Bloodstock

Four new bands added to Bloodstock 2014

by

BLOODSTOCK 2014 is thrilled to announce the addition of four more awesome metal bands to the main stage bill.

The very mighty New Orleans sludge metal crew, CROWBAR make a return to Catton Park in 2014 for a UK festival exclusive.  Led by riff lord, Kirk Windstein, who recently stepped down from his longtime tenure with BLOODSTOCK headliners DOWN, to concentrate energies full time on his own band CROWBAR, Kirk and the boys are hard at work on a brand new album set for a 2014 release.  Like many metal artists who’ve played Catton Park before, Kirk loves BLOODSTOCK and is looking forward to a return visit, enthusing; “CROWBAR can’t wait to bring our NOLA doom back to BLOODSTOCK in 2014!  It’s our 25th anniversary, so expect a few surprises in our set.  New record, new bassist and a whole new CROWBAR attitude!!!  Get ready for the heavy!!!”  Meantime, check out their video for ‘The Cemetery Angels’ from 2011’s album, ‘Sever The Wicked Hand’ here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy5UnS6QSo0.

Florida death metal pioneers, OBITUARY are also set to lay waste to BLOODSTOCK’s main stage. The band have been working hard on their ninth studio record and accompanying documentary. This will be their first new music since 2009’s ‘Darkest Day’ and is set for independent release next year in the wake of a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign (which saw the guys raise more than 6 times their original target).  When not making music, the band are involved with drummer Donald Tardy’s feline welfare programme, Metal Meowlisha, and organise fund-raising initiatives such as ‘Headbanger’s Furball’.  The band say: “We are very excited to be a part of BLOODSTOCK 2014.  It's been 4 years since OBITUARY played the festival and we are looking forward to returning.  We’ve been hard at work in the studio and can’t wait to bring our new album to UK fans and perform some new songs along with all the old classics.  BLOODSTOCK is the UK's true metal fest, so we are honoured to be invited and to bring some Florida Death Metal to our British fans!  Hang on to your ass, this is gonna be fun!!”  For the latest OBITUARY news, keep your eyes on their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/ObituaryBand.

Finland’s CHILDREN OF BODOM are set to play their only UK show of 2014 on BLOODSTOCK’s Ronnie James Dio main stage.  The band released their eighth studio album ‘Halo of Blood’ in June, when Metal Hammer magazine declared, “not only have CHILDREN OF BODOM produced a diverse collection of defiantly brilliant metallic tunes, but also their most accomplished achievement to date.”. And if you’re looking for something extra special, the band have also recently made available a limited run of white or silver ‘Halo of Blood’ vinyl. Check out the video for lead single, ‘Transference’ at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kQ73UgGIRU.  The five-piece are currently shredding their way across Europe with 2014 BLOODSTOCK compadres, DECAPITATED. Learn about all things Bodom over at http://www.cobhc.com/.

BLOODSTOCK also favours hard-working bands from the UK, and are excited to welcome back the hugely popular EVIL SCARECROW; this time to an opening slot on Saturday’s main stage!  Having packed out the Sophie tent last year, the Nottingham band are more than thrilled at the prospect. ”We are astounded, a little scared, but beyond delighted to have been invited back to BLOODSTOCK, especially as we are returning to the Main Stage which guarantees nobody suffers the discomfort of a full tent!  BLOODSTOCK is the biggest and best UK heavy metal festival and we're truly honoured to be playing the same stage as so many bands who have influenced and inspired us.  The line up this year already looks phenomenal.  We promise to up the Scarecrow game to give BLOODSTOCK’s faithful the best in Evil entertainment!  Bring on the METAL!"   The band are currently plotting their new album which is planned for a 2014 release, and hop over and check out the Pledge Campaign for their 2013 BLOODSTOCK DVD here.  A portion of the proceeds goes to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/evilscarecrowboa2013dvd.

