Bloodstock: Ten Unmissable Bands

Bloodstock: Ten Unmissable Bands
by Cat Finch

It's been a long time coming, 18 months without live music, and a year since we last should have been stood in the field at Catton Hall watching the very best in heavy metal. It's safe top say we are all looking forward to this coming weekend right now.

With travel restrictions still in place, this years Bloodstock bill takes on a very British flavour. As the big American and European names dropped out, some of the best and most under rated music these fair Isles have to offer gets it's chance to shine.

So we pick out ten bands that we think you should not miss this weekend!

Video Nasties were the break out band of 2020, with 'Dominion' (APF Records) topping mine and many other writers top ten lists of the years. Melding the horror movie genre perfectly with blistering riffing, these Scouse lads promise to put on one of the best performances you will see this Bloodstock Festival weekend.

Check them out on Saturday @ 11:50 on the Sophie Lancaster Stage.

A top ten list would not be complete without my boys in Raging Speedhorn. This will be their second Bloodstock Festival in a row having destroyed the Sophie stage in 2019 as well. With Dan Cook now firmly entrenched in the band, the six piece are riding the crest of a wave following 2020's critically acclaimed 'Hard To Kill' and as Dan revealed to us last week, they've been working on a special David Bowie cover and a new album!

Will they break out the Bowie cover this weekend? Find out, Friday @ 17:30 on the Sophie Lancaster Stage.

2020 should have been a special year for both Bloodstock and Orange Goblin. Whilst the festival was due to celebrate it's 20th anniversary Orange Goblin would have been celebrating their 25th! Of course the band also played the very first edition of this event 20 years ago and as Ben Ward hinted to us, their set last year would have been very special. This year will no doubt be the same. Expect some surprises and some classic's in their set on Sunday.

Catch them on Sunday @15:05 on the Ronnie James Dio Stage.

One of the most exciting prospects on the heavy scene at the moment, just two weeks ago Jinjer pulled out of the festival due to travel restrictions. But as if by some kind of miracle (or Boris Johnson pulling his head out of his arse) the travel corridors required opened up and they are back on the bill! Their set will be blistering and is another one not to be missed!

Sadly, since the publication of this article, Jinjer have had to pull out again and won't perform this year 🙁

For the last few years, the underground scene has been producing a number of brilliant talents, that are now getting the recognition they deserve. Once such talent is that of Bristol based Svalbard who released the simply stunning 'When I Die, Will I Get Better?' last year on Church Road Records. If you are looking for something completely new to sink your teeth into over the weekend, then look no further!

Svalbard will play the Ronnie James Dio Stage @ 12:45 on the Friday.

How many times can you bounce up and down on Satan's big old trampoline? A strange question you may thing, but one of many that will get answered by the best in British thrash, Lawnmower Deth. The kings of the British scene have played the festival many times before and indeed have headlined the very stage they will headline again this year. Join Qualcast Mutilator, Concord Faceripper and the rest of the gan as their unique meld of comedy and thrash brings the house down once again!

Watch Out Grandma! Lawnmower Deth headline the Sophie Lancaster stage on Thursday @ 22:40.

You may know Oxford based twins Ryan and Elliot Cole from their adventures with Desert Storm who played Bloodstock just a few years ago. This year they return to the Jager stage but with new outfit Wall. A project conceived by the twins in lockdown, the duo heap praise the way of Tony Iommi and worship at his altar with their instrumental stoner stylings.

Intrigued? Catch them on the Jager Stage @ 14:30 on Friday!

It's safe to say we at The Razor's Edge LOVE Ghost and what a stunning set they put on to headline the festival just a few short years ago. Sadly Ghost aren't on the bill this year, but we do have the next best thing! Ghost tribute act Popestars will hold communion for the Bloodstock masses this year and roll out the bands greatest hits!

You'll only be able to see them if you bought a VIP ticket. So those lucky enough to have Serpents Lair passes can catch Popestars on Thursday @ 23:00 in the Serpents Lair Bar

Green Lung are the hot ticket right now, the band on everyones lips and the next big name on the stoner rock/doom scene. So lucky for us we are treated to forty minutes of heavy as hell music on Sunday when they take to the second stage.

Like a bit of Sabbath worship? Get yourself to the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Sunday @ 17:30.

An my final pick of the weekend are Telford based outfit Blood Church having won what was left of the Wolverhampton Metal 2 The Masses this year the band progress onto the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock. Melding black metal with death metal in an unholy cacophony, expect the stage to be decorated in real pigs heads, lashings of fake blood and the most unholy spectacle the festival will see all weekend.

Like the sound of that? Blood Church play the New Blood Stage on Saturday @ 14:15