FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Festival 2026

Has it really been 25 years since the first Bloodstock Open Air? Well, technically no, but we’re celebrating anyway. The very first incarnation of the festival was held way back in 2001 and bore little resemblance to what it has become. That version took place indoors at the Derby Assembly Rooms and attracted 700 people, a figure which seems positively conservative when you stand in the dried-out fields of Catton Hall and cast your eye over the sea of patch-jacketed humanity.

In the two and a half decades since it debuted, Bloodstock has evolved into one of the UK’s premier metal festivals. The walls and the ceiling might have disappeared, but it’s bigger now. Much bigger. And in the eyes of many, it is THE independent event of the year. Reaching the quarter-century milestone is no mean feat, and it’s no surprise that there’s a big party planned. The main stage is opening on the Thursday night for the first time ever, and the line-up is a veritable who’s who of incredible bands. We couldn’t miss this, so we dispatched a team of writers and photographers to capture all the chaos. Here’s what went down.

Thursday – August 6th

HEAVYSAURUS – Ronnie James Dio Stage

Among the many bands announced for this year’s Bloodstock, it was the reveal of HEAVYSAURUS that seemed to raise the most eyebrows. The European phenomenon consisting of a group of dinosaurs (and one dragon of course) playing metal intended to be enjoyed by younger listeners, HEAVYSAURUS were probably the last band people expected to open the main stage of Bloodstock. But those who gave the band a chance are treated to one of the most entertaining sets that a Thursday at Bloodstock has ever seen. Make no mistake, it is ridiculous. But when looking beyond the aesthetic HEAVYSAURUS are genuinely talented songwriters with all the stirring hooks and rousing melodies any great power metal band should have, the absurdly entertaining characters are just an added bonus. When the band launch into their first English language release Heavy Metal Horns, where the lyrics teach the crowd how to do the classic ‘metal horns’ you’d probably forget this band is intended for kids, with how many grown metal heads were holding their horns high and singing along. Turns out metal fans are just big kids at heart and HEAVYSAURUS perfectly demonstrate that.

Rating: 8/10

THE HELL – Sophie Lancaster Stage

The bandana-clad, self proclaimed greatest hardcore band of all time, THE HELL arrived on stage donning red boilersuits like the second coming of SLIPKNOT ready to plunge the Sophie Lancaster Stage into pandemonium. Focusing mainly on latter releases such as their 66666 and Doosh EPs, the spite-filled ragers most definitely put the bounce in the moshpit, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The exact kind of party-fuelled energy to get the weekend’s festivities under way.

Rating: 8/10

EVIL SCARECROW – Ronnie James Dio Stage

Bloodstock veterans EVIL SCARECROW are next to grace the main stage, and there’s an impressively massive crowd gathered to see them. The Nottingham-based five-piece are an ideal mid-afternoon party act, and it’s hard not to grin constantly throughout their entire set. They pack in more silly outfits and audience interactions than a weekend at Butlin’s, and the somewhat slapdash nature of their performance makes them delightfully endearing. There’s more to them than cardboard props and stupid dance moves though, as they’ve quietly built an impressive back catalogue of metal songs. Despite the painfully middle-class subject matter, Green Bin Day is a barnstorming anthem, and Hurricanado is a killer thrash track. End Level Boss is a call and response bruiser and Cosmos Goth Moth Gong is an early highlight. It all builds to the scuttling finale of Crabulon, a song that could singlehandedly dispel the myth of metalheads being Church-burning, Satan worshipping malcontents if it ever went mainstream. EVIL SCARECROW are the heavy metal equivalent of a Roger Corman movie, and for an hour and fifteen minutes, Catton Hall is in the palm of their hands.

Rating: 8/10

BLACK SPIDERS – Sophie Lancaster Stage

There’s an entirely different proposition to enjoy on the Sophie Lancaster Stage next. BLACK SPIDERS are not the heaviest band to play this year’s festival, but they might just be the coolest, and hearing their Songs Of The North debut album in full was unmissable. It’s a fist-pumping and upbeat hour of old-fashioned rock and roll, full of swagger and whiskey-soaked sleaze. If you’ve got playing card tattoos on your forearms and spend your nights playing dice with a guy named ‘Doc,’ you need BLACK SPIDERS in your life. Just Like A Woman is the sound of a head hitting a jukebox during a bar brawl, and the closing cover of AC/DC’s Kicked In The Teeth is a riot. Lord knows all the trouble we’re in.

Rating: 8/10

SAXON – Ronnie James Dio Stage

There isn’t a shadow of a doubt though; Thursday night at Bloodstock belongs to SAXON. The NWOBHM survivors have a longstanding connection to the festival, having known founder Paul Gregory since 1984 and headlined the very first edition back in 2001. Tonight, they seem determined to show the other acts how things are done, and their career-spanning set is a triumph. They open with comparative newbie Hell, Fire And Damnation before diving deep into their bag of classics. Power And The Glory bellows across the field and from there, the hits keep coming. Decades of life on the road has honed SAXON into a formidably tight unit and Dogs Of War, Never Surrender, Motorcycle Man, and Heavy Metal Thunder sound impeccable. There’s a sea of fists and thousands of voices bellowing the lyrics to Denim And Leather, and it feels like a non-stop celebration.

Gazing steely eyed over the gathered throng, Biff Byford makes for a commanding presence, while the elaborate production makes for a grand spectacle. From what we understand, there are no plans to open the mainstage on the Thursday night next year, but based on this, Bloodstock should seriously reconsider that. There is one drawback in that they insist on playing Solid Ball Of Rock (sorry guys, that song isn’t good), but otherwise, this was a perfect metal show. The gauntlet has been thrown down.

