It’s that time of year again when something starts stirring from deep within the heavy metal community.
It’s the unmistakable buzz of Bloodstock rearing its glorious head in the horizon, and this year promises
to be the best party of the summer. As regular festival goers will tell you, the weather plays a major part
in the making of a good festival and if the scorching summer heat of late is of any indication, this year’s
will be sublime festival weather. As if that wasn’t enough to set the temperatures rising, Basement
Torture Killings kicking off the party at the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Thursday 11th of August, ending
with Dark Tranquillity headlining the first day should. In between, three other top notch acts will surely
set the tempo for a weekend of partying.
Day two is when the festival truly kicks into gear and it promises to be a corker with Red Method starting
the proceedings on the Ronnie James Dio stage, returning three years after their brilliant debut at the
Sophie Lancaster Stage. All Hail the Yeti, the Indian folk metal Bloodywood and Exodus amongst
others should set up the rest of the day nicely for a big finish with the extreme Polish metal Gods that are
Behemoth, whilst Sophie Lancaster Stage sees Sleep Token and Avatar finish off a hellraising day.
Day three wouldn’t be Bloodstock without a suitable hangover, and every self-respecting metal-head will
swear by the proven hangover cure that is more heavy metal. One of the most exciting bands currently
doing the circuits around Europe, Baest, will kick off the day with some truly quality acts to follow in the
shape of Lost Society, Spirit World, Lorna Shore, Sacred Reich, Jinjer, Bury Tomorrow, Dimu
Borgir before Merciful Fate take to the main stage for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.
By the time Sunday comes around, and the niggling thoughts of returning to normal day-to-day life starts
to creep into the minds of the Blood Stock crowd, that familiar realisation of having been a part of a truly
special weekend normally starts to set in. This year, the excitement of Lamb of God and Killing Joke
closing the show will surely hang in the air all day as more quality bands raise hell on stage.
Four days, four stages and almost a hundred bands promises to be a genuinely epic festival of heavy
metal heaven.
