Bloodstock Open Air

Fans to select tunes for Machine Head’s set at Bloodstock 2012

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If you head to http://www.facebook.com/Bloodstock you can submit your suggestions via a poll. Each fan can pick five songs fromMACHINE HEAD’s incredible debut “Burn My Eyes”, and the five most popular tracks will be performed at CATTON HALL this summer.

BLOODSTOCK can also reveal a further three acts for the Sophie Stage and one for the Ronnie James Dio Stage.  Headlining the Sophie Stage on Thursday night, raucous rockers VIKING SKULL bring their loud and proud metal to BLOODSTOCK, alongside Belfast metalheads SWEET SAVAGE.  Hotly tipped newcomers DEATH VALLEY KNIGHTS show why in just a few short months their powerful metal has earned them a much coveted spot at Britain’s most metal festival, and finally Canada’s KOBRA & THE LOTUS make their BLOODSTOCK debut opening the Ronnie James Dio Stage on Sunday.

Machine Head confirmed for Bloodstock 2012

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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.

Crowbar and more added to Bloodstock 2012 lineup

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The epitome of heavy, Kirk Windstein and co have been showing the world that speed isn't everything since their debut Thru Sufferingâ stunned the metal world in 1991 with its downtuned, slow-paced yet punishingly heavy sound. With nine studio albums under their very large belts, CROWBAR have mastered the art of the riff, continually delivering irresistible sludgey metal via a sound uniquely their own. The RONNIE JAMES DIO Stage will be put to the test at CROWBAR's only UK festival of 2012.

Over on the SOPHIE stage, additions come in the form of homegrown extreme symphonic metallers and Metal 2 The Masses winners SATURNIAN,fellow countrymen and Melo-death thrashers BLOODSHOT DAWN, as well as Finnish melodic death metallers Re-Armed.

At only £115 for a four day ticket with camping included,BLOODSTOCKoffers incredible value for money and more exclusive appearances than any other festival. With headline sets from BEHEMOTH, ALICE COOPER, plus a very very special mystery headliner – to be revealed at 6pm on the 6th June – comedy, fairground rides and a genuine real ale bar, there is no better place for the British metalhead this summer.

Evile, Marionette and more added to Bloodstock 2012

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Guitarist Old Drake comments:

 "It was great to wake up to the confirmation of our appearance at the one and only Bloodstock Festival. With the release of our "Five Serpent's Teeth" album we dedicated the track "Centurion" to the festival, and for them to have us back with a great slot on the Sophie Lancaster stage, it's bound to be a show to remember. We may just even have a special, first time live-airing, of the previously mentioned track for the BOA masses. Come along for your Evile fix! Long live Bloodstock!"

 Making their UK festival debut, Gothenburg’s MARIONETTE will help get the party started on the Thursday night on the SOPHIE stage. With their roots in melodic death metal, last year’s “Nerve” album saw the band evolve into something truly unique, combining industrial laced metal with stunning soundscapes, earning them rave reviews across the board. "Our sights are firmly set on the UK following our recent run there with Dead By April, "Slay The UK tour" in May and our upcoming appearance at Bloodstock Open Air in August.” Says guitarist and mainman Aron Parmerud. “ BOA is a festival we have heard great things about from fans and bands we have toured with and we look forward to tearing up the East Midlands again!"

 They are joined by Brighton rockers FURYON, who’s recently released Gravitas album is currently earning them praise and adoration across the world of rock. Iconic riffs, jaw dropping solos and one of the tightest rhythm sections this country has ever produced, the SOPHIE stage is in for a treat. The band checked in to say:

 “Furyon are delighted to be booked for the immense bloodstock for our second year and are proud to be able to contribute to the sophie lancaster stage and foundation.”

 They are joined by UK metal mongers DERISION, who will deliver a furious set of 80s inspired thrash bound to go down a storm at the UK’s most metal festival.

 At only £115 for a four day ticket with camping included, BLOODSTOCK offers incredible value for money and more exclusive appearances than any other festival. With headline sets from BEHEMOTH, ALICE COOPER, plus a very very special mystery headliner – to be revealed at 6pm on the 6th June – comedy, fairground rides and a genuine real ale bar, there is no better place for the British metalhead this summer.

