From its beginnings within the walls of a concert hall in the centre of Derby city, Bloodstock's evolution and progression over the past twelve years has been an amazing thing to witness. Moving outside of its four walls for the first time in 2005, Bloodstock Open Air (BOA) was born. The festival's small but loyal following soon grew, and recent years have seen attendances in excess of 10,000. Large enough to attract some of the biggest and best names in the heavy metal world but still managing to maintain the feeling of camaraderie and belonging that it is so famous for, BOA is now a top European summer metal festival, and it's right on our doorstep.
www.bloodstock.uk.com
10 Reasons To Attend
So what sets Bloodstock apart from its rivals? Well for starters, it doesn't have any rivals! BOA is the only open-air, fully-metal festival in the UK. Donnington may be just down the road, but with its huge capacity and tendency to book a much larger mixture of rock bands and the more commercial metal bands, it only works to highlight the fact that Bloodstock excels each year at booking lineups that boast the best of British, European and worldwide heavy metal and classic rock. Still not convinced? Room Thirteen can give you ten more reasons why all metal-lovers should really not be missing out on this unique festival experience.
10. The Site
Located in the peaceful(!) surroundings of South Derbyshire, the countryside atmosphere adds to the overall friendly, relaxed mood that is ever-present at Bloodstock. The festival has grown in so many ways since its open-air inauguration, yet to this day, nothing is ever more than a five or ten minute walk away.
9. Other Goings On
Each year, the Bloodstock organisers bring in new elements to keep festival-goers entertained. With heavy metal-loving stand-up comedians, an acoustic stage for special sets from festival bands and even Viking sword battles, there's always something to do in between bands. As a new addition for 2013, a host of metal-loving pro skaters will be taking to Bloodstock's first ever skate ramp, performing stunts to an all-metal soundtrack. You might even catch Lamb of God's very own skateboard-enthusiast Randy Blythe on the ramp, so keep an eye out!
8. The Beer!
Bloodstock is now officially sponsored by Hobgoblin ale, whose brewery can be found just down the road from the festival site. So as well as your usual festival beer on sale, Bloodstock promises quality real ale; a real bonus and a luxury not normally offered at a festival!
7. Celebrating The Best of Britain's Rising Stars
The unsigned New Blood stage has been host to a huge number of up-and-coming bands over the years, and is a haven for undiscovered gems. Having been graced by the likes of Tempus Fusion (themselves earning full marks from Room Thirteen earlier this year for their debut EP To End It All as well as UK folk metal favourites Old Corpse Road and Northern Oak, the unsigned tent is the place to be if you want to catch some great bands and support our home-grown talent. It's certainly not uncommon for New Blood bands to be invited back in future years to play on the bigger stages (including Evile who have now played the main stage no less than three times), so it also serves as a fantastic opportunity for these bands to play to a wide (and hopefully large!) audience.
6. The Sophie Lancaster Stage
The second stage at Bloodstock bears its name with pride and as a tribute; the S.O.P.H.I.E. foundation's abbreviation echoing a sentiment that all metalheads are fiercely passionate about: Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance, Everywhere. The lineup on the Sophie stage always rivals that of the main stage, and once again this year is no exception. With melodic death metal heavyweights Scar Symmetry, blackened stalwarts Belphegor and brutal death metal legends Dying Fetus playing amongst the likes of Blaze Bailey's Wolfsbane, progressive favourites Xerath and power metal favourites Powerquest, the Sophie stage will, as always, prove a great place to check out some amazing bands in a fairly intimate environment. Plus there's rarely a queue at the bar inside the tent!
There's also a special appearance this year. Named after one of Dio's classic albums and consisting of the heavy metal legend's former band members, Last In Line will headline the tent on the Saturday, playing classics from the first three Dio albums; a performance that will be particularly fitting as 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of classic album Holy Diver.
And to top it all off, the party begins early on the Thursday with a heavy metal BeeGees tribute band. Yep.
