With the clock ticking and it being just over 80 days before Bloodstock Metal Festival is due to start (5 days of metal August 11 to 15 at the usual venue Catton Park Derbyshire) the organizers continue to fight hard to make sure the event happens and the best bill humanly possible can be achieved. Obviously, the continuing issues of Covid (can I call it a complete bastard?) and travel restrictions arising, some bands have had to postpone in the last few weeks (as previous news items have pointed out) and I use the word “postpone” and not “cancelled” as those artists are eager to play Bloodstock as soon as possible so have agreed to be added to the 2022 bill. So this announcement has another band transferring to next year along with 3 new bands added (including the band whose latest album last year was voted as the best of 2020 by this reviewer… more on that soon).
Change Of Bands For Saturday:
Firstly the news that Norwegian metal band Dimmu Borgir have had to accept the circumstances at the moment and has pulled out of this year’s event but has promised to play next year 2022. In a statement from their management they apologize saying “Due to restrictions and uncertainties regarding international travel and logistics, we have to postpone Dimmu Borgir‘s performance at Bloodstock until next year. The band is absolutely gutted about this, having to cancel Bloodstock again, but we have already confirmed with Vicky and the Bloodstock team that the band will be back in the UK for the 2022 edition. Stay safe“. In place of them on the bill are British gothic black symphonic metal outfit Cradle Of Filth. They will be hoping for less excitement this time around as their show was affected last time due to extreme weather conditions causing them to do their set the day after they were due to and they didn’t get to play with all their staging. They have a new addition to the band in singer and keyboardist Anabelle Iratni who strangely is on the album that I chose as the best album of 2020 (as I said, more on that soon). Their live stream show that they did recently has had rave reviews all over the place so expect a terrific performance in August.
All About Wednesday:
The first day of the festival this year will be Wednesday, a half-day of live music starting around tea time and ending around 11 pm. Headlining are British thrash stalwarts Onslaught! Formed away back in 1982 the band has 7 albums out at the moment with the most recent being “Generation Antichrist” which came out last year. They are absolutely stoked to play the festival and to headline the Sophie Stage saying “We’ve got something big, something very explosive lined up for you all. See you in the pit!” In the words of a song from that album, it looks like they will “Strike Fast Strike Hard“. Sounds good to me.
Also playing on Wednesday performing their last ever show (sadly) are UK metallers Beholder. The band has been a part of the festival for many years playing and some members being involved in organizing the event as well. Central in playing a part in remembering Sophie Lancaster whose needless and horrendous death due to the way she looked and dressed ended up with the second stage at Bloodstock being named in her memory and as a clarion call to showing respect to others who are different in any way. The band first played back in 2007 where they blew the lights and sound proving just how goddamned metal they are! Three albums and countless tours later they sort of called it a day, however, never quite did a proper final show. To some, there was simply “unfinished business”. This year/gig is that. A chance to say thanks and goodnight to a band that captures the meaning of Bloodstock.
Finally, the last new addition comes UK prog theatrical rock outfit, Ward XVI. The band fronted by a serial killer and slightly crazed looking Psychoberrie recorded an absolutely fantastic album last year called Metamorphosis which tells the story of how the “lovely little girl” became a monster. The band loves their theatrics (they are all Alice Cooper fans, and it shows) but at the same time manage to invoke some of the sounds of prog masters such as Dream Theater and Pink Floyd along with that sort of creative endeavour and bravery. You can read all about the album at this LINK on this very website. They impressed greatly when they played early doors 2017 on the New Blood Stage so expect some blood and guts along with some well-crafted songs on the first day of the festival. I wonder if perhaps Anabelle might make an appearance as she is going to be in the area during the festival with COF.
In other news, 2 bands that were previously announced as playing Thursday have been moved onto the Wednesday bill so if you are a fan especially of either crazed extreme metal crazies Raised By Owls and or progressive death metallers Anakim then make sure you arrive for the Wednesday!
Other Entertainment:
Of course, as always Bloodstock are planning more than just music for our entertainment with themed days and disco nights throughout the festival. Thursday there will be a wrestling theme (sounds bizarre) where it seems Lycra, capes and war paint will be encouraged! Friday will be horror-themed so again a chance to make up and throw fake blood over yourself and Saturday promises a party, where anything musically will go. The final night is themed around pirates vs Vikings with no doubt music to match. All this will be in the Sophie tent after the last band of the night running until around 2 am keeping the entertainment going.
Quite A List:
Bands so far also announced include Devin Townsend (Friday headliner) and Judas Priest (Sunday headliner) along with Skindred, The Wildhearts, Therapy, Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, Bury Tomorrow, Raging Speedhorn, Bleed From Within, Diamond Head, Jinjer, Vio-lence, Saxon, Gloryhammer, Dark Tranquillity, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, Evil Scarecrow, Memoriam, Ramage Inc. Green Lung, Conjurer, Orange Goblin, The Night Flight Orchestra, Unleash The Archers, Sylosis, Hacktivist, Winterfylleth. , The Crawling, Raised By Owls, Anakim, Colpocleisis, Broken Jaw, Hanowar, Devilfire, Venom Prison, Borstal, Acid Reign, Svalbard, Soen, Dog Tired, Bailer, Blasphemer, King Creature, Grey Stag, Ghosts Of Atlantis, Strangle Wire, Frozen In Shadows, Deitus, South Of Salem, Fellowship, This Is Endless, Hybridize, Son Of Boar, Words That Burn, Sorceress Of Sin, Wired, The Injested, Primitai, Black Tongue, Liberty Lies, Pist, Terra IV, Internal Conflict, Thunderous Jones, Ashen Crown, Luna’s Call, Urne, Forlorn World, Seething Akira, King Witch, Sharks In Your Mouth, Mother Vulture, Famyne, and Party Cannon.
The event as always is in August, this time from 11 to 15 and at the usual home of Catton Park.
Tickets can be bought at this TICKET LINK
Full CGCM Bloodstock Coverage: Bloodstock
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK PAGE
Festival takes place the weekend of August 11 to 15 at Catton Park Derbyshire!
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