Bloodstock Festival 2023 – Hate – The Enigma Division. Any good feeling left on the main stage by Wytch Hazel was quickly blown away as Polish Black Metal monsters Hate summoned their evil in a show of astonishing power and control.
Hate
Despite the sunny conditions, I’m sure the temperature dropped several degrees as they blasted their way through a muscular and impressive set.
There are few Black Metal bands who genuinely scare you, but Hate are definitely one that does. Slicing riffs, blast beats and an underlying level of sinister malevolence are all present as the corpse-painted quartet throw in a set that is likely to be a real highlight of the weekend.
The Enigma Division
A smaller crowd might have been expected for a band that are relatively unknown, but those that turned out for The Enigma Division were treated to a breath of fresh air.
Those that know, know, they say. And if you’d explored their debut release early this year, then you would know that this is a classy progressive outfit.
Despite a struggle to hear the vocals, the band’s technical quality surged through with the guitar work of Conor McGoran shining through.
After the bludgeoning start in the Sophie tent, this was a calming yet intensive set that showed the class that this band possess.
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.
