METAL TEMPLE'S MUST WATCH BANDS AT BLOODSTOCK 2018

We may only be in July, but August is fast approaching which means it's only […]

July 12, 2018

We may only be in July, but August is fast approaching which means it's only a few weeks till the UK's premier metal festival BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR.

This year we have the most diverse line up that the festival has ever seen: highly demanded metal legends JUDAS PRIEST headlining the festival on Friday, French giants GOJIRA bringing the heavy on Saturday and a classic setlist performance from the almighty NIGHTWISH on the Sunday.

Truly something with every kind of fan in mind. On the festival's smaller stages we have the likes of BLEED FROM WITHIN, CONJURER, SELLSWORD and WATAIN to keep the fans happy.

BLEED FROM WITHIN – FRIDAY – SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

Back from a break, the Scottish metaller's BLEED FROM WITHIN are conquering the SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE on the Friday and we expect no less than a neck breaking set from them. Riding on the tails of their latest album ''Era'' which has sprung them back into the spotlight, we recommend going down early to get a space in the sure to be packed out tent stage. Expect older tracks from previous albums and plenty of new stuff; you won't have a spare second to stop headbanging.

WEDNESDAY 13 – FRIDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Something for the goths of the festival in the shape of WEDNESDAY 13. The band hits the main stage to bring the doom and gloom, with an impressive back catalogue of albums. Expect to hear a mix of classics and new tracks from the latest album ''Condolences'' such as ''What The Night Brings'', ''I Walked With A Zombie'' and ''Bloodsucker''. Come and watch the creepy and spooky band if you dare.

SUICIDAL TENDANCIES – FRIDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

If you don't know who SUICIDAL TENDANCIES are then you will soon know by the amount of snap backs you see at the festival. Mike Muir is the only original member left of the classic crossover thrash band but the spirit of the band lives through him and his stage presence, playing all the hits of the band with never ending enthusiasm and energy. Expect pits for ''You Can't Bring Me Down'' and bring a can of Pepsi for crowd hit ''Instituitionalized''.

JUDAS PRIEST – FRIDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Potentially one of the most heavily demanded and rumoured bands for the festival. British metal legends JUDAS PRIEST are finally headlining Bloodstock Open Air to a very eager and happy crowd of fans. Currently on a world tour including many festivals, BLOODSTOCK will be their penultimate night of rocking on this current tour. Bringing a heavy dose of pyrotechnics and leather, the band will be playing a wide variety of hits from the start of their career, to current day to please every kind of fan.

COMBICHRIST – SATURDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

The great thing about Bloodstock Open Air is that it's never just the same sub-genre of metal in the same day, always mixed up to find some great surprises which can end up becoming one of your favourite bands. Gracing the main stage on Saturday is electronic metal band COMBICHRIST who get heavier and heavier as the albums go on, with their last album ''This Is Where Death Begins'' being perfect for every kind of fan who attends the festival. COMBICHRIST are a must see band for fans of RAMMSTEIN, AESTHETIC PERFECTION and WEDNESDAY 13.

ALESTORM - SATURDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Bring your rum, wenches and giant rubber ducky because ALESTORM are here to drink your beer! The party pirates are taking over the Ronnie James Dio Stage on the Saturday with drinking songs and pirate anthems. This is not a set for the faint-hearted and you will non stop be dancing to the tunes of ''Drink'', ''Keelhauled'' and ''Captain Morgan's Revenge''.

CANNIBAL CORPSE – SATURDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

After a gnarly headline UK tour earlier this year CANNIBAL CORPSE are back and ready to kill by sub-headlining the main stage on the Saturday. The American death metal legends have got a reputation at the festival for insane pits and more crowd surfers than you can physically count, a band not to miss especially with some fans planning an Ace Ventura mass dance for ''Hammer Smashed Face''. So grab your Hawaiian shirt and bang your head for potentially one of the best sets of the weekend.

GOJIRA – SATURDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Since their huge dominating show at the festival in 2016, GOJIRA have been all that the forums and fan chatter have been about, so this year they are back in a very well deserved headlining spot. With a longer set, fans are hoping to hear everything in their back catalogue, from their first album ''Terra Incognita'' to their latest smash hit ''Magma''. GOJIRA have proven in the past they don't need pyrotechnics for every song or insane stage props, they bring their music and passion to the fans and it sings for them.

DEMONIC RESURRECTION – SUNDAY – SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

One of the most hard working bands in the world play a well deserved slot on the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Sunday. DEMONIC RESURRECTION, hailing from India return to bring death metal to the masses. Touring their new album ''Dashavatar'' this is the first time they have returned to the festival since 2012. The set list will be filled with their releases since then, so expect to constantly headbang your way through their set.

DEVILDRIVER – SUNDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

You can't see DEVILDRIVER at BLOODSTOCK without the biggest circle pits of the weekend. Expect hordes of fans at the main stage for DEVILDRIVER, they are simply a band to see live to be fully appreciated. Vocalist Dez Fafara is no stranger to the festival and knows how to get the crowd energized especially with anthems such as ''Clouds Over California'' and ''I Could Care Less''. If you aren't a fan before seeing the band live you surely will be after.

AT THE GATES – SUNDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Heroes of death metal AT THE GATES sub-headline the main stage on the Sunday bringing the pits and blast beats to the closing day. The Gothenburg sound pioneers who have been on the metal scene for more than 20 years return to the festival for the first time since 2011, with new album ''To Drink From The Night Itself'' which has received a stream of positive reviews.

Fans can expect to hear a lot from the new album, but also playing classics from their iconic album ''Slaughter Of The Soul''.

NIGHTWISH – SUNDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

BLOODSTOCK favourites NIGHTWISH return after many years to bring what will surely be a memorable climax to the festival. NIGHTWISH returns with a brand new vocalist in the form of Floor Jansen, and plenty more metal anthems. Bringing a setlist spanning decades of material, the Finnish symphonic group will be performing songs such as ''Elan'', ''Storytime'', ''Nemo'' and ''Amaranth''. We can be sure this is going to be a show full of big surprises. NIGHTWISH have one of the most hardcore fan bases in metal so expect plenty of roaring sing-alongs, folk instruments and crowd chants.

WATAIN - SUNDAY- SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

First time returning as a band since their infamous 2012 set at the festival, Swedish black metal tyrants WATAIN will be closing the festival on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Touring the world on the back of their latest album ''Trident Wolf Eclipse'', the band are selling out venues and causing chaos all over the world with Bloodstock being one of their biggest shows to date.

If we know anything about WATAIN it's that the band go above and beyond with their stage shows, with more than just fire. WATAIN are certainly not a band for the weak of heart.