5. The Ronnie James Dio Stage
Named as a tribute to the heavy metal legend who sadly never made it to his scheduled appearance at Bloodstock in 2010, the festival's main stage has seen some of the world's best heavy metal and classic rock bands perform there over the years. Not only that, but it also manages to keep that perfect balance of being large enough to maintain that main-stage festival feeling, whilst being small enough to allow fans to get as close to the action as they wish at any time, with no effort whatsoever. So whether you're heading into the pit or sitting on a camping chair enjoying the view from the back, you're never too far from the action, and you'll never need binoculars to see the show.
4. Lamb of God
It's been a hell of a rough year for Randy Blythe, but now thankfully cleared of all charges against him, the band's first UK performance since all the controversy is going to be something you'll want to be there to witness. The energy, the atmosphere, the emotion and camaraderie in the metal world will be hugely palpable, and this headlining show will be another special moment that promises to go down in Bloodstock's history.
3. Slayer
The legendary thrashers have themselves been through some rough times in recent months, with the passing of founding member Jeff Hanneman a huge blow for the metal community worldwide. Coupled with drummer Dave Lombardo being fired from the band, people have already begun questioning the point of Slayer continuing. But with former sticksman Paul Bostaph behind the kit once again and Exodus shredder Gary Holt filling in as a tour guitarist, what better way to say goodbye to Jeff than to be down the front at Bloodstock, banging your head to the timeless riffs he wrote over his 33 years in the band.
2. The Overall Lineup
Bloodstock never fails to deliver fantastic lineups each year, and 2013 is certainly no exception. With two of the big four alone playing back-to-back on the Sunday (that'll be Anthrax and Slayer), and with names like King Diamond, Exodus, Sabaton, Avantasia, Kataklysm, Gojira and Municipal Waste plus many more all primed for the main stage this year, there's something for fans of all genres... as long as your genre is heavy fucking metal!
1. The Atmosphere
This was always going to be top of the list, as more than anything it's what makes Bloodstock stand out from the crowded masses. Forget the impersonal vastness of Donnington Park; Bloodstock's site within the grounds of Catton Hall in South Derbyshire makes for a good-sized festival that still attracts some of the biggest metal bands in the world, yet remains small enough to maintain a feeling of friendliness and security. But it's the people that really make the difference. Bloodstock's motto is "by the fans, for the fans": a sentiment that still bears a huge amount of relevance in 2013, and is something that will surely remain the case for many years to come.
Bands to catch on the smaller stages
The three other stages at Bloodstock provide metal fans with the perfect opportunity to check out up-and-coming bands at the beginning of their careers, and to catch the more established bands in a more intimate environment. Some of Bloodstock's most memorable sets have been witnessed under the tented roof of the Sophie Lancaster Stage, with the New Blood stage providing a host of newcomers with an amazing opportunity to show people from all over the globe what they can do. Here are some of Room Thirteen's not-to-be-missed bands playing over the course of the weekend on the other stages.
The Earls of Mars (Jagermeister Stage, Saturday)
An adventurous blend of psychedelia and horror movie atmosphere that sounds like early Nick Cave playing in an experimental doom band. Weird and wonderfully quirky with darkly humorous occult imagery; a musical occult sideshow that is not to be missed.
Ravenage (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Thursday / Jagermeister Stage, Friday)
Playing the Sophie Stage on Thursday evening, Viking folk metallers Ravenage are a huge reason to kick-start your festival weekend nice and early. With the perfect combination of heavy metal and folk melody, they'll have you headbanging and dancing in equal measures!
Cypher 16 (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Friday)
Halfway between Fear Factory's futuristic metal attack and Junius' huge-sounding space rock, Londoners Cypher 16 come armed with a new EP and an explosive live show that is definitely worth checking out.
Diesel King (New Blood Stage, Saturday)
Seriously down-trodden, filthy sludge that'll put hair on your eyeballs, Diesel King are certain to be one of the New Blood stage highlights this year. As Room Thirteen described them on their 2011 tour with Corrosion of Conformity, "seriously weighty Stoner grooves and bowel-loosening heaviness." Be there.
Gormathon (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Sunday)
Coming across like a slightly more melodic version of Amon Amarth, the Swedes are a dead cert to pack out the Sophie tent and deliver a set that'll see their name spread like wildfire across the festival grounds.
Prosperina (New Blood Stage, Friday)
With a sound that combines huge riffs, epic harmonised vocals and poppy sensibilities, the Welsh progressive doom trio play frantic, driving rock with one hell of an edge. Fans of Pink Floyd, Tool, Kyuss and Mastodon will lap this lot up. Their excellent debut album Faith In Sleep was reviewed by Room Thirteen earlier this year.
Scarab (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Saturday)
It's difficult to talk about death metal and Egyptian mythology in the same sentence without mentioning Nile, but Scarab are actually Egyptian, and they don't sound like Nile. Neither are they merely a run-of-the-mill death metal band with a traditional African instrument thrown in as a gimmicky twist; this is top notch, brutal death metal that combines Morbid Angel with Behemoth for a truly impressive delivery.
Merciless Terror (New Blood Stage, Sunday)
The Nottingham terrorisers play the kind of pummelling death/thrash that'll shake the very foundations of the New Blood stage. An unmissable addition to the festival; let's just hope the tent's been pegged down properly.
Skiltron (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Friday)
Their name might be slightly misleading, so to clarify, Skiltron hail from Argentina and play the kind of upbeat, jaunty folk metal that'll have the entire Sophie tent jigging effortlessly in unison. Bagpipe-induced headbanging is likely.
Dishonour The Crown (New Blood Stage, Saturday)
Incendiary, breakneck hardcore punk with a large dollop of thrash metal, this angry new project from members of Romeo Must Die and Kingsize Blues is going to utterly destroy the New Blood tent, which should be quite something to witness. Think early-career The Haunted with a side of grind. Unmissable.
The Prophecy (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Friday)
Blackened doom with a progressive twist, the Yorkshire four-piece certainly impressed with their performance in 2010, so arrive at the Sophie tent nice and early for a prime spot and prepare to be transfixed.
The Infernal Sea (New Blood Stage, Saturday)
The Infernal Sea's savage brand of blackened metal is sure to draw quite a crowd when they take to the New Blood stage at sundown. Having already shared stages with the likes of 1349, Anaal Nathrakh and Vreid, expect some top quality extremity from the Brits come Saturday night. Prepare yourselves.
XII Boar (New Blood Stage, Saturday)
Fans of High on Fire and Entombed can start drooling right about now; XII Boar's stoner death'n'roll onslaught is going to go down an absolute storm at Bloodstock, and judging by the popularity of Orange Goblin last year, be sure to get down early and support these up-and-coming Brits!
Shrapnel (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Friday)
With a sound that melds together the old and the new, Norwich speed-thrashers Shrapnel are a seriously impressive addition to the UK metal scene, and their addition to the Bloodstock lineup this year is a huge boon.
Bossk (Sophie Lancaster Stage, Sunday)
It's always a huge loss to the metal world when a band of this calibre breaks up. So if the news of Bossk's reformation was huge, the news of their appearance at Bloodstock this year is positively astronomical. The UK post-metal troupe are an absolute must-see in a live environment.
On the 8th of August, rain or shine, fifteen thousand metalheads will descend upon a field in South Derbyshire, to once again celebrate and become a part of what makes the metal scene in Britain, Europe, and worldwide, so fantastic. The impressive number of fans who are now making their pilgrimage to Bloodstock an annual event, whatever the lineup, whatever the weather, is testament to what the festival organisers have achieved here. There's a reason so many metal fans return to Bloodstock every year, and if you haven't discovered that reason yet, there has never been a better time to do so.