Rating: 9/10

CRYPTOPSY – Sophie Lancaster Stage

The night isn’t over yet though, and over on the Sophie Lancaster Stage, a much darker proposition awaits. This first day has been a mix of party bands and good time rock and roll, but CRYPTOPSY bring an entirely different flavour. Legible vocals and melodic hooks are for wimps; the closing act are all about violence. With a set drawing heavily on their None So Vile classic, CRYTOPSY bring a hitherto unheard level of intensity to Catton Hall. Singer Matt McGachy might not have performed on that record, but he makes tracks like Slit Your Guts his own. He prowls the stage like a wild-eyed madman, growling with a voice as deep as a Balrog’s and inciting the crowd into escalating levels of carnage. Newer material from An Insatiable Violence sits nicely alongside the older cuts, and their late-night set only seems to get heavier the longer it goes on. It’s a bowel-loosening, neck-destroying way to bring the curtain down, and a timely reminder that CRYPTOPSY are one of the most underappreciated death metal bands in the world. That ruled.

Rating: 8/10

Friday – August 7th

VOID BELOW – New Blood Stage

Cumbrian, Lovecraftian inspired doombringers VOID BELOW had the unenviable task of attempting to alleviate the Thursday evening hangovers, being handed the 10:30am slot on the New Blood stage. Credit where credit is due, they grabbed their opportunity with both hands, even inciting a couple of early morning circle pits for good measure. Cleverly shifting between monstrously dense heaviness to slick, blastbeat induced ferocity gave the crowd a varied palate of riffs to digest and set the tone for a feast of great bands across the festival lineup.

Rating: 8/10

TEMPLES ON MARS – New Blood Stage

Progressive rock outfit TEMPLES ON MARS endured some technical difficulties in the early going but managed to bounce back effectively and deliver a polished performance. The tracks from 2025’s The Last Ship translated well to the live stage, particularly the energetic buoyancy of Smile and the atmospheric melodies of Safeword. Whilst not falling into the stereotypical wheelhouse of Bloodstock Festival they were a welcome addition, garnering an admirable crowd and will have undoubtedly acquired new fans in the process.

Rating: 7/10

PARTY CANNON – Ronnie James Dio Stage

Things go back to being incredibly stupid next, as Scotland’s PARTY CANNON take over the main stage. Their self-proclaimed “low IQ party slam” is furiously heavy but also preposterously low brow, epitomised by the sight of a man in a rubber skull mask playing a giant cardboard penis like a guitar. It’s a mix of pig squeals, breakdowns, and a “world record attempt” for the most banana men in a single mosh pit. It’s skull crushingly moronic and we hate ourselves for loving every second of it.

Rating: 7/10

SKYND – Ronnie James Dio Stage

Maybe it’s the main stage being bathed in white light, maybe it’s the merch desk queues resembling the post office pre-Christmas, or maybe it’s just too early still. Whatever it is, SKYND’s ‘what if NINE INCH NAILS entered Eurovision’ soundtracks to true crime documentaries don’t quite land on the Ronnie James Dio Stage today like they do on record. The two-piece are swallowed by the stage’s size, their pulsating light show lost in broad daylight, rendering the claustrophobic atmospherics of dark-pop bangers Jimmy Savile and Columbine redundant. As the DIE ANTWOORD-recalling Tyler Hadley closes their set, they’ve picked up a sizable crowd yet it’s not the showstopper it could’ve been inside the tented Sophie Lancaster Stage.

Rating: 5/10

SELLSWORD – Sophie Lancaster Stage

There’s a distinct shortage of power metal on the bill this year, but one of the few examples can be found on the Sophie Lancaster Stage next. SELLSWORD’s stock has risen in the last couple of years, and while they’re still very much a niche band, it is heartwarming to see them perform to such a large crowd. They have riffs that sound like cavalry charges and irresistibly hooky choruses, not to mention a working trebuchet onstage with them. It might not be very big, but its mere presence helps keeps the atmosphere light and the set ends up flying by. Give them a few more high-profile gigs like this, and they could be serious contenders.

Rating: 7/10

LIFE OF AGONY – Ronnie James Dio Stage

Too many bands treat festivals like victory laps for new albums and deep cuts not everyone’s bothered streaming before pitching up their tent. Thankfully, LIFE OF AGONY knows the drill, delivering a set dominated by singalongs. Largely ignoring anything after 1997’s Soul Searching Sun, Keith Caputo and co. remind a growing crowd why they’re one of the 90s most underrated acts – the opening trio of This Time, River Runs Red, and Bad Seed alone are anthemic enough to have many bands on the bill envious. Caputo’s chaotic energy walks hand-in-hand with the bright, beaming smiles of Alan Robert, Joey Z, and Veronica Bellino, who at times seem surprised their grunge-inflected alt-metal is going down so well. But let’s be real, if UGLY KID JOE and THERAPY? can pull it off, LIFE OF AGONY always had a chance; and the likes of Weeds and Underground are all too powerful to be ignored by even the most skeptical of Bloodstockers.

Rating: 8/10

HIDDEN INTENT – Sophie Lancaster Stage

Hailing all the way from Australia, HIDDEN INTENT might be the band who’ve clocked the most air miles getting to this year’s Bloodstock. Sadly though, their mid-afternoon slot is a disappointment and isn’t half as good as the pure anarchy they unleashed when they were last here. Back in 2023, they all but levelled the Jägermeister Stage, but there’s a distinct lack of energy this time around and the songs fail to replicate the carnage. As the set draws to a close, they let slip that sickness has taken a serious toll and while we can’t fault them for soldiering on when feeling like garbage, it is sad to see them looking so lethargic. HIDDEN INTENT are a great band, but fate wasn’t on their side today.

