With three stages of bone-crunching Metal to tantalise and titillate all today, we move into Friday afternoon at Bloodstock Festival 2026 as Fit For An Autopsy returned to the Ronnie James Dio stage for their second appearance here and shook it to its core. You can read Friday Part One here.
Bloodstock Open Air Festival
Catton Park, Derbyshire – Friday 7 August 2026
Words: Adrian Stonley, Matty Hunter
Photography: Adrian Stonley, Keith Conlin
Fit For An Autopsy
Having previously caught Fit For An Autopsy, the New Jersey Deathcore heavyweights supporting Killswitch Engage alongside Decapitated and Hatebreed in Newcastle last October, my expectations were high for a band I have now closely followed for a while, and they lived up to them and bettered their performance from the last time I caught them.
From the moment they took to the stage, they reminded everyone why they are regarded as one of the leading forces in modern Deathcore.
The musicianship on display was exceptional throughout, with Joe Badolato’s ferocious vocal delivery perfectly complementing the band’s crushing riffs and atmospheric melodies. Headbanging was unavoidable as Fit For An Autopsy tore through a relentless set that showcased just how far their sound has evolved over the years.
One of the standout moments came during It Comes For You, which sounded absolutely phenomenal in the live setting and was greeted with a huge response from the packed crowd.
It took only until the second song before the first crowd surfers began making their way towards the barrier, and from that point onwards there was no stopping them.
As temperatures continued to soar, those packed against the front rail were regularly sprayed with water, providing some much-needed relief before helping the security bundle what seemed an endless number of crowd surfers over the barrier.
At one point the band encouraged even more crowd surfing as they attempted to break the record, prompting an audible sigh from one of the security guards who already had his hands full.
By the time Hostage arrived, the atmosphere had descended into complete carnage. The bodies never stopped moving forward, while those in the pit revelled in every crushing breakdown.
It was an utterly relentless performance from Fit For An Autopsy, matched by a crowd that gave everything back. Brutal, technically flawless and overflowing with energy, this was undoubtedly one of the standout main stage performances of the weekend so far.
Biohazard
Certainly, following Fit For An Autopsy was going to be a hard ask, but if there is a band who are up to the challenge, then it’s New York carnage crew Biohazard.
As the temperature rose, so did the performances and the intensity level. This was a heads-down display in perfect punky Hardcore street Metal. If there is a band who are going to bring you to your knee’s then it is Biohazard. Despite the years they have been extolling their own Hardcore message, they still manage to go beyond the pale.
This was intense, the stage activity overwhelming. Not one band member stopped moving, and all delivered with superb Metal musicianship and a no-nonsense, in-your-face attitude. This is a band who still do not believe in taking any prisoners.
New songs like Fuck The System, aimed at Governments and politicians, show that the barbs are still sharp and the delivery incendiary. I certainly would not want to be a canvasser for a political party doorstopping these guys.
Atarka
A last-minute decision to catch Atarka proved to be a worthwhile one. The Birmingham outfit, fresh from winning Metal 2 The Masses, overcame early sound and technical issues to deliver a performance that showcased exactly why they earned their place at Bloodstock.
The crowd were firmly behind them from the outset, with loud chants of their name throughout the set, while the band’s powerful sound and commanding stage presence ensured they quickly settled into their stride.
With Municipal Waste tearing up the Main Stage just a stone’s throw away, Atarka still managed to pull in a healthy crowd and keep the energy levels high.
Any early setbacks were quickly forgotten as they powered through the remainder of the set with confidence, intent and plenty of aggression, leaving a strong impression. They are an excellent Birmingham-based melodic Death band well worth checking out.
Municipal Waste
Over on the RJD stage, US Thrash merchants Municipal Waste were bringing the party to the park. This was one of those sets where 60 minutes just flew. After the intense Metal of Biohazard and Fit For An Autopsy, it was time to let our hair down and party hard.
Like the two bands on previously, Municipal Waste were a popular addition to the bill, and gave no let-up for security with mosh pits and crowd surfers aplenty.
In fact, with Fit For An Autopsy having thrown down the sword relating to Crowd Surfing World Records, it was only fair that Municipal Waste had the opportunity to win back their crown, which they did in uncompromising style with 1,013 surfers recorded.
Neckbreakker
Neckbreakker wasted no time making their Bloodstock debut count on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Formed in 2020 in Denmark while the members were still in their mid-teens, the Nuclear Blast signees have rapidly become one of Europe’s brightest Death Metal prospects.
Judging by the sizeable crowd gathered before they even struck the opening note, plenty of festivalgoers were eager to see what the hype was about if they did not know already.
Neckbreakker exploded straight into action, with vocalist Christoffer Kofoed noticeably sporting a North Face jacket in the blazing heat – a decision I admired in this furnace.
Their crushing sound translated flawlessly to the live environment, continuing the exceptional audio quality heard on the Sophie Lancaster Stage throughout the weekend.
Kofoed proved to be a commanding frontman, removing his jacket around 15 minutes into the set before taking complete control of the audience.
Circle pits erupted almost constantly, a wall of death was unleashed, and the crowd even dropped to the floor before launching back to their feet in a moment reminiscent of Slipknot’s famous live tradition during Spit it Out.
Two-step sections were enthusiastically encouraged, ensuring there was barely a second where either the band or the audience stood still.
Musically, Neckbreakker were every bit as impressive. The rhythm section was relentless, with the topless drummer Viktor Björnstad driving the band forward, while the guitarists delivered razor-sharp riffs accompanied by relentless headbanging. Every member brought boundless energy to the stage, matching the intensity of the crowd from start to finish.
For a band making their Bloodstock debut, Neckkbreaker looked completely at home. Their blend of old-school Scandinavian Death Metal with modern groove and Hardcore influences hit with devastating force, backed up by outstanding musicianship and commanding stage presence.
