Bloodstock Indoor in 2003 as part of our very first tour. Really looking forward to rounding off 12 years with a bang and also with some very special guests joining us from down the years!  See you there!”

Further additions to the Sophie Stage include Argentinian folk metallers SKILTRON, Celtic doomsters MAEL MORDHA, Nottingham black metal thrashers EVIL SCARECROW, York metal five-piece RSJ, and melodic death metal Swedes GORMATHON.

Ticket Payment Plan launches for Bloodstock 2013

Festival go-ers will have a 3-month window (from 7th Jan until 1st March) to subscribe to the scheme, with the initial payment being taken on the day they sign up.  The deal breaks down as follows:

1st payment – £39.25 (+ booking fee) required at sign up.
2nd payment – £46 – debited from your account on 31st March.
3rd payment – £39.75 (+ postage) – debited from your account on 30th April.

Payments will be debited by bank transfer automatically on the designated day(s), so the purchaser doesn't have to worry about accidentally missing a payment date.  For full details on how to sign up, click over to http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2013/catton-park/677634.

With headliners, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD and KING DIAMOND, plus DEVILDRIVER, MUNICIPAL WASTE, ANTHRAX, ACCEPT, and more, with a host of other bands still yet to be announced, Bloodstock is shaping up to be the metal fest of the year.

Also need an easy way of getting to the site next year?  Big Green Coach are the official and exclusive coach travel partner to Bloodstock Festival.  Their drivers can take you, your mates, and your camping gear direct to the festival grounds!  Choose from 26 locations direct to the heart of Bloodstock, from the very reasonable rate of £34: BIRKENHEAD, BOURNEMOUTH, BRIDGEND, BRISTOL, CARDIFF, CARLISLE, CHESTER, GLASGOW, GLOUCESTER, LANCASTER, LEEDS, LIVERPOOL, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MIDDLESBROUGH, NEWCASTLE, NEWPORT, OXFORD, PRESTON, SHEFFIELD, SOUTHAMPTON, STOCKPORT, SUNDERLAND, SWANSEA, WARRINGTON, and WORCESTER.  To guarantee your return seat, click here: www.biggreencoach.co.uk/bloodstock.

Machine Head confirmed for Bloodstock 2012

MACHINE HEAD first graced UK shores in the wake of their landmark debut album “Burn My Eyes” in 1994 as main support to Slayer.  Fan reaction to MACHINE HEAD’s signature brand of crushing metal was so intense that the band would return immediately afterward to headline their own sold-out shows at many of the same venues, launching a massive swell of passionate fan support that continues to this day.

Machine Head

Seven albums, a Grammy nomination and countless tours later, UK fans continue to champion and support MACHINE HEAD as feverishly as they did at those first shows, and this year, at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012, they will be given the unprecedented opportunity to influence MACHINE HEAD’s set list!

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of MACHINE HEAD’s first-ever live performance at their roadie Mike “Scum”’s getting-evicted-from-his-house party – for which they performed five songs – ticket holders will be given the opportunity to vote for the five “Burn My Eyes” songs they most want to hear MACHINE HEAD play during their headline set Saturday night, with the five that receive the most votes included in the set list (details to follow)!

Anyone that’s ever witnessed MACHINE HEAD live will attest to the fact that the raw, unbridled energy of their performance is unlike anything else you’ll ever see.  With countless legendary UK performances already on record, and a first-ever fan-influenced setlist, it goes without saying that MACHINE HEAD’s headline set at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 is going to go down in metal history as one of those festival performances that you’ll forever be glad you got to see.

Testament added to Bloodstock 2012 lineup

One of the first thrash bands to emerge from the San Francisco Bay Area, debut album “The Legacy” put TESTAMENT at the forefront of the thrash metal scene, where they have remained for the best part of thirty years.

Testament

Says guitarist Eric Peterson:

“We're excited to play the "Bloodstock Festival" again! this time with some new material to play! Can't wait for the UK to hear our "Dark Roots Of Earth!" See Ya!”