Rating: 5/10

REDEEMON – New Blood Stage

As per usual at Bloodstock, your best chance at finding something unique is over at the New Blood Stage. One that stands out on Friday is ska-metal band REDEEMON. Yes you read that right, ska-metal. While ska-punk is certainly not a new concept, taking that and adding furious heavy metal into the mix make REDEEMON among the most memorable bands on the New Blood Stage this year. All the heavy metal hallmarks are here; fast riffing, aggressive vocals and filthy breakdowns but the brass musicians absolutely steal the show. Even when not playing, they are fully engaged and hyping up the crowd, particularly entertaining was the trumpet player spinning it round his finger like a revolver. The performance has a sense of mischievous glee that is infectious, so whether moshing or watching in awe there won’t be anyone in the crowd without a smile on their face by the end.

Rating: 9/10

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY – Ronnie James Dio Stage

The fact that FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY are taking to the stage hours before tea time is testament to how stacked the Ronnie James Dio Stage is this year. But a mid-afternoon slot doesn’t phase these proggy death metallers from going straight for the jugular, opening their set with the suffocatingly atmospheric aggression of Lower Purpose. It doesn’t let up from there as vocalist Joe Badolato commands the stage like he’s conquering a city, delivering a primer for the uninitiated on the many shades of FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY: the industrialised tech-death rager A Higher Level Of Hate, the groovy, GOJIRA-esque riff-off Heads Will Hang, and the melodeath-meets-deathcore sleeper hit Pandora all land perfectly. The pits get bigger, the crowd surfing more frequent, and the chaos ensues the further into their set you get; so much so that closer Far From Heaven’s deafening cheers feels like a band nailing their audition for a bigger billing next time round.

Rating: 8/10

EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS – Sophie Lancaster Stage

Hanover’s EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS are on next, the German veterans making their long-awaited UK debut after nearly a quarter of a century as a band. And for a few songs, it’s the absolute best! Like PARTY CANNON’s earlier show, they’re a light-hearted but preposterously heavy bunch, and they trigger utter carnage. Then they run right smack into a technical fault and things grind to a halt. To their credit, they take the abrupt silence in their stride and never stop smiling, but they don’t quite get the momentum back once the power is restored. The finale is crowd surfing, circle-pitting mayhem though, and if they hadn’t had the mid-set hiccup, we’d have rated them a few points higher.

Rating: 6/10

CONCRETE AGE – New Blood Stage

It’s almost strange seeing CONCRETE AGE on the New Blood Stage of Bloodstock. This is a band that has been steadily releasing music and moving audiences for fourteen years now with an impressive back catalogue. Semantics regarding ‘new’ aside, no one could argue that getting to see this band at Bloodstock is a real experience. Calling themselves ‘ethnic metal’, CONCRETE AGE take us on a musical journey with sweeping soundscapes evoking the world at its most harsh and its most beautiful. One moment they are battering the crowd with BEHEMOTH–style extreme metal, then they are soothing them with many different instruments only a true folk metal fan would know all the names of. Despite being musical veterans who have more than honed their craft CONCRETE AGE appear to be hugely grateful for the opportunity to play Bloodstock and that enthusiasm is infectious. With truly nothing else on the lineup this year like them, CONCRETE AGE leave a massive impact on the New Blood Stage and it’s one that those present won’t be forgetting for quite some time.

Rating: 10/10

BIOHAZARD – Ronnie James Dio Stage

If there’s any band on Friday’s bill that truly gives headliners LAMB OF GOD a run for their money, it’s hardcore legends BIOHAZARD. Greeted on-stage with a hero’s welcome, and arguably the biggest crowd any band has pulled since SAXON the night before, co-vocalists Evan Seinfeld and Billy Graziadei waste no time by blasting headfirst into the bangers. The stomping grooves and ground-and-pound percussion of opener Urban Discipline has heads banging, before Shades Of Grey whips up the pits like its feeding time at the zoo. Newer cut Fuck The System holds its own against a Urban Discipline-heavy set, the whole crowd eating out of Seinfeld and Graziadei’s hands as thousands of Bloodstockers flip the bird simultaneously. For a band turning 40 next year, they treat the stage like they’re taking on a HYROX, and it’s no surprise that every song, and every tribute – including one of many mentions for SICK OF IT ALL’s Lou Koller – is rewarded with headliner-worthy reactions from the crowd. A closing run including a cover of BAD RELIGION’s We’re Only Gonna Die, the SWORN ENEMY-assisted Punishment, and Hold My Own leaves every single person hanging on like a junkie chasing the first high. You just want more, more, more.

Rating: 9/10

MUNICIPAL WASTE – Ronnie James Dio Stage

In life, there are only three certainties: death, taxes, and that MUNICIPAL WASTE is gonna fuck you up. The Virginians are no strangers to Bloodstock, and admittedly, their set is so predictable you could set your watch by it. If you’ve seen the WASTE at a festival before, you’ve seen this one too, but when Beer Pressure and The Art Of Partying ignite this much pandemonium, why change it? It’s just as adrenaline charging the tenth time around as it is the first, and it’s so alcoholic that you could spend the entire set abstaining and still get drunk through vibes alone. There’s been an abundance of bands playing party metal this weekend, but MUNICIPAL WASTE remain the Kings. And come to think of it, they did pull one surprise. Their tribute to the recently departed Lou Koller brought tears to our eyes. Who could have predicted the most emotional moment of the weekend coming from MUNICIPAL WASTE of all people?

