Bloodstock Open Air, the biggest of Metal salutes to you. You kept the faith and endured more uncertainty than has been experienced before, and a constant shifting and swapping of the lineup right up to the start with no let up even during the festival itself. Words: Liz Medhurst Photography: …

All Hail To The Priest! 50 Heavy Metal Years! That’s later on, though. The bill for today is an embarrassment of riches. We are diving in headfirst, only stopping to come up for air, and maybe a bit of Rob Halford’s Hails and Horn Halford Ale, launched this weekend over …

We are settled in for a very heavy Saturday night, exactly as it ought to be. Words: Liz Medhurst Photography: John Inglis First of the evening bands is Paradise Lost, who are revisiting Draconian Times, their 1995 classic, which has been re-issued on vinyl for its quarter-century anniversary. The band …

We are on a bit of a high here this afternoon. Bloodstock Friday topped us up with all of the natural happy chemicals that only live Metal in abundance can provide. Words: Liz Medhurst Photography: John Inglis Looking back, there was so much to pack in last night. In between the …

Things are hotting up here. There’s a lot of talk about headliner Devin Townsend and what his set will comprise. Devin had to put together a completely new band to get around the travel restrictions. Apart from all being from the UK, we know nothing about them, apart from they’ve …

The main stage is holding out well under the battering it is taking from this afternoon’s bands. Svalbard, under the direction of Serena Cherry, cut through the sunshine with direct brutality. Words: Liz Medhurst Photography: John Inglis Acid Reign Acid Reign followed, treating us to a high energy set packed …

No lie-ins here. It’s a super early start but worth it. There are a few creaking muscles in the media tent as everyone discovers that our festival legs haven’t sustained the long layoff. It’s all coming back to us quickly, though, and the adrenaline from the excitement of being back …

It’s a beautiful summer evening, and where could be better than a field in Derbyshire with thousands of Metallers. We are fortified by a pig in a bun and hanging out with the crowds. Words: Liz Medhurst Photograph: John Inglis It’s been too long, but it also feels like we’ve …

It’s here, it’s true, it’s real. We are standing in the hallowed ground of Bloodstock, with freshly glittered nails, our entrance has been secured, and the heart in mouth feeling of the past few weeks caused by the pandemic uncertainty can finally start to abate. “Will it happen?”, has thankfully …

Dutch Metal veterans Within Temptation are often unfairly compared to the likes of Nightwish and Epica, just because all these acts have a leaning towards Symphonic Metal with a strong female lead vocal. They are, of course, very different bands indeed. Still, it’s been interesting watching them all grapple with …