For the last 14 years, Bloodstock has catered to those unsatisfied with the increasingly radio friendly line-ups offered by major British festivals. The days of Underground Metal bands landing significant slots at Download or Reading are long gone so it has been left to Bloodstock to offer the metal community an open air festival line-up, not based on record sales or mainstream success, but reverence and prestige as bestowed by the fans. Having seen the likes of King Diamond, Emperor and Immortal headline in the past, Bloodstock has filled the void that would have otherwise ostracised the heavy music patrons in this country into flocking abroad to the likes of Wacken and Hellfest.
When I attended my first Bloodstock aged 15 in 2008, I was a typical angsty metal kid with long hair and a wardrobe consisting solely of black clothes. Since then the hair is now shorter and I occasionally rock the odd white shirt, but I’ve still felt the same sense of camaraderie upon returning to Catton Park in Derbyshire over subsequent outings. I’ve seen the festival grow in size, both in regards to the attendance and the quality of bands playing, but with a capacity of roughly 15,000 people Bloodstock has managed to maintain its community vibe.
The like-minded nature of the crowd has lead to a relaxed and hospitable party atmosphere that I consider to be missing from bigger and less formidable festivals. This can be a little surprising coming from a horde of pissed up metal-heads waiting to see Dying Fetus. The fact that Bloodstock caters to such a specific audience often emphasises the roaring and frenetic response to many of the artists. A band that would receive a lukewarm reception at a generic rock festival is often considered a legend at Bloodstock and is thus met with a hero’s welcome. Such an atmosphere offers a rare and exciting opportunity to see an underground act whip up thousands of people into a field wide circle pit.
The Music & the Wailing
This year’s line-up offers enough variety to both piss off and satisfy your average Metal elitist who frowns upon anything that was made after 1986. Headliners of the Ronnie James Dio stage (sentimentally baptised after the singer’s death) are Trivium, Within Temptation and Rob Zombie, proving to be controversial choices that will no doubt attract a younger and fresher crowd.
It is the undercard however that’s drawing the most attention. Atmospheric main-stays Opeth are subbing the Saturday night, their only UK appearance ahead of a sold out London show later in the year. The war-mongering Sabaton have crept their way up the bill to a slot that could solidify their position as modern Power Metal pioneers, and Black Label Society are bringing their beards and biker attitudes to the festival for the very first time. If you prefer things a little more dense, Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, Sepultura and Belphegor will be bringing the Heavy, and if Speed is more your thing you’ve got thrash legends Overkill, Dark Angel and Nuclear Assault kicking up dust throughout the weekend.
Among the most notable bands on the main stage is Death To All. Consisting of former members of Death and performing their classic songs, this will be the closest many of us will ever get to witnessing one of the most influential bands in Metal history who disbanded following the untimely demise of frontman Chuck Schuldiner in 2001.
The second stage offers a healthy alternative to the main stage headliners in the form of Fleshgod Apocalypse and Godflesh although the similarities in their names are purely coincidental. Ex-Evile guitarist Ol Drake will be making his solo live debut under the nom de shred Old Rake on the Sunday, and festival favourites Lawnmower Deth, Onslaught, Conan and Destrage are amongst the highlights beefing up the stage under the tent. Thursday night entertainment comes in the form of the Schwarzenegger obsessed Arnocorps, probably my second favourite Arnie themed band.
The New Blood Stage gives fresh faced and hopeful head-bangers a chance to shine, featuring a line up of bands that no-one has really heard of yet, but could potentially be big news in years to come. Could Wretched Toad or Victorian Whore Dogs be 2016 headliners? If so then you heard it here first people, be that blood-stained hipster who caught them before they made it big, and now looks down on everyone.
The Eternal Torment of Souls
If you need a break from all the screaming and yelling then you’re probably at the wrong festival, but if you have an hour spare there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Some of you may remember Pritchard and Dainton as two of the Welsh muppets from Dirty Sanchez, the British equivalent of Jackass that wasn’t as funny or memorable. These two fools will be throwing nails at each other or something on Friday night.
If you’re hankering for some real blood-sport to match the blood-curdling music, then some Vikings will be throwing real life, actual massive broadswords at each other all weekend. The Battle of the Nations UK Federation will be bringing their full contact, historically accurate battle re-enactments back to Bloodstock. Simply look for the cornered off area in the arena with bearded blokes re-creating Game of Thrones.
Also making its return is the RAM gallery, displaying a selection of paintings by renowned artists who have created some iconic artwork for bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. The arena stays open until 3am with burlesque dancers performing alongside Metal DJ’s to a crowd of Metal-heads with no co-ordination. They’ll all be drinking hobgoblin and rural ciders at the bar because apparently the Metal crowd are super stingy with the booze they choose to throw back.
So whether you spend your evenings smothered in corpse paint and worshipping Satan or you simply have a tendency to blast Slayer at full volume every now and then, there’s no-where better to get your metal fix this summer. The limited capacity and considerably cheap prices for a full weekend of music ensures that tickets won’t last forever, so gather some friends and dig out your most offensive band shirt in preparation for the loudest weekend of the year. See you in the pit.
Bloodstock Open Air takes place at Catton Hall, Derbyshire from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th August 2015.