Rating: 9/10

MARTYRS SAINT – New Blood Stage

Bristol’s MARTYRS SAINT frustratingly have to contend with Bloodstock’s big 2027 announcement being placed right in the middle of their set. As such is not the turnout they deserved. However if this knocked the band in anyway, they certainly didn’t show it. This is a band that clearly live by the philosophy of “play to ten people as if it’s actually a thousand”. MARTYR’S SAINT are on blistering form with energy that matches the intensity of their crossover thrash and there was rarely a moment where any one of the band were not moving. While the lower turnout may have been disappointing, these Bristol legends can leave the New Blood Stage with their heads held high. A fiercely passionate show and here’s hoping MARTYR’S SAINT can follow in the vein of the Bristol winners before them by returning to bludgeon the Bloodstock crowd once more.

Rating: 7/10

NECKBREAKKER – Sophie Lancaster Stage

One of the smaller joys of regularly attending the same festivals is seeing bands climbing the ranks. The last time NECKBREAKKER (sic) were here, they were known as NAKKEKNÆKKER (again, sic) and they played to a small crowd on the New Blood Stage. Three years later and they’re on the Sophie Lancaster Stage, the audience is much bigger, and any trace of nervousness has utterly vanished. Drawing heavily on their excellent Within The Viscera debut, their thundering death metal grooves drive the gathered throng into a frenzy. It’s a tight and highly professional performance, and proof that when young bands are left to develop on their own terms, it brings great rewards. Well done lads, more of this please.

Rating: 8/10

SEPULTURA – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

Derrick Green is an undeniable presence on stage; a hulking predator leading his prey into circle pit dust clouds and crowd-surfing carnage. He’s earned his stripes as SEPULTURA’s frontman for the better part of three decades, but there’s no denying their final ever UK show is sorely missing the CAVALERA brothers. Much like their last visit to Catton Park, SEPULTURA are one of Bloodstock’s biggest draws, thousands thronging the Ronnie James Dio Stage to celebrate the end of one of extreme metal’s most influential artists. Despite coming down the chimney loaded with presents like Santa Claus at Christmas – Attitude, Territory, and a guest-heavy, rare serving of the tribalistic instrumental Kaiowas all sounding sensational – they bog down the bangers with detours. Andreas Kisser and co. can charm us all they want with tales of this year’s EP The Cloud of Unknowing being inspired by their farewell plans, but All Souls Rising, Beyond the Dream, and The Place all fall flat on a crowd who clearly came to chow down on the hits. Green-era SEPULTURA has its merits, but when its the last time you’re playing these shores, surely you’d play it safe. A fiery final run of Territory, Refuse/Resist, Arise, Ratamahatta, and Roots Bloody Roots leaves no fan frowning, but there’s no denying an underwhelming aftertaste.

Rating: 6/10

VANITAS – EMP Stage 

Bloodstock Festival is somewhat starved for epic symphonic metal this year. However VANITAS arrive to more than fill that void. Combining symphonic elements with djenty riffing and power house vocals, the choruses of tracks such as Lucid Dreams and Solaire blow the top off the EMP tent. Playing their EP Journey to the Sun in full it’s a masterclass display of passion, emotion, fury and also happiness, the latter being fulfilled when the band instigate a “wall of hugs”. Many bands attempt to create truly epic music and it isn’t always easy to translate that to an intimate setting such as this. However VANITAS are the clear standout band on the EMP Stage at this year’s Bloodstock and leave their set with everyone in the crowd wanting more. If this is what they can do on a small stage such as this, imagine what this band will be doing when they start rising the ranks to the bigger stages. Band of the weekend material.

Rating: 10/10

LAMB OF GOD – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

LAMB OF GOD might as well be given the keys to Catton Park at this point. It’s the third time headlining Bloodstock, and it’s their best set by a country mile. It’s no secret the Virginian bruisers bring the ruckus to their live shows, but tonight’s the night they punch the power-ups, supersizing themselves like Mario after a Super Mushroom. Pyro pours out of every pore, whilst every song is lit up with its own atmospherics – the luminous green swamp of this year’s Into Oblivion and the blood-red splatter of Redneck highlights. And not a single band member spends more than a second not smiling, except of course, when frontman Randy Blythe is bellowing his signature growls with a ferocity not even he’s unlocked before. Tonight, Blythe really is at his best, whether he’s shouting out metal’s fallen soldiers – SICK OF IT ALL’s Lou Koller and KILLING JOKE’s Geordie Walker among them, making way for alter-ego Roger Brilliant, or commanding the crowd to commit absolute carnage.

Unsurprisingly, LAMB OF GOD loaded-up at the armoury before arriving at Bloodstock. Opening fire with Ruin, Laid To Rest, and Now You’ve Got Something To Die For leaves no room for warming up the muscles, with those not already in the pits throwing themselves headfirst into the chaos. Newer cuts like Into Oblivion and Parasocial Christ stand tall next to setlist staples 512 and Omerta, whilst deeper cuts Desolation and Grace burn bright. Sure, big hitters like Black Label, Hourglass, and Ghost Into Oblivionare surprisingly AWOL from tonight’s set, but LAMB OF GOD deliver with such conviction tonight that they’re not missed. By the time a throat-shattering thousands-strong sing-along for Memento Mori is followed up by a slam dunk rendition of Redneck – with enough crowd surfers to steal the record from the countless bands trying it on all day – brings their set to a close, there’s no denying the Virginians have set the weekend’s bar impossibly high.

