Bloodstock Bound: Concrete Age

Bloodstock Bound: Concrete Age

As Bloodstock gets closer, we delve deep into the line up to find out more about some of the bands playing the New Blood and EMP stages at this years event.

Today we chat with Concrete Age

Please introduce yourselves.

Ilia: I’m Ilia, vocalist, guitarist and founder of Concrete Age. Originally from Russia (North Caucasus). The band was formed in 2011 and today brings together musicians from different countries and backgrounds, united by a shared passion for heavy music and traditional sounds from around the world. What started in the North Caucasus has grown into an international project based in London.

Alex: Hey! I’m Alex, the drummer for Concrete Age. I’m Russian, from the city called Saint Petersburg. After I passed my Master’s course in Music Performance in London, I started actively growing as a session drummer primarily focusing on rock and metal. One time, about a year and a half ago, I came across Concrete Age’s advert saying they were looking for a new drummer, and that’s how our paths met and ever since joining I had a lot of fun and a healthy level of technical challenge learning the drum parts and enjoying the band’s music!

Boris: I’m Boris, the 2nd guitarist in the Concrete Age, joining in 2017. Originally from Bulgaria, I was drawn to the Concrete Age sound for their use of ethnic instruments and effortlessly blending traditional sounds/rhythms with metal, a truly unique sound where every song is a journey. After nearly 10 years one thing is for certain; your skills as a musician will skyrocket from being in this band.

Giovanni: I’m Giovanni, the most southern‑eastern European of the band — born in Sardinia and raised in Rome. I first crossed paths with Concrete Age during a gig where I was helping another metal band as their bass player. The moment I heard Concrete Age live, the quality of the music hit me immediately. I was drawn in straight away.

Six months later, in 2018, I officially became the bass player.

How would you describe your sound?

We combine extreme metal with traditional instruments, ethnic melodies and influences from many different cultures. While people often label us as folk metal, we don’t focus on any single tradition. Our goal is to create something broader — a sound that feels ancient, primal and universal while still carrying the energy and aggression of metal.

How did you land your spot on the Bloodstock bill?

We were fortunate to be selected as part of the New Blood programme. It’s a great opportunity for underground bands, and we’re grateful to have the chance to bring our music to such an iconic festival.

What does playing at Bloodstock mean to you?

Ilia: Bloodstock is one of the most respected metal festivals in Europe, so being invited to perform there is both an honour and an important milestone for the band. It’s also a chance to introduce our music to an audience that genuinely loves discovering new and unusual acts.

Giovanni: Playing at Bloodstock is a huge milestone for me. It marks the progress we’ve made as a band and feels like an official recognition of all the hard work we’ve put in over the years. When you dedicate so much time, energy, and passion to a project, moments like this hit differently — they remind you why you started and how far you’ve come.

I can’t wait to bring our music to a festival that truly represents the spirit of metal. Bloodstock has the right atmosphere, the right crowd, and the right energy to share what we do. It’s the perfect environment to spread our sound, connect with people who understand it, and give them a performance that reflects everything we’ve built together.

For me, it’s not just another gig — it’s a celebration of our journey and a chance to contribute to a festival that means a lot to the metal community.

Alex: Playing at Bloodstock is the ultimate dream and bucket list festival for any artist and musician from the metal world from around the Earth. Having the opportunity to play along with the biggest metal bands, some of which are your childhood influences and role models, is honestly a dream come true, so I’m beyond grateful to have this opportunity this time.

For people who’ve never seen you live, what can they expect at Bloodstock?

Ilia: Expect a journey rather than a standard metal show. You’ll hear throat singing, traditional wind instruments, shamanic drums, heavy riffs, melodic leads and moments of pure intensity. We like to create an atmosphere that feels immersive and unpredictable, where every song opens a different door.

Alex: I agree with Ilia’s statement, you should definitely expect a very deep, dynamic set that will take you on a ride blending folk and traditional instruments and techniques from different parts of the world that is sprinkled over a very groovy, headbanging metal foundation to it all.

What day are you performing?

We are performing on Friday at the New Blood stage! Don’t miss out on our set!

What other bands are you looking forward to watching at Bloodstock this year?

Alex: This year’s lineup is absolutely terrific, which can be justified by the festival’s 25th anniversary. I’m looking forward to seeing Slaughter to Prevail, Lamb of God, Sepultura, Judas Priest as well as the special guests which are yet to be announced!

Boris: The lineup is filled with so many bands worth watching but I’m most looking forward to Lamb of God, Sepultura, Bleed from Within, Carpenter Brut, Judas Priest, Body Count.

Playing the New Blood Stage is just the first steppingstone in a bands journey. What’s next in your plans for world domination?

The plan has always been and will be to stay true to our sound, make better music, play bigger shows to bigger crowds as the consequence of that, but the main priority is for us 4 to be united in the direction we’re pursuing through the music, social media content and performance, and the rest will naturally fall into place.

Are you camping with the fans? Which campsite are you heading for?

The rule of thumb is to camp where the crowd is the most fun and friendly, so I’ll leave it to chance.

You’ve gotta keep hydrated at Bloodstock, what is your drink of choice for the weekend?

Ilia: Water is usually the most important one, especially for keeping the voice in good condition. Beyond that, maybe a cold beer if the weather is kind to us. But the real energy comes from being on stage.

Alex: Staying hydrated is really important to me as the drummer which will have a very intense set to get through so drinking water is key to not to lose energy throughout the set, however after our set is over and things are packed up, usually a nice cold beer or a shot of cold Fireball is nice to have to unwind and enjoy the rest of the festival.

See you at Bloodstock in a few weeks!

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