With nine studio albums under their belt – two of which boasting top 40 chart positions in the UK – and a new album on its way, TESTAMENT come armed with no shortage of classic thrash anthems. One of the few bands to consistently put out genuinely exciting and fresh material throughout their career, the promise of hearing songs from the likes of The Legacy, The New Order, Practice What You Preach, Souls Of Black, The Ritual, Low, Demonic, The Gathering and The Formation Of Damnation – as well as new material – is enough to whet any headbangers appetite, and one many will find impossible to resist.

With tickets selling faster than ever before, BLOODSTOCK 2012 is destined for a sell-out this year. Over 100 bands – the majority of which are exclusive appearances – and a ticket price of only £115 for four days of metal magic INCLUDING camping – BLOODSTOCK offers metalheads the most attractive ticket in the UK. Get yours now from www.bloodstock.uk.com

Bloodstock announces Iced Earth and Sepultura

ICED EARTH were born in 1985, formed by Jon Schaffer – a determined, street-tough kid with the drive to create a band to make his heroes Judas Priest, KISS, and Iron Maiden proud. The band released its riff-heavy self-titled debut album in 1990 and never looked back. Nine studio albums – considered masterpieces of metal – cemented the band’s reputation for crafting exceptionally well-made music, the centerpiece of which being Schaffer’s trademark rhythm guitar style and powerful, in-your-face lyrics that often combine themes of self reliance, a healthy distrust of authority, history, and science fiction. He says:

"We are looking forward to returning to Bloodstock in 2012, our second time after 2008. The UK shows we played on our World Dystopia Tour last fall were some of the best on the tour and we cannot wait to bang our heads with the UK minions again!"

Over the years, Schaffer has surrounded himself with some of the finest musicians in the world – including famed vocalists Matt Barlow, Tim Owens, and now Stu Block – to help bring his musical visions to life. This summer Schaffer brings this vision to BLOODSTOCK once more, for their only UK show of 2012, and one of the highlights of the metal festival calendar.

SEPULTURA is one of the major names in metal history. From their humble beginnings 27 years ago, these Brazilians went on to create a legacy, influencing a whole generation of younger bands and becoming a true institution. Despite rough times due to significant line-up changes, nomadic relationships with record labels and various changes in the overall musical environment, SEPULTURA have never backed down, continuously following their path, always re-emerging stronger than ever before.

At their only UK show of 2012, SEPULTURA will remind the BLOODSTOCK crowd why they are South America’s biggest metal export, with a classic set featuring timeless anthems such as “Arise”,  “Beneath The Remains”, “Troops Of Doom” “Refuse/Resist”, “Territory” and many many more.

With tickets selling faster than ever before, BLOODSTOCK 2012 is destined for a sell-out this year. Over 100 bands – the majority of which are exclusive appearances – and a ticket price of only £115 for four days of metal magic INCLUDING camping – BLOODSTOCK offers metalheads the most attractive ticket in the UK. Get yours now fromwww.bloodstock.uk.com

Anvil for Bloodstock 2012

The first act confirmed for the RONNIE JAMES DIO main stage next year are legendary Canadian comeback kings ANVILANVIL are true defenders of the faith, having never lost sight of their vision to create uncompromising, dyed in the wool heavy metal. They have been on a rock ‘n’ roll journey for the past 30 years and while few bands can make it to the three year mark, ANVIL have closed in on three decades of the most uncompromised and ear pleasing metal known to headbangers. 
 
Ever since the award-winning documentary “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” propelled the Canadian band from their respectable, hard-earned status as a band revered by the likes of Metallica, Motorhead and Guns N’ Roses,ANVIL founding members, vocalist/guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner, have made sure that one thing remains constant; their dedication to their music. Their performance at BOA 2012 is bound to be a memorable one in BLOODSTOCK’s history.
 