Rating: 10/10

Saturday – August 8th

FROGLORD – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Opening the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Saturday morning is daunting for any band. After the craziness of LAMB OF GOD the night before would anyone be steady enough to catch the first band of the day? FROGLORD emerge to the sight of a packed Sophie Lancaster Stage full of people ready for some filthy swampy doom. After their standout performance on the New Blood Stage a few years prior, FROGLORD now bring a bigger show for 2026, and a bigger crowd full of frogs to boot. One of metal underground’s most sinister vocalists he holds the crowd in the palm of his hand, presenting their amphibious overlord to the audience and a set decked out with cult dressings it recalls the classic evil doom bands of old while the heavy haze and dark colours compliment the gut churning bass giving the show an almost sickly feeling to it in the best way possible. Their cult following is clearly growing by the year and we should expect to see FROGLORD returning to Bloodstock very soon if this second appearance is anything to go by.

Rating: 8/10

OUTERGODS – Sophie Lancaster Stage

It’s one thing to open up the second day of Bloodstock on the Sophie Lancaster Stage even if you have the cult following of FROGLORD. It’s another thing entirely to ask the audience to get ready for something truly skull crushing. OUTERGODS arrive to an impressive turnout for this early on the Saturday to bring some of the most intense music the Sophie Lancaster Stage will see all weekend. Had their set been later on the day you may have seen more pits forming but nevertheless OUTERGODS are full of fury in both their sound and their performance fronted by one of the most monstrous frontmen of the weekend. With a surprise cameo from Dr Hell from Bloodstock veterans EVIL SCARECROW, this is for sure one of the hidden gems of the festival this year.

Rating: 7/10

VAMPYRA – New Blood Stage 

With seemingly every other band this year trying to out compete each other in how heavy a band can be, some good old gothic punk is hard to find. VAMPYRA have the cheeky gothic sass and infectious punk grooves in abundance with an infectiously entertaining live show that isn’t afraid to be a little bit different from every other band this weekend. The dark carnival look may be a little played out these days but it continues to stand out on stage and VAMPYRA own it with just the right amount of tongue-and-cheek jollity alongside a punk attitude.

Rating: 7/10

APOTHIS – New Blood Stage 

The sun is high and the day is blazing hot by the time APOTHIS stride out. The Guernsey-based lads trade in incredibly angry melodic deathcore and it took only two songs for us to add them to the Distorted Sound gym playlist. They have breakdowns so thick they could sink U-Boats and have a knack for writing catchy choruses that never tip over into sentimentality. Curiously, there’s even a few guitar lines in the mix that are reminiscent of Californian skate punk. Had they formed a couple of decades earlier, we’d have put money on them showing up on the soundtrack to the next Tony Hawke game.

Rating: 7/10

URNE – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

In recent years URNE have blossomed into one of the must see acts on the UK gig circuit. Having worked with the illustrious Joe Duplantier (GOJIRA) and more recently collaborating with Troy Sanders (MASTODON), this illustrates the level of accomplices they are attracting. Showcasing a mix of tracks from each catalogue entry, including the title tracks to both A Feast On Sorrow and Serpent & Spirit, the quartet dished up a commanding performance packed with emotion, intensity and impressive instrumentation. It won’t be long before you see them clambering further and further up the festival lineup.

Rating: 9/10

GOAT MAJOR – EMP Stage 

Bloodstock goes deep into the cosmic realm next, as GOAT MAJOR have their turn on the EMP Stage. And considering there’s only three guys in the band, they don’t half make a racket. They trade in the kind of low-slung stoner metal that makes you want to drop ayahuasca and hang around the Stonehenge car park for too long and they go down a treat with a cold pint in the shade. It’s big, booming, and one of the many smaller triumphs of the weekend. If your favourite bands all put moss-covered gravestones on their album covers, be sure to check out GOAT MAJOR.

Rating: 8/10

VENDED – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

The biggest surprise of the Saturday comes courtesy of VENDED, and frankly, we’re a little annoyed at how good they were. We had a bunch of nepotism-themed jokes ready to go, the one comparing them to Jaden Smith’s photography career being especially clever, then they ruined them all by being exceptional. Once the initial “goodness, they do sound a lot like SLIPKNOT” reaction wears off, the urgency of their performance hits you. They’re a rabble-rousing bunch and the likes of Asylum turn the field into a warzone. Yes, they’ve probably had an easier route in than most of the other bands on the bill, but we can’t help enjoying every hyperactive second. Jerks.

Rating: 8/10

CELESTIAL SANCTUARY – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Based on their name and absolutely killer backdrop art, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY could only be either power or death metal. Turns out it’s the latter. A further addition to Bloodstock’s habit of showcasing awesome underground bands, their old-school sound is utterly enthralling. The bass is thick, the vocals are inhuman, and the pit rages from start to finish. This is the kind of metal that the Dwarves of Moria would hear and know their doom was imminent. Drums, drums in the deep. Couldn’t get out.

Rating: 8/10

NORTHLANE – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

Aussie metalcore frontrunners NORTHLANE continue their successful Summer of world domination with another impeccable performance. Whilst a slot in the Sophie Lancaster Stage would have potentially benefitted them, to allow them to utilise the lighting more effectively, they still came armed with enough riffs to satisfy the Bloodstock clientele. With pits aplenty courtesy of Bloodline, Talking Heads and the freshly released CUT_it, NORTHLANE confirmed exactly why they are one of the hottest properties in modern metal.

