The Razor's Edge BLOODSTOCK WINTER GATHERING PREVIEW
Words: Dan Barnes
Photos: Tim Finch
Those of a certain age, who’ve been doing this Bloodstock thing for a while now, may remember the Xmas Party of 2004 at JB’s in Dudley, featuring Rise to Addiction, Panic Cell and Humanity, with headliner Edguy being suitably manic for the week before Christmas. A year later and it was to be Morgana Lefay topping the bill, but the show was cancelled a couple of days before and no subsequent winter shindigs were scheduled. Until now...
Taking on the wintery climes of Wolverhampton in early December might not be Scott of the Antarctic territory, but to those used to their Bloodstocks under August skies, the indoor location of KK’s Steel Mill is about as far away from Catton Park as you can image. Good, then, that Bloodstock’s Winter Gathering is amassing half-a-dozen main stage bands, and three second-stage ones, to keep the worse of the winter chill from your bones, for a little while at least.
Swedish Doom legends, Candlemass, have deservedly blagged the headliner slot, bringing cold, icy riffs to the Steel Mill. Forged in the Scandinavian fires of the Eighties by bassist Leif Edling, the release of Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in 1986 that cemented the band’s status as tier-one purveyors of the highest quality Doom. Extraordinarily, the years 1987 to 1989 saw Candlemass release not one but three landmark albums: Nightfall, Ancient Dreams and Tales of Creation are all lauded as being prime examples of how to Doom.
Internal disputes caused the band’s career to splutter and stall for a time, but that did not prevent them from issuing a further nine albums. 2005’s self-titled being of particular note as standing shoulder to shoulder with the first four, but Candlemass have never allowed their quality to drop to any great extent and have consistently released interesting takes on the Doom genre. 2022’s Sweet Evil Sun, saw original session vocalist, Johan Längqvist, reprise his position on the microphone, is as grim as anything you could hope for. This year’s Black Star single is packed full of melancholy and misery, showing Candlemass have lost none of their signature sound.
It was evident on their spring tour that Venom Inc will not be giving Candlemass an easy ride of it as they have the whole of the classic Eighties Venom back-catalogue to choose from, as well as their own Ave Santanas and There’s Only Black albums to visit. The release of Prime Evil, Temples of Ice and The Waste Land under the boxset title Blackened Priests served to remind us that the Demolition Man-era of the band is strong and well-worth another look. Add to that the obligatory Black Metal, Welcome to Hell and Countess Bathory, among others, and Venom Inc’s set is assured to be red hot on a cold winter night.
Derby grinders, Raised By Owls, played one of the best main stage opening sets Bloodstock had seen when they kicked up proceedings with a Sunday service in 2024. Having started on the New Blood Stage in 2017, they have rocketed up the rankings to be one of those bands assured to bring the party wherever they play. Songs like Comedy Metal is a Fucking Embarrassment and Ross Kemp on Gang Bangs are guaranteed to bring the fun; Satanists on t’Yorkshire Moors, I’m Sorry I Wore a Dying Fetus T-Shirt to Your Baby’s Gender Reveal Party and Dance Like Barney Greenway will get the Steel Mill dancing. And, we’ve been told there will be an appearance by Sam’s mum, which is sure to be the cherry on the Winter Gathering’s cake.
Having slayed the Bowler’s Exhibition Centre at Damnation Festival earlier this month, despite being billed between Pig Destroyer and Anaal Nathrakh, James McBain’s black/ speed metal project Hellripper is no stranger to the festival circuit. Emerging from the UK’s version of the frozen north – Aberdeen – Mr McBain is the epitome of the DIY ethic, masterminding every aspect of Hellripper in order to slake his thirst for the likes of Darkthrone, Venom, Megadeth and Motörhead. Packed stages wherever the band play indisputably prove the metal community love his version of extremity and, from the point of view of sheer hard-work, Hellripper demonstrate how not to give up.
Mancunian thrashers, Tortured Demon‘s performances sizzle with energy and enthusiasm as they hit with hard-edged, speed-infused mayhem. Taking us all back to the time Thrash was King – and our backs, knees and feet didn’t hurt all the time – theirs’ is a ferocious thrash assault but not without the obligatory ballad here, or a danceable riff there. Making a Bloodstock return after their set on the S.O.P.H.I.E. stage in 2023, where they locked horns with Gutalax, Trollfest and Brothers of Metal, we can be certain these Oldham lads will be out to lay down a marker.
Last time King Kraken played Bloodstock they did so on the EMP stage at the same time as Clutch were doing their thing on the Ronnie James Dio. More indicative of what the Welsh pagan brethren are about can be found in their show at Stonedead, back in August, where they opened the festival with pyros and fireworks and just a general air of quality heavy metal. The band’s second full length, March of the Gods, hit the shelves back in April, bringing with it more of that fat-low end and soaring guitar. Sure to be a sterling way to open the festival, especially if the Showgrounds’ set is anything to go by.
A second, smaller stage will host three bands, to offer choice from the main stage. Headlining this stage will be Red Method, who last appeared under a Bloodstock banner opening Friday’s Ronnie James Dio stage, playing support to Behemoth, Testament and GWAR. Emerging from the ashes of Meta-Stasis and The Defiled, these Industrial groovers are no slouches when it comes to ripping up stages and putting on a riveting show.
South coast hardcore sludge machine Thuum played Bloodstock’s S.O.P.H.I.E. stage with Dark Tranquillity and Nekogoblikon also in 2022, bringing their version of groove to the fields of Catton Park, alongside a terrifyingly abrasive delivery. Charged with opening the second stage are another group of Mancunian thrashers, this time Hellbearer whose recently released sophomore album, Darker Fates, found much favour with our very own Sam not too long ago.
Nine quality bands in one great venue – it’s bound to be an early Christmas present for all with a ticket to (sleigh) ride.
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