Home-grown stoners ORANGE GOBLIN are first to be confirmed for the SOPHIE stage next year. Since the mid 90s, ORANGE GOBLIN have upheld the traditions of great British heavy rock and metal, cementing their place in rock history as pioneers alongside the likes of Monser Magnet, Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Clutch. Since their formation in the late night drinking holes of London’s Soho, the band have risen to the very pinnacle of what they do, earning a reputation as an awesome live band that has seen them share the stage all over the world with the likes of Alice Cooper, Heaven & Hell, Sex Pistols, Kreator, Queens of the Stone Age, Danzig, Monster Magnet, Nashville Pussy, Cathedral, Nebula, Unida, Alabama Thunderpussy, Dio, Grand Magus, Witchcraft and many more. Returning to BLOODSTOCK for the first time since the inaugral indoor event in 2011, anyone under the canvas of the SOPHIE tent while OG are on its stage will be helpless against the sheer power and presence of man mountain/frontman Ben Ward, and will be in for one of the weekend’s highlights.
 
BLOODSTOCK have released early bird tickets for next year’s fest at rock bottom prices. Four day camping tickets for next year’s event – which takes place 9th – 12th August next year –  are available now atbloodstock.uk.com for just £90 (plus booking fee) until xmas. 
 
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th
 
Tickets for the 2012 event are on sale now at www.bloodstock.uk.com

Bloodstock Day Splits

The line up/day splits so far is as follows:

Thursday 11th August

SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

ACHREN
XERATH
REVOKER
XERATH
ACHREN
JASON ROUSE 
STEVE HUGHES 
 
Friday 12th August
 
RONNIE JAMES DIO Stage

WASP
DEVIN TOWNSEND
KREATOR
CORONER
TRIPTYKON
POISON BLACK
FORBIDDEN
WOLF
THE DEFILED
 
SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

LAWNMOWER DETH
OCTOBER FILE
BYFROST
ARTHEMIS
ROMEO MUST DIE
CEREBRAL BORE
IMICUS
HAMMER HORROR FANCY DRESS

NEWBLOOD STAGE

UNKNOWN FEAR 
SHREDERTRON 
INNER FIRE
ENTRO-P 
PRIMITAI
RANNOCH 
SANTURNIAN
THE FURIOUS HORDE
DECIMATION
CRYOSTORM
TRAINING ICARUS
BREZNO 
 
Saturday 13th August
 
RONNIE JAMES DIO  STAGE

IMMORTAL
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
THERION
WINTERSUN
IHSAHN
FINNTROLL
TAROT
GRAVEDIGGER
SKELETONWITCH
 
SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

ANGELWITCH
THE ROTTED
DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE
HAMMER OF THE GODS
DEF CON ONE
BLAKE
DRIPBACK
KEITH PLATT 
STEVE HILL   
 
NEWBLOOD STAGE

BLUD VERA
ZOMBIE MILITIA
HAERKEN 
& Loads more TBC
 
JAGERMEISTER STAGE

AVENGE THEE & NAIME
FANTASIST
GUARDIANS OF ANDROMEDA
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
 

Sunday 14th August
 
RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

MOTORHEAD
MORBID ANGEL
AT THE GATES
EXODUS
HAMMERFALL
NAPALM DEATH
PRIMORDIAL
HELL
1349
 
SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

CRIMINAL
AMARANTHE
POWER QUEST
SURVIVORS ZERO
HELLISH OUTCAST
NEMHAIN
STEVE HUGHES 
JASON ROUSE

NEWBLOOD STAGE

CANDID INIQUITY
TWILIGHT EMBRACE
SANGUINE
NORTHERN OAK
TALANAS
SACRED ILLUSION
And More TBC

JAGERMEISTER STAGE

AMARANTHE
OPERATION ERROR
INFERNO
PIG IRON
LAST IN LINE

Bloodstock new lineup additions + Fancy Dress theme revealed

After a 24 year silence, NWOBHM pioneers HELL return to the world of metal with an appearance on the RONNIE JAMES DIO stage. Cited as a huge indirect influence, and as one of the true founding fathers of occult metal, the band formed in 1982 from the carcasses of UK metal bands RACE AGAINST TIME and PARALEX. Seemingly plagued by disaster, HELL were shunned by the metal press at the time, who could not get their collective heads around a band so different and ahead of their time. Add to this a bankrupt label, and the tragic suicide of singer/guitarist Dave Halliday, the world was not yet ready for HELL.
 