Rating: 9/10

NEVERMORE – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

There’s a tremendous weight of expectation NEVERMORE’s collective shoulders today, this being their first UK gig since 2010, and one that a lot of people thought would never happen. Thankfully, they pull it off and send a lot of the older Bloodstock attendees home happy.
Granted, Beyond Within is an odd choice of opener and vocalist Berzan Önen still has a bit of a rabbit-in-the-headlights vibe, but after a slightly rocky start things rapidly gather pace. Inside Four Walls is a huge singalong, Born and Narcosynthesis sound massive, and the closing duo of The River Dragon Has Come and Enemies Of Reality make for a wicked finale. As both a tribute to the late great Warrel Dane and an epic return to form, this was just tremendous.

Rating: 8/10

IMPERIAL DEMONIC – New Blood Stage 

It is shocking to realise that IMPERIAL DEMONIC have only been a band for about four years. Their performance on the New Blood Stage has the precision of a band that have been doing this for decades. Firing up the crowd with furious melodic black metal, it’s a set that boots off at full intensity and doesn’t let the audience relax until they leave the stage. Much like VANITAS the day before, the band somehow find a way of making this smaller setting sound as massive as a mainstage with intense atmosphere and fierce passion. With new music coming soon and now a flawless Bloodstock set behind them, IMPERIAL DEMONIC have achieved a lot in their short tenure as a band so to see where they go from here is going to be very exciting indeed.

Rating: 10/10

DEATH ANGEL – Sophie Lancaster Stage

It seems like every festival has at least one band who perform at precisely the right time. This year, that honour falls on DEATH ANGEL. The Bay Area thrash legends hit the Sophie Lancaster Stage at the exact moment the crowd’s adrenaline levels hit their peak and there’s a palpable excitement as the first notes ring out. The Moth is a propulsive opener, while classic cuts Evil Priest and Seemingly Endless Time send the pit into overdrive. It’s a comparatively brief performance, but there’s no filler to be had. Claws In So Deep sounds incredible and the closing duo of The Dream Calls For Blood and Thrown To The Wolves end things on a spectacular high.

Rating: 9/10

BLEED FROM WITHIN – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

Scotland’s national treasure BLEED FROM WITHIN have gone from strength to strength, particularly in the last few years, to the point that their claim for a festival headline slot is becoming undeniable. Their performance at Bloodstock only posed to drive that point home even further, drawing one of the biggest and most rabid crowds of the entire weekend. The pits barely paused for breath as they plowed through a blockbuster set stacked with fan favourites such as The End Of All We Know, God Complex and I Am Damnation. From pyro to bagpipes, and even inflatable beachballs thrown in for good measure, their set had everything a band needs to ensure their performance is one for the ages.

Rating: 10/10

SANGUISUGABOGG – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Their logo is unreadable, they play brutal, thuggish death metal, and their frontman looks like someone who escaped prison by punching the walls open. By all rights, SANGUISUGABOGG should be terrifying, but they’re not. They’re funny. Frontman Devin Swank’s between-song banter is peppered with jokes and despite playing some of the gnarliest metal of the entire weekend (which is no mean feat), they generate more laughs than the last SCARY MOVIE did. After apologising to anyone that turned up expecting to see OF MICE AND MEN (who they replaced due to a cancellation), they kick off with Rotted Entanglement and things only escalate from there. It’s a blood-spattered hour of unholy violence, with crowd surfers piling up in heaps and knuckle-headed riffs threatening to bring the house down. SANGUISUGABOGG are so preposterously over the top that they’re almost a parody of themselves, and we laughed uproariously through every gore drenched second.

Rating: 8/10

LEPROUS – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Providing a rather jarring contrast to Saturday evening’s main stage headliner, Norwegian prog darlings LEPROUS grasp their opportunity to take the Bloodstock faithful on a trip through their catalogue with cuts as deep as Bilateral’s Forced Entry and Tall Poppy Syndrome’s Passing, much to their existing fanbase’s delight. It’s also not every day you get to witness pyro inside the tent of the Sophie Lancaster Stage but no punches were pulled here. Frontman Einar Solberg was at his imperious best, nailing every vocal chord stretching falsetto making it look like a light stroll. LEPROUS at their cinematic, anthemic peak is a true spectacle to behold and this is exactly why they were provided such a prominent slot.

Rating: 10/10

Sunday – August 9th

FLAYED DISCIPLE – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Taunton’s FLAYED DISCIPLE have an unenviable task. Playing an early set on the final day of a festival isn’t ideal, as a significant number of potential attendees are either sleeping off hangovers or saving their dwindling energy for the later bands, and a half hour of blackened thrash isn’t half as appealing as a breakfast burrito. But somehow, FLAYED DISCIPLE pull it off. The crowd is thin on the ground, but the band plays with a surprising amount of energy and their razor-edged throwback tunes are a serious wake-up call. They’re the sort of group who think METALLICA peaked on Kill ‘Em All, worship at the altar of DEMOLITION HAMMER, and likely won a few new friends today, despite the ungodly hour.

Rating: 8/10

KA’APER – New Blood Stage 

Based in Cyprus yet proudly featuring members from both Russia and Ukraine, KA’APER’s performance almost feels too magnificent for a stage as small as the New Blood Stage. The music by itself is epic beyond words and easily fills the tent with atmosphere however the sense of unity and brotherhood pushes this band into deeply emotional territory. The appreciation and pride from KA’APER is palpable and they more than do their monolithic music justice. Here’s hoping this Bloodstock appearance convinces those present to spread the majesty of KA’APER and we can have this experience on massive stages where they belong.

Rating: 9/10

GRAPHIC NATURE – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

Back on the Ronnie James Dio Stage, GRAPHIC NATURE threaten to steal the entire day. A couple of well-received albums and positive live reviews have seen them grow in confidence, and they soon get clouds of dust billowing into the dry, dry air. Their nu-metal tinged hardcore encourages all the two-steppers in the crowd to burn off a few hundred calories, and singer Harvey Freeman is a natural frontman. He orchestrates the chaos like a master and the band leave the stage looking like stars. It’s not even lunchtime, and we might have just seen a game changer.

Rating: 9/10

ALUNAH – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Having been releasing music since 2010, ALUNAH have gathered quite the following over the years and subsequently have a very impressive turnout for Sunday morning on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. With their new vocalist Daisy Savage, the band perform with new found vigor and assuredness in their performance. The riffs sound massive and no doubt many sore necks from all the headbanging. It’s a no nonsense set from a band firing on all cylinders and with all the years of work behind them ALUNAH deserve far more recognition that they currently have and deserve to finally move up the ranks of Bloodstock’s lineup. Here’s hoping after this performance people will take notice of them.

Rating: 7/10

CASTLE RAT – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

If you’d never heard of CASTLE RAT before today, you could easily mistake them for a novelty act at first. They’ve got the kind of hair that hasn’t been seen since the nightclub shootout in The Terminator, and there’s a scantily clad woman wearing a giant plastic rat skull running around onstage. Stick around for a couple of songs though and it becomes apparent that not only do CASTLE RAT take their gimmick seriously, they’re also really bloody good. Drawing heavily upon their excellent The Bestiary album, their forty-minute set is part metal show, part theatrical production. Singer/guitarist Riley Pinkerton narrates events as they unfold, and their accomplished retro-metal is an absolute hoot. And against all odds, the story actually makes sense. There’s a cohesive thread running through it which we were able to follow, even with all the distractions provided by the massive choruses and melodramatic sword fights. Ever wondered what it would be like if the villains from Red Sonja formed a band? Here’s your answer.

Rating: 8/10

CHEKHOV’S GUN – New Blood Stage 

Even though the New Blood Stage is known for having no boundaries when it comes to what kind of metal bands play there, no one could have expected to see a ballroom dance over sinister classic black metal but that’s exactly what was on offer from CHEKHOV’S GUN. Quite possibly one of the most unique bands at Bloodstock this year, the music is dark, the aesthetic unnerving and the atmosphere is palpable. The set was bookended with ballroom dancing that was as haunting as it was enchanting and with the dance at the end of the set ending in a very climactic way, it was a fascinating show from start to finish. Any noise spillover from the mainstage seemed to fade away as the haunting melodies drew people in and during the quieter moments you could hear a pin drop due to the audience’s rapt attention. CHEKHOV’S GUN are a metal band unlike any other, if the opportunity arises to witness this band we suggest you jump at that chance and see if for yourselves.

Rating: 10/10

TRIVAX – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

TRIVAX’s bio on the Bloodstock website, and their showcased music video for Azreal, certainly implied a more striking visual look to their performance. However, instead TRIVAX walk onto the stage without theatrics. Just purely themselves, and that is all they needed. The Iranian but UK-based extreme metallers command the stage with expert presence, bringing the audience into their unique metal corner of the world with earth shattering riffs with some inflections of their Middle Eastern heritage, complete with a metal cover of an Iranian pop song that of course nobody in the audience knew, yet thoroughly enjoyed. One of the most forceful statements of intent of the weekend, many newcomers will now know TRIVAX’s name long after the end of the festival.

Rating: 8/10

KITTIE – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

In stark contrast to CASTLE RAT, KITTE eschew any kind of pantomime flourishes in favour of getting the freaking job done. The Canadians have been enjoying a mini resurgence since returning to touring a few years ago, and today, they add an impressive Bloodstock performance to their collective CVs. It also begs the question of how they ever got close to courting the mainstream? The likes of Spit and Brackish are nastier than you remember, and they seem to have only got heavier as they’ve aged. We doubt they’ll ever be as big as they were for that brief period at the turn of the century again, but KITTIE seem to finally be enjoying the respect and admiration they always deserved.

Rating: 8/10

TECHNOLOGIST – New Blood Stage 

It was evident TECHNOLOGIST had brought a hefty following along with them for the ride with a sea of their merch scattered around the New Blood Stage. Starting slightly later than their slot suggested they only had the opportunity to play four songs but the Manchester-based prog collective made their time count. The crunchy riffing and diverse vocal skills from their debut album’s title track Reborn was but a brief glimpse of their prowess, it will be exciting to see what their next release has in store.

Rating: 8/10

ORBIT CULTURE – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

After three full days in a field of dust and sweat, you could forgive the audience for flagging, but there’s a tangible change in atmosphere when ORBIT CULTURE arrive. The Swedes have been on an incredible run since their breakthrough with 2020’s Nija, and last year’s Death Above Life was another glowing addition to their catalogue. They open with the title track of that record, and for roughly half an hour, seem unstoppable. From The Inside is a fiendish slice of modern melodic death metal, while the post-GOJIRA riffage of The Tales Of War is eye-watering. Just as they’re heading towards a perfect showing though, the set is abruptly halted due to a medical emergency in the pit. There are a few uncertain minutes of silence before they get the word to resume, and round things off with a visceral Vultures Of North. It’s a very good show, but the interruption and the knowledge that a fellow metalhead has been hurt casts a negative light on it. They were on the cusp of an all-timer, but fate intervened.