If this performance is anything to go by, the Danish outfit have all the ingredients to become future main-stage contenders, delivering one of the standout Death Metal sets of the weekend for me.
Sepultura
There was a genuine sense of occasion as Sepultura took to the Bloodstock stage for what could be one of their final appearances at the festival.
Formed in Brazil in 1984, the pioneers of Extreme Metal have influenced generations of bands across Thrash, Death and Groove Metal, and with their Celebrating Life Through Death farewell tour continuing, every performance now carries extra significance.
Returning to Bloodstock for a fourth time and their first appearance since 2023, this felt like one of those moments that fans knew they had to witness.
From the moment they hit the stage, Sepultura reminded everyone exactly why they have remained one of Metal’s most respected names for more than four decades. Derrick Green was phenomenal at the front, while Andreas Kisser’s razor-sharp guitar work, Paulo Jr.’s relentless bass lines and Greyson Nekrutman’s thunderous drumming combined to produce the crushing sound that has defined the band throughout their career.
The performance balanced sheer aggression with remarkable precision, highlighting the musicianship that has kept Sepultura at the forefront of heavy music for so long.
The atmosphere reflected the importance of the occasion, with the audience fully aware they were watching a band nearing the end of an extraordinary journey.
Every song was met with huge reactions as fans celebrated a catalogue that has shaped countless artists and inspired generations of Metalheads. Rather than feeling like a farewell filled with nostalgia, the set was delivered with the same hunger and intensity that established Sepultura as one of the genre’s most influential forces.
As the final notes rang out, it was impossible not to appreciate the magnitude of what had just unfolded, and the crowd’s reaction showed that.
This felt like a farewell to Metal legends. If this proves to be Sepultura’s final Bloodstock appearance, they departed in spectacular fashion, delivering a fitting and unforgettable send-off worthy of their remarkable legacy.
Lamb Of God
Lamb Of God returned to Bloodstock with intent to close out Friday. As the sun began to set, thousands descended upon the main stage to welcome them back.
Back for the first time since 2022, the atmosphere was intense. Lamb Of God brought the fire both musically and through pyro, with a huge production and performance full of intensity.
The band were individually and collectively superb, and the iconic Randy Blythe was in fine form. His distinctive vocals sounded as powerful as ever, while his interaction with the crowd added plenty of character to the performance.
Blythe constantly entertained the audience in between songs with an exaggerated British accent, which drew plenty of laughs before the band launched straight back into the carnage.
The setlist was a fine-picked collection of their greatest tracks, with a few songs from their newest record, Into Oblivion, too. With huge songs coming one after another, there was barely a moment for the intensity to drop.
The crowd responded in kind, with movement and crowd-surfers becoming a constant feature of the set and the day as a whole. With other work commitments, Friday was the last day I could come to Bloodstock this year, so I decided to simply enjoy the experience towards the end, and ended up crowd-surfing a few times.
Lamb Of God proved exactly why they remain one of the most important American Metal bands of their generation with this performance, the crowd they drew and the reaction that they have.
An enormous performance, an incredible atmosphere, a killer setlist and a frontman at the top of his game combined to make this an unforgettable Bloodstock appearance. Absolutely unreal.
Wednesday 13
Closing out the Sophie Lancaster stage on Friday night were schlock horror rocker Wednesday 13, bringing his own brand of tongue-in-cheek horror anthems.
If there is the perfect way to finish a day of great Heavy Metal then this quite simply is it. The Sophie tent was rammed from the start and it was clear that Wednesday and the band were feeding off the audience like the vampires they aspire to be.
There is nothing too serious about this show. They are the consummate performers, but there is always a serious element to tongue-in-cheek. If you have not seen Wednesday 13 before, then think Alice Cooper meets Mötley Crüe. If you have, then you know exactly what is going to be served up.
With a catalogue of solo material, Frankenstein Drag Queens and Murderdolls songs, the band serve up a mental Metal cocktail of seriously catchy tunes, big anthems and a whole raft of singalong songs.
These guys know how to entertain, and the late-nighters are in the mood to party. The dark and night is the time for Wednesday, and he unwholesomely aspires to make it the best party ever. Whether we make it to morning is another matter.
With songs like Good Day To Be A Bad Guy and Something Wicked This Way Comes, they have the songs to match the theatrics. With a nod to Joey Jordison, his now-departed ex-Murderdolls compatriot, they blast out a greatest hits of both Murderdolls and his own material. Summertime Suicide and Nowhere are dedicated to Joey.
197666 went down the obvious storm before the audience threw themselves into I Walked With A Zombie.
They close out the set with the obligatory I Like To Say Fuck, which unsurprisingly sees the still buoyant audience screaming the lyrics back at the band whilst Wednesday prowls the stage with an umbrella with the word Fuck written across it.
It is camp, it is chaotic, it is bloody wonderful.
Bloodstock 2026 will be held over the long weekend of 6-9 August 2026. MetalTalk’s Matty Hunter, Adrian Stonley and Keith Conlin will report from Catton Park.
Take Part: Were you at Bloodstock this year? Who did you enjoy seeing the most? Email MetalTalk Editor Steve Ritchie to share your experience at Bloodstock@MetalTalk.net.
#boa26. For more information, visit bloodstock.uk.com. You can view a map of Bloodstock HERE.
You can find all MetalTalk Bloodstock 2026 coverage at https://www.metaltalk.net/bloodstock.
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Bloodstock 2027 will be held over August 5th – 8th. Early bird standard weekend tickets will be available at the main entrance box office throughout the festival, priced £210.00 with no booking fee. Tickets can be purchased online from Monday 10th August at 9 am at the official Bloodstock website.