With the three 2014 headliners already announced, the event is shaping up to be the strongest yet.  Friday night’s bill toppers are New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN.  Joining them to head up Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR and closing out proceedings on Sunday are the mighty thrash legends, MEGADETH.  Also announced so far are SAXON, DECAPITATED, and FLOTSAM & JETSAM.  More bands will be announced shortly.

Megadeth to headline Bloodstock 2014

by

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL is thrilled to announce that MEGADETH are confirmed to headline the Sunday night slot in 2014.

This will be the thrash icons’ first appearance at BLOODSTOCK.  In a career nearing 30 years and counting, MEGADETH has sold more than 38 million albums worldwide, earning five consecutive platinum albums in the US and numerous accolades along the way, including 11 GRAMMY® nominations.  The band’s latest studio album released in June, ‘Super Collider’, reunites firebrand frontman Dave Mustaine once again with guitarist Chris Broderick, bassist David Ellefson, and drummer Shawn Drover.  The release debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #22 on the UK album chart and notched up Top 40 album chart debuts in a further 22 countries worldwide.

Megadeth

MEGADETH also recently released a live DVD of last year’s ‘Countdown To Extinction’ 20th Anniversary tour.  Check out this video of MegaDave and the guys thundering through the title track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYzUIKnGVvk.

MEGADETH’s founder, frontman and visionary, Dave Mustaine comments: “2014 is the 20th Anniversary for ‘Youthanasia’, and we are celebrating that by headlining the Bloodstock Festival in the glorious UK.  Every year MEGADETH and our UK fans get closer and celebrate another year of metal greatness together. This is the beginning of 2014…the best is yet to come.”

Tickets for 2014's event are already on sale at ‘early bird’ prices, £115 for a 4-day weekend ticket with camping.  Don't delay, as once the limited ‘early bird’ allocation is gone, it's gone, and tickets revert to full price.  Pick ‘em up now at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/.

In other BLOODSTOCK news, the festival is very proud to announce their recent win at the LIVE UK MUSIC BUSINESS AWARDS 2013 in the ‘Best Festival (under 15K cap)’.  The second ‘Best Festival’ accolade in a row, after picking up 2012’s UK Festival Awards gong for ‘Best Medium sized Festival’!   Long may it continue!!

Already announced as Friday night bill toppers are New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN. Joining them to headline Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR.  BLOODSTOCK will be the only UK performances for both bands.

In 2013, over 1.2 million fans from across the world logged on to watch the bands on the BLOODSTOCK main stage, via the Daily Motion live link.  This year was BLOODSTOCK’s biggest ever attendance at just shy of 14,000 and with a site licence of 15,000 we are expecting the 2014 event to sell out in advance, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets!

BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2014.  Keep up to date with the very latest info on BLOODSTOCK’s official sites at www.facebook.com/bloodstock and www.bloodstock.uk.com.

Emperor to headline Bloodstock 2014

by

On the very weekend of their biggest and most successful event to date, BLOODSTOCK are thrilled to announce that revered black metal innovators EMPEROR are locked in as one of the headline acts for next year's festival, which is set to take place from 7th-10th August 2014.

Recently reformed, EMPEROR are only playing a very select number of major shows in 2014, and BLOODSTOCK is to be their only UK performance. EMPEROR's only other currently announced 2014 show at Germany's Wacken Festival is already sold out.
 
The announcement was made on the festival big screen, just prior to LAMB OF GOD's Saturday night headline slot, and also went out over the Daily Motion global livestream, via this video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K72N54Aj7PM.  This year, over 1.2 million fans from across the world logged in to watch the the bands on the BLOODSTOCK main stage, via the Daily Motion live link. 
 
Tickets for 2014's event are already on sale at early bird prices, priced £115 for a 4-day weekend ticket with camping.  Don't delay, as once the early bird allocation is gone, it's gone, and tickets revert to full price.  Camper van tickets sell out very quickly, so if you want a camper van spot, don't hang around in purchasing your patch!  Click through to http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/.

Lineup additions for Bloodstock including Stormbringer and more!

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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