And the bands played on. Saturday at Maid of Stone was nicely Metal-skewed with a good balance between the old guard and the new.
Maid of Stone Festival – Saturday 18 July 2026
Words: Liz Medhurst – Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Gina Smith
Having headlined the Firestarter stage previously, it was only right that Häxan had graduated to the main stage, and the Welsh three-piece grabbed the morning opening set with a ferocity and almost indecent haste that cleared any sleep-filled heads instantly.
Armed with a set full of crushing numbers with real punch, the grit and melodicism of songs like Thirteenth Hour proved just how good the band are and with much more to come.
Another band on the rise are Untamed Silence. Fresh from dates opening for Saxon, the quartet blend hard rock with soulful vocals and emotional honesty, the big riffs driving the engine.
Airing songs from their debut The Great Majority and some new material especially for Maid Of Stone, the band are just hitting their stride and proved to be another great find for many.
Xander & The Peace Pirates brought the blues to Inferno, and the remarkable voice of the man himself is equally as impressive as his playing.
Few had seen a one-armed guitarist, but Keith Xander is such an extraordinary artist that his tone and feel quickly become the focus point, and the band kick up a storm. The many plaudits they have already earned are well deserved.
Despite an early afternoon slot, Kit Trigg partied like it was Saturday night, the trio giving it everything in a riotous performance of all-out rock ‘n’ roll, perfect for the sunny weather. Groove, melody and compelling presence all receiving top marks.
Girlschool are legends. Pioneers in the NWOBHM movement, the longest-running all-female rock band in history, they bring a wealth of material and experience to the stage, and to see them play is still a thing of absolute wonder, the passion of Kim McAuliffe lighting up the stage.
With Larry Patterson standing in for an unwell Denise Dufort, the band brought energy, power and a complete Metal vibe. A celebratory feel imbues the whole set as bass player Olivia Airey celebrates her birthday and Nothing To Lose, Emergency and Race With The Devil soundtrack the party in mighty style.
Another band to impress on the Firestarter stage was Rattlesnakes, the Nottinghamshire band formed in 2024. The spirit of NWOBHM was strong, winning over the crowd with sheer charisma, not to mention fantastic visual appeal with powerful vocalist Rowena Neale’s giant white furry boots. Ones to watch for sure.
Much feted, the question on many lips was would LN live up to the buzz of anticipation. The fact they became one of the biggest sensations of the whole festival speaks volumes and confirms that, for once, the hype was justified.
Having gently lulled the crowd in the VIP section with an acoustic set earlier in the day, this was a full-blooded display of wild, Pagan Viking Metal that shook the stage like a battle cry.
Huge and heroic songs hewn from ancient mountains and snaking rhythms as old as the sea itself were accompanied by tribal energy and a head on a pole.
Truly mesmerising and exhilarating in equal parts, this invasion was one to be welcomed by everyone. Expect massive shows to feature heavily in their future.
With tours opening for Motörhead and Skindred amongst others, the UK has already welcomed Danko Jones and the feeling of love and respect seems mutual, the Canadian trio happily at home in front of the Kent audience.
Certainly there is no holding them back as their punk-infused hard rock stylings blended high-energy performances that bristled with more than a little danger.
Whilst most of their fellow countrymen are known to be endlessly polite, when vocalist and guitarist Jones, drummer Rich Knox and bass player John ‘JC’ Calabrese turn things up to ten, the gloves are most definitely off.
Realistically, it did not matter whether Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons played well or not, as 100% of the crowd were behind them in paying tribute to the much-loved and missed Motörhead guitarist who passed only four months ago.
In the event, the quartet of Todd (with his father’s guitar complete with infamous strap), Tyla and Dane Campbell plus vocalist Julian Jenkins of Fury delivered a 10/10 display of blistering hard rock.
Opening to the sound of Phil’s immense guitar playing, then his voice introducing Heroes, the band only needed a few bars before guaranteeing that there would not be a dry eye in the field, then tearing through a selection of Motörhead classics and originals.
With a spectacular photograph of Phil, taken by MetalTalk’s Paul Hutchings, adorning the drum kit, his presence was felt in what was part tribute, part memorial and fully a great set by anyone’s standards.
After waiting a year due to needing to pull out at the last minute in 2025, Southampton Power Metallers Battle Born were here to make up for lost time. Frontman Jack Reynolds literally leapt onto the stage to begin, and the intensity was not turned down at all.
Plenty of prominent keyboards alongside the twin guitar assault added to the cinematic feel. A chaotic and very, very good set.
Even before the set had started, a glimpse of the Metal Queen Doro waiting in the wings before the start of her set provoked a mass chanting of her name.
With one banging anthem after another, from the days of Warlock with Burning The Witches and All We Are, to the more recent Time For Justice, all eyes were on Doro as she bounded across the stage, fist raised, pulling the entire arena along with her, even at one point waving a giant personalised flag.
A devoted crowd, an inspirational front woman and a smoking hot band, this was top-class traditional Heavy Metal, although to get all hippy for a moment it was just as much about love given and received. Doro Für Immer.
People used to be amazed that trios could make so much noise, but duo The Virginmarys sound like a Jumbo Jet taking off. Vocalist and guitarist Ally Dickaty, along with drummer Danny Dolan, exude raw energy and generate enough power to light up Maidstone and most of Kent.
Trippin’ New York City was one of a number of tracks from the forthcoming Beyond The House Of Fires that show the best is yet to come.
Saxon are festival veterans and forty-six years after playing the inaugural Monsters Of Rock they came to Maid Of Stone with a point to prove. With a string of some of the best-loved songs in Metal, this was going to be a masterclass with Biff Byford, the consummate frontman, his voice in commanding form and his skills equal to that of any circus showman.
As shown by a string of recent albums that have been critically and publicly acclaimed, Saxon are certainly not ready to quit yet, and the addition of Brian Tatler to their line-up was a masterstroke, the Diamond Head legend bringing his own stylings to the classic Saxon sound.
It is impossible to argue with the set-list as everything is here. Wheels Of Steel, Princess Of The Night, Motorcycle Man and (747) Strangers In The Night bristled with power and glory. A welcome airing of Dallas 1 P.M. brought some drama, and an anthemic Denim And Leather saw some synchronised headbanging onstage and in the crowd.
The crowd choosing The Eagle Has Landed over Broken Heroes was a disappointment to both Biff and this writer, but there is always the hope of it featuring in their forthcoming tour to support the new album due in January.
For those who remember seeing Saxon on their early tours, this was a reminder that they are still flying the flag for Heavy Metal as one of its leading outfits, and for those few seeing the band for the first time, it was a chance to witness something truly special.
Few bands are as dedicated to the cause and put their all into every performance as Saxon, and on Saturday night they showed exactly why they are the influential and much-loved kings of what they do.
Unbeatable.
Maid Of Stone: A Festival That Rocks
Now in its fourth year, Maid Of Stone has firmly established itself as a must-attend event for rock fans. With a wide variety of music styles covered, the festival’s reputation continues to grow.
MetalTalk’s 2026 team was Liz Medhurst, Paul Monkhouse with photography by Gina Smith.
Set to be a highlight of Festival Season, MetalTalk will have more news very soon. All our coverage for 2026 will be found MetalTalk.net/maid-of-stone.
Tