Having grown over 16 years to become one of the UK's best-loved metal festivals, it's time to patch up the battle jacket and slap on the corpse paint because nobody brings you heavy like Bloodstock Open Air.
With weekend tickets sold out and with three very different headliners topping the bill - Viking melo-death mob Amon Amarth, theatrical classic rockers Ghost and thrash legends Megadeth - this year's edition is set to become one of the best on record.
So, before the 15,000-strong army of metalheads descends on the fields of Catton Hall, here's our pick of the bands that will tread the boards across the weekend.
BLACK MOTH – Sophie Lancaster Stage, Friday
It's largely plain sailing in terms of clashes this weekend but the Black Moth vs Testament showdown is going to make a lot of people grumble. Having emerged from the Leeds underground scene at the end of the last decade, stoner-rockers Black Moth made a huge impact with their concoction of ‘60s garage rock and head-spinning psychedelia on their second album, 'Condemned To Hope'. With the addition of Federica Gialanze to the gang, poached from a Black Sabbath tribute band, album number three looks set to be even better.
AMON AMARTH – Ronnie James Dio Stage, Friday
Get ready to be immersed in Viking battles and Norse mythology, soundtracked by some of the most thunderous heavy metal ever committed to tape. The Swedish overlords have appeared on the Bloodstock bill a couple of times, so it's quite fitting that their first headline set at a UK festival is here. Their 10th full length, 'Jomsviking', was an ambitious concept project for the band, on par with their sprawling theatrical production, which you might've witnessed at Download this summer. Expect pyro, sword and shield battles, serpents and something special this time around.
HAVOK – Ronnie James Dio Stage, Saturday
Denver's Havok are one of the best thrash band of the modern era. For the more technically-minded fan, their latest record, 'Conformicide', is full of fast, angry, burly ragers and pulls no punches about the current state of society. They return to Bloodstock to provide the perfect soundtrack to many a drunken festival circle pit as part of their summer European tour supporting the record.
THE ONE HUNDRED – Sophie Lancaster Stage, Saturday
Fresh from releasing their debut album, 'Chaos + Bliss', last month through Spinefarm Records, as well as some glowing reviews for their appearance at Download festival in June, these Londoners combine throwback riffs, teeth-rattling breakdowns and screamed vocals to create a metal/rap/grime crossover sound. The future of electronic rock is here and the One Hundred are a band dying to take the next step.
OHHMS – Sophie Lancaster Stage, Saturday
These Kent doom-fuelled heavyweights make their Bloodstock debut, having put out their debut album, 'The Fool', in March through Holy Roar. It's heavy as balls, it's trippy, it's littered with pain-inducing riffs and being pounded into the ground by it will make for a welcome change to hurtling around in circle pits all weekend. With several UK and European tours plus multiple festival appearances under their belt, they're more than capable of putting on a visceral live show. Incidentally, their recent tourmates Bossk are on the Sophie Stage at the same time on Sunday.
GHOST – Ronnie James Dio Stage, Saturday
Adding to the weekend’s theatrics, Ghost are set to bring their biggest ever UK ritual to Bloodstock hot off the back of their Popestar tour. They may not be as mosh-friendly as previous neck-snapping bands that have topped the bill, having drawn criticism on their suitability for the line up, but the shrouded Swedes’ congregation continues to grow following the release of 2015's 'Meliora' and last year's 'Popestar' EP, which spawned one of the all-time great set openers, Square Hammer. I'm betting their after-dark performance on Saturday night is a talking point for years to come.
BROKEN TEETH – Ronnie James Dio Stage, Sunday
Sunday starts with a brutal one-two punch if you're into bands who go in, smash faces and leave. Having toured with bands like Terror, Sick Of It All, Trapped Under Ice, and Testament, and armed with songs from 'At Peace Amongst Chaos' at the helm, the stage is set for this Manchester hardcore band to stamp its authority all over the fields of Catton Hall.
VENOM PRISON – Ronnie James Dio Stage, Sunday
Having put out their superb debut album, 'Animus', last October through Prosthetic Records, these uncompromising British upstarts have spent the majority of 2017 destroying stages with their brutal blend of death metal and hardcore punk. They arrive at Bloodstock off the back of picking up the Best New Band award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods in June plus support slots with Aversions Crown, Suicide Silence and Darkest Hour. They tour with Decapitated this autumn.
PUPPY – Sophie Lancaster Stage, Sunday
Rising from the ashes of vocalist and guitarist Jock Norton and drummer Billy Howard's previous band, Polterghost, Puppy have already supported Creeper on their spring tour and joined CKY for their dates in May, earning a rep as an alt-rock trio who can win over any metal crowd with their heavy yet melodic riffs and grungy tunes. A re-worked version of their 'Vol. II' EP is set to arrive this weekend through Spinefarm Records.
SKINDRED – Ronnie James Dio Stage, Sunday
The Newport party starters hit Bloodstock for the first time this weekend, providing one last rush of blood before heading home. Widely acknowledged as one of the most enthralling live bands on the planet and led by the irrepressible Benji Webbe, you can expect a soundclash of jams including Doom Riff, Sound the Siren, Nobody and, of course, the unstoppable Newport Helicopter. Their passion for putting on a show will be just what you need to pull you out of a two day hangover stupor.
Bloodstock Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri August 11 2017 - DERBYSHIRE Catton Park
Sat August 12 2017 - DERBYSHIRE Catton Park
Sun August 13 2017 - DERBYSHIRE Catton Park
Click here to compare & buy Bloodstock Tickets at Stereoboard.com.
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