 Get your tikets now from www.bloodstock.uk.com

Bloodstock announce Teenage Cancer Trust as charity partner

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The festival is held over the weekend of August 9-12 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire and will be raising awareness and funds for the charity.

After s successful 2011, guest list donations will again be made to Teenage Cancer Trust with money going towards helping young people with cancer in the UK. There’ll also be many things across the weekend to raise awareness of the charity that festival goers can get involved with.

This year in the Teenage Cancer Trust marquee there’ll be a T-shirt Amnesty, with old rock / metal T-shirts available in exchange for a donation while festival goers are invited to donate their unwanted T-shirts. There will also be a raffle over the weekend with an exclusive prize for one lucky winner. More details of this will be announced nearer the time.

Bloodstock Open Air is the UK’s ultimate metal festival and with this year’s headliners already announced its set to be the biggest and best yet. 12,000 people will descend on the Derbyshire countryside for four days of music from the likes of Polish black metallers Behemoth, Norway’s symphonic six-piece Dimmu Borgir and the legendary Alice Cooper.

“Bloodstock has a long history of supporting worthy causes, in the last few years they have been aimed more at the younger generation, whether our own initiatives with Metal 2 the masses or the renaming of our second stage in support of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

This year Bloodstock is continuing it’s tradition of support for the next generation by making http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/it’s designated charity for 2012. I’m sure the fans as always will be happy to give their support and spread the awareness of such a worthy cause.”      Paul and the Bloodstock team.

Jen Walker, Music Coordinator for Teenage Cancer Trust said: “It’s great to have been chosen by Bloodstock Open Air for the second year in a row. It’s a brilliant partnership for us so we’re looking forward to getting on site and spreading the word about Teenage Cancer Trust this summer!”

Decide confirmed for Bloodstock Open Air 2012

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Always at the forefront of the death metal movement, DEICIDE was an original pioneer of the brutal sound and imagery associated with the Florida death metal scene. In 1987, Glen Benton and Steve Asheim teamed to launch one of the most talked about, controversial and venomous crusades in metal history and have since risen to

International notoriety, releasing two of the highest selling death metal albums of all time.

DEICIDE quickly became known for their technical yet brutal sound as much as the rumors that surrounded them. After famously marching into the office of Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records) and demanding “Sign us, you fucking asshole!” the band went on to create the definitive sound of 90s death metal thanks to their ability to play technical solos at blazing speeds with overlapping riffs. DEICIDE also created an astounding ten studio albums that have changed the face of the extreme metal scene.

Now they bring their blasphemous brutality to BLOODSTOCK for the first time, offering the only chance to catch them live in the UK this year.

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR have also revealed details of a deposit scheme, having teamed up with online ticket agentSEETICKETS to offer fans an easy way to pay for their BLOODSTOCK festival tickets for 2012. Sign up by no later than 1stMarch to pay for your weekend camping ticket in 3 easy instalments, starting from £36.25 + booking fee.

With a line up including headline sets from ALICE COOPER and BEHEMOTH, Norwegian Black Metal superstars DIMMU BORGIR's  only UK show of 2012, as well as over 100 bands including ANVIL, PARADISE LOST, WATAIN, ORANGE GOBLIN, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and Swedish metal merchants GRAND MAGUS, there is no more metal place in the UK thanBLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR.

Behemoth to headline Friday at Bloodstock Open Air 2012

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Originally scheduled to perform at the 2010 event, the band were forced to cancel after frontman NERGAL was diagnosed with Leukemia. After undergoing treatment including a bone-marrow transplant, the enigmatic frontman is fighting fit and ready to bring BEHEMOTH’s brutality back to the UK:

“We couldn’t do the show for obvious reasons last time, I was in a deep shithole with my sickness, but I really felt obliged to come back and doBLOODSTOCK as soon as possible. We are really fortunate that they invited us back, we couldn’t turn it down, and this is the perfect opportunity to make this up to the people that missed us last time. For us it’s a great pleasure to come back to the UK after two years, and I can promise we will bring full production – lights, pyro – it’s gonna be awesome and we can’t wait. This is not only the first time we headline a festival, but also our first open air appearance in the UK, so it’s gonna be special!”