Rating: 7/10

THROWN INTO EXILE – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

California’s THROWN INTO EXILE have experienced quite a tumultuous past, with most of the original members departing back in 2013. After some rebuilding they have managed to obtain some great opportunities supporting the likes of ARCH ENEMY, BLEED FROM WITHIN and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. Making their return to the UK for the first time in a few years, they treated the crowd to recent blistering releases such as Behind The Veil and Nihilist giving everyone a taste of what their incoming album may yield. Grisly growls, crushing riff assaults and relentless drum sequences certainly left a lasting impression.

Rating: 8/10

TESTAMENT – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

When you see TESTAMENT featured on the festival billing, you know exactly what you’re going to get, and that is by no means a bad thing. They are so ridiculously reliable and having a library full of thrash metal bangers is precisely what is required to keep the energy up as you approach the closing hours of the weekend. Into The Pit, Over The Wall and Electric Crown work their magic and get the adrenaline spiking in all the right places. Whilst some of the ‘old guard’ might be tempted to casually dial it in, the Bay Area icons continue to exhibit why they have been able to experience such a long and fulfilling career.

Rating: 9/10

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

The last year has been a bitter pill to swallow for Zakk Wylde, losing his former mentor and friend, Ozzy Osbourne. Instead of letting it consume him, he proudly carries his memories of his time with the Prince of Darkness, paying tribute to him wherever possible. This was evident during BLACK LABEL SOCIETY’s performance at Bloodstock with imagery displayed throughout as well as their cover of No More Tears. Zakk is undeniably one of the most gifted guitarists to ever pick up an instrument, oozing with flair and skill whilst making it look effortless. Trading solos with long term guitarist Dario Lorina, both with their guitars behind their heads was utterly jaw dropping. Being a well oiled machine for almost 30 years and still looking like they could easily go for another 30 is an astounding achievement, and that is exactly why they are considered amongst the best of the best.

Rating: 9/10

MUSHROOMHEAD – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Despite a revolving door of line-up changes and extensive legal battles MUSHROOMHEAD have somehow survived to tell the tale. Whilst they may not remotely resemble the bunch which traded aesthetic related squabbles with SLIPKNOT back in the 90s, they still have the potential to lure in a crowd. Rarely skimming their formative, classic releases the masked mob predictably opted to steer close to more recent efforts from 2024’s Call The Devil. The inclusion of colourful water drums rode the fine line between intriguing and pantomime production but added something different into the mix. Whether those in attendance were there for an expectant hit of nostalgia is up for debate but there were plenty of content faces amongst the crowd so mission accomplished.

Rating: 7/10

BODY COUNT – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

There was a lot of hype and anticipation building up around the Bloodstock site leading up to BODY COUNT arriving on stage, and for good reason. Ice-T is one of the most commanding and charismatic frontmen around and he has the crowd bending to his every whim. Inciting pit related chaos, inviting a couple of young kids onto the stage, spending time to interact with the audience. All the hallmarks of an artist who knows how to turn a performance into a memorable occasion. The inclusion of his son, Lil’ Ice to the fold injects an intriguing, youthful dynamic into the mix as they charge through an adrenaline packed set of hardcore/thrash fuelled anthems with a little SLAYER thrown in for good measure.

Rating: 9/10

200 STAB WOUNDS – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

200 STAB WOUNDS shift the heaviness up to extreme levels with their signature blend of gruesome violence. The Ohio natives rip through their set like a chainsaw-wielding lunatic, but what is equally as impressive is translating their brand of savagery to the live stage with such precision. Showcasing a mix of tracks from both 2021’s Slave To The Scalpel and 2024’s Manual Manic Procedures albums, they confirmed why they are considered one of the most important and exciting prospects in the modern death metal scene.

Rating: 8/10

JUDAS PRIEST – Ronnie James Dio Stage 

What remains to be said about the legendary JUDAS PRIEST that hasn’t already been said? The metal gods have paved their own uncompromising path for over half a century and it feels most fitting that they have been chosen to headline the closing day of Bloodstock’s 25th anniversary celebration. With a seemingly endless list of timeless tracks to choose from and only 90 minutes to crowbar them in to, you can’t possibly please everyone but who can really complain getting to witness the likes of Breaking The Law, Hellbent For Leather, Painkiller and Living After Midnight? At the grand age of 74 years young, Rob Halford can still unleash his powerful falsetto and send chills down the spines of a field full of adoring fans. A sad day will eventually arrive upon us when they hang up their leather jackets one last time, but for now, bask in the glory of one of the most pivotal musical collectives to ever exist.

Rating: 10/10

CARPENTER BRUT – Sophie Lancaster Stage 

Following a career-spanning masterclass from JUDAS PRIEST is not a task many bands would graciously accept but CARPENTER BRUT are up to the challenge. Displaying what a diverse melting pot of acts this weekend has proven to be, the darksynth outfit had the Sophie Lancaster Stage practically bursting at the seams with attendees keen to witness what all the fuss is about. A huge screen adorning anime-related imagery accompanied their visually stunning performance as the enclosed space allowed for a feast of lighting arrangements to only further enhance the performance. Metalheads get a reputation for being elitist, stoic creatures who only listen to CANNIBAL CORPSE, but if you play your own brilliant rendition of Michael Sembello’s Maniac you can bet your ass you’ll have every single one of them gleefully singing their hearts out. A fitting end to a landmark event in the history of Bloodstock Festival.

Rating: 9/10

Words: Tim Bolitho-Jones, Dan McHugh, Jack Press, Chris Taylor

Check out our BIG photo gallery of the action from Bloodstock Festival 2026 from Emma Stone here: 

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