Bloodstock Festival 2023 – Saturday. Closing out The Sophie Stage on Saturday fell to Swedish Power Metal band Brothers Of Metal, or rather brothers and one sister of Metal, as in vocalist Ylva Eriksson, they have an absolute powerhouse of a female vocalist.
Bloodstock – Brothers Of Metal
The band actually consists of three vocalists (two male, one female), three guitar players, a bass player, and a drummer. Dressing in a Viking style, they look the part, and they most definitely sound the part.
It has to be said they are an energetic act. Not only marvellously musically adept, they know how to work the stage with all members playing up to the audience who lapped up every moment.
They have been an active outfit for over ten years now, though to date only have two albums released, 2017’s Prophecy Of Ragnarok and 2020’s follow-up Emblas Saga, although a myriad of singles have also been issued.
There are elements of their sound that at times reminded me of German band Freedom Call, and at others like a Manowar for the 21st Century.
However, and quite simply, they were the perfect finale for the Saturday night. There is an element of humour about them, and their performance was quite simply over the top, but that is part of their trademark style, and they weren’t going to waiver from their path tonight.
There was a great expectation of the Brothers, and they certainly did not fail to deliver. The songs have a particularly anthemic feel to them, and they are delivered with an intensity that was astonishing.
The band retain their clear Euro Metal delivery with Johan Johansson on drums delivering every song with a technique that could break the speed of sound, so fast is he. Yet there is not just a speed element to his drumming as he musically keeps the madcap antics on stage in time.
The trilogy of guitarists Mikael Fehrm, Pähr Nilsson and Dawid Grahn rip their guitars to shreds or rather shred their guitars. Such is the frenetic soloing and riffing taking place.
With three vocals, all providing different vocal elements, it rounds out the sound. At times Mats Nilsson spits out the harsh and guttural death-style vocal before Joakim Lindbäck Eriksson brings a clean balance to the sound, and Ylva rounds out the sound and perfectly captures the essence of every song.
With songs such as Prophecy Of Ragnarök, Yggdrasil and Theft Of The Hammer, there is a clear storyline and influence with many of their songs drenched in their traditional Viking and Norse mythology.
In the song One, the band call out, “Come take my hand, And I’ll show you the way. Come join our fight, and you’ll never walk alone,” and the massed crowds were more than happy to take up the offer of their latest heroes.
If it couldn’t get any more enthusiastic and manic, then the final song, Fire Blood And Steel, wrapped everything up in perfect style with the obligatory singalong with the rammed Sophie tent venting their bloodlust at full volume.
This was quite a stupendous performance, and the Brothers delivered on every level. Quite simply, this was a perfectly packed show.
Bloodstock Festival 2023 is held over the weekend of 10-13 August 2023. MetalTalk’s Paul Hutchings and Adrian Stonley report from Catton Park.
All Photography: John Inglis and Paul Hutchings
All MetalTalk Bloodstock Festival 2023 coverage can be found at MetalTalk.net/tag/bloodstock-2023.
Weekend early bird tickets for Bloodstock 2024 will be available to purchase at the box office on-site for £165. This is the cheapest way to buy a 2024 ticket, minus any online booking or admin fees.
Bloodstock 2022 can be relived at MetalTalk.net/tag/bloodstock-2022.