"Bringing Behemoth back to Bloodstock in 2012 was our mission, they have been one of the MOST requested bands we have ever been asked for”states festival booker Vicky Gregory. “We know the fans will give them one hell of a reception. The show is their full production and what better place for them to return than as headliners for the Friday night”

Their ninth studio album, 2009’s “Evangelion” saw BEHEMOTH make a giant leap from a cult black metal act to internationally acclaimed metal act, gracing magazine covers and even newspapers across the globe, truly breaking out of the underground despite the uncompromising and fiercely brutal ten tracks it contains. Having the honour of being opening band at the first ever performance of Metal’s Big Four – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax – at Sonisphere Poland in 2009, BEHEMOTH are no strangers to the big stage and this exclusive headline appearance – their first outdoor show in the UK, and only festival performance in this country in 2012 – will be a triumphant return, and one that will no doubt be talked about for years to come.
 
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th. With four day camping tickets on sale for just £90 (plus booking fee) until December 16th – a MASSIVE saving of £25 – there is no reason to wait. 

Alice Cooper to headline Bloodstock 2012

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Unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand for the last five decades, the godfather of theatrical rock needs no introduction, and needless to say, organisers are delighted to have such a prolific and legendary artist join the BLOODSTOCK line up. Festival booker Vicky Gregory comments:

Alice Cooper"As Bloodstock organisers but more importantly Huge fans of Alice Cooper, we are thrilled to have such an iconic artist close proceedings on the Sunday night! We have been after Alice for a number of years and are extremely excited to see him grace the Ronnie James Dio stage and guarantee this will be a performance not to be missed"

An ALICE COOPER concert is always a memorable event, and there are few artists out there capable of putting on such a thrillingly entertaining show. BLOODSTOCK attendees are in for quite a treat if the recent shows are anything to go by. From the moment he takes to the stage as a giant spider your senses are assaulted with fireworks, mock executions, simulated sex (with the dead of course), snakes, monsters and zombies, asALICE delivers hit after hit from his decades long career. 
 
With a back catalogue that includes timeless classic such as “Schools’s Out”, “No More Mr Nice Guy”, “Welcome To My Nightmare”, “Hey Stoopid”, “Feed My Frankenstein” and recent single “I’ll Bite Your Face Off”, ALICE’s set at BLOODSTOCK will be impossible to not enjoy, and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the festival’s history for many years to come.
 
With a world class headliner already in place and two more to be announced – as well as over 100 bands from across the world of hard rock and metal – there is no festival offering better value, with four day weekend camping tickets available at just £90 if booked before 15th December.

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th. Four day camping tickets for next year’s event are available now at bloodstock.uk.com  for just £90 (plus booking fee) until 15th December. 

Dimmu Borgir and more for Bloodstock 2012

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BLOODSTOCK has got off to an incredible start with ANVIL, PARADISE LOST, WATAIN and ORANGE GOBLIN already confirmed, and this latest announcement only serves to reinforce what the organisers have proven since it’s inception – that each year will be bigger and better than the previous one.
 
On the RONNIE JAME DIO main stage, Norwegian Black Metal superstars DIMMU BORGIR return toBLOODSTOCK for their only UK show of 2012, taking next year’s first Special Guest slot. Undoubtedly Norway’s biggest Black Metal export, DIMMU BORGIR are one of the scene’s leaders, seamlessly blending ferocious metal with epic classical orchestration to create one of extreme music’s most instantly identifiable sounds. Gearing up for a very special UK tour next month, the band took time out from rehearsals to tell us:
 
"We are extremely excited to be a part of next year´s Bloodstock festival. It will be great to reconnect with our UK based friends and fans and party up a storm!"

Joining them are hardcore metal heroes HATEBREED. Ultra-aggressive and punishingly heavy, aHATEBREED show will demand – and command – your undivided attention with their brutal, boot-to-the-teeth heaviness. This Connecticut hardcore/metal institution has been demolishing its way around the globe since 1994. Not many bands can enjoy that kind of longevity, but HATEBREED have made being a “career band” look easy, gracing countless magazine covers, performing at some of the biggest metal festivals around the world and even receiving a Grammy nomination. Says band leader/vocalist Jamey Jasta of their only UK show of 2012:
 
"We're all very excited to play Bloodstock. It's fast becoming one of the best festivals for extreme music and this year's line up is going to crush. We are honoured to share the stage with such awesome bands and happy that we can come and play for our UK die hards!" 

Another band who’s only UK performance of 2012 will be on BLOODSTOCK’s RONNIE JAMES DIO stage are none other than CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – or C.O.C for the initiated – who bring their original line up to CATTON HALL for a very special set. Together again after 25 years, Reed Mullin, Woody Weatherman and Mike Dean reunite to bring the spirit of 1985 to Derbyshire, with tracks from their hugely influential crossover classic “Animosity”.  Says bassist Mike Dean:

"How can you go wrong playing at a festival with the main stage named for Ronnie James Dio?!!!"

Over on the SOPHIE LANCASTER stage, British Black metal BruisersANAAL NATHRAKH make their only UK festival performance of 2012. Created for one purpose – to be the soundtrack for armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes – ANNAL NATHRAKH have released four albums to rapturous acclaim, and boast collaborations with such legendary figures as Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Shane Embury and Danny Herrera (Napalm Death), Nick Barker (Testament, Dimmu Borgir), Joe Horvath (Circle of Dead Children), and BLOODSTOCK fellow Sethlans Teitan (Watain). With appearances on BBC Radio 1 at the personal behest of sadly missed icon John Peel, a headline set at Inferno Festival in Norway, countless placings in ‘best album of the year’ polls and album of the month awards in the press, as well as cover appearances on leading magazines such as Terrorizer on their CV, ANAAL NATHRAKH’s status as one of the leading lights in extreme metal is undeniable. Says the band of their overdue appearance at Britain’s only true outdoor metal festival:
 
“It's been a long time coming, but finally the planets seem to be in the correct alignment for us to disgrace a stage at Bloodstock. We will also be sicking up a new album in the run up to the festival, so Bloodstock will likely be something of a release celebration/commiseration. Horrific. Good.”

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th. Four day camping tickets for next year’s event are available now atbloodstock.uk.com for just £90 (plus booking fee) until xmas. 
 
Tickets for the 2012 event are on sale now at www.bloodstock.uk.com

Bloodstock 2012 – Paradise Lost return after seven years

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One of the most successful and influential bands the British metal scene has ever produced,PARADISE LOST are true pioneers, with their early blend of death/doom giving way to the more melodic sound that defined the gothic metal genre. Guitarist Greg Mackintosh observes:
 
"We had the pleasure of playing the first ever Bloodstock Open Air way back in 2005, when it was quite an intimate affair. It's an honour to be asked back to BOA 2012, which looks to be shaping up to be a blinding festival. Since we last played, we have seen BOA grow into the Great British metal festival it is today. We look forward to seeing you all down the front."

With a back catalogue spanning twelve albums over twenty two years – and a DVD set for release before Bloodstock 2012 ("Draconian Times MMXI" features the London show at The Forum on April 1, a documentary from the whole tour, interviews about the history of "Draconian Times" and the two promo videos from their latest album, "Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us") – PARADISE LOST are one of the few bands capable of delivering a set that will satisfy both fans of more brutal, death tinged doom with songs such as “Eternal”, “As I Die” and “Gothic”, as well as the melodic, gothic darkness of “Embers Fire”, “Hallowed Land” and “The Last Time”. 
 
Joining them are Swedish Black Metal misanthropists WATAIN, who make their BLOODSTOCK debut at a very special slot on theRONNIE JAMES DIO stage. Festering in the Black Metal underground since 2000, WATAIN’s rise through the ranks has been an impressive one, with Erik Danielsson’s dedication and conviction setting them apart, leading the band to become one of the most prolific acts on the scene today. Of next year’s appearance, the band states:
 
"The United Kingdom has spawned many a thing inspirational to Watain, be it druidic sorcery, Venom or Judas Priest. Our performances there have always been spiced with a nameless sensation of raw power, and this is the main reason why we have chosen Bloodstock to be one of the very few festival shows we will perform next year. As always, expect something very far from the ordinary."

Famed for their incredibly atmospheric live shows, their set at BOA 2012 will be their biggest UK performance to date, and as such the band are preparing to deliver a suitably memorable set, with a show full of satanic majesty planned, as blood, fire and fierce Black Metal spew out over a dusk covered CATTON HALL.

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th. Four day camping tickets for next year’s event are available now at bloodstock.uk.com for just £90 (plus booking fee) until xmas. 
 
Tickets for the 2012 event are on sale now at www.bloodstock.uk.com