Returning with re-recordings of 10 classics from the 80s, and armed with legendary metal producer, guitarist Andy Sneap replacing Halliday on guitar, and David Bower on vocals, HELL’s legacy becomes reborn at CATTON HALL this summer. 
 
“We had a lot of people asking us why we weren’t playing Bloodstock” says guitarist Andy Sneap“well it seems your demands have been granted approval by the Bloodstock consulate and we are honoured to be asked to play at Catton Hall on Saturday 13th August” 

Over on the SOPHIE stage, newcomers DRIPBACK will bring their noisy mayhem to the tented arena. Featuring members of BLOODSTOCK alumni TED MAUL and underground heroes LABRAT,DRIPBACK play a fierce blend of hardcore, death and thrash metal inspired by the metal and hardcore of the mid-90s. Sounding like an angry Entombed fighting a tooled up Biohazard, this London mob were recently seen supporting Soilent Green on their tour of the UK, and have their debut release out on Siege Of Amida records next month.
 
Says guitarist G Drax:
 
“Grit your teeth and beg for mercy! Dripback are hyped to play this years Bloodstock festival – no fuckin excuses Dripback are ready to smash Bloodstock 2011!” 

With the line-up nearly complete, and just a couple of months to go, it’s time to start planning your costume for BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2011’s fancy dress theme night. The Friday is always a fun night, and with what would have been Hammer Horror legend VINCENT PRICE’s 100th Birthday coming this Friday, we thought what better way to pay tribute to the gruesome guru than a Hammer Horror theme this year. 
 
We’re asking fans to come as their favourite morbid monsters, with prizes on offer for the most impressive costumes that manage to send chills down the spines of spectators despite the summer sun. From DRACULA and his brides to FRANKENSTEIN’s Monster, WEREWOLVES and all manner of creepy creatures, there are piles of possibilities, including some perfectly practical ones like theMUMMY or INVISIBLE MAN, which solves the problem of the late night hunt for bog-roll on the campsite.
 
BLOODSTOCK has long been championed for it’s Metal Karaoke – frankly the most metal fun you can have anywhere – and this year we aim to make it extra special by hosting the MONSTER MOSH. Whether it be DRACULA doing DIOFRANKENSTEIN fronting FINNTROLL or a WEREWOLFwailing along to WOLF, a special grand prize is on offer for the most horrifically impressive karaoke performance. 
 
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2011 takes place at Catton Hall August 12th – 14th.
 
Tickets for the 2011 event are on sale now at www.bloodstock.uk.com
 
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2011     
12th – 14th AUGUST 2011
 
BAND LINE UP SO FAR:
 
Ronnie James Dio Stage
WASP – IMMORTAL – MOTORHEAD  
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT – MORBID ANGEL – AT THE GATES – RHAPSODY OF FIRE – THERION – CORONER – KREATOR – NEVERMORE – EXODUS -TRIPTYKON – HAMMERFALL – WINTERSUN – FINNTROLL – GRAVE DIGGER – IHSAHN – NAPALM DEATH – TAROT – FORBIDDEN – WOLF – POISON BLACK – 1349 – SKELETONWITCH – THE DEFILED
 
Sophie Lancaster Stage
ANGELWITCH – CRIMINAL – LAWNMOWER DETH – ARTHEMIS – POWER QUEST – THE ROTTED – OCTOBER FILE – NEMHAIM – DEF CON ONE – SURVIVORS ZERO – BYFROST – DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE – IMICUS – HAMMER OF THE GODS – BLAKE – REVOKER – ACHREN – ROMEO MUST DIE – AMARANTHE – CEREBRAL BORE – HELLISH OUTCAST 
 
Plus loads more bands still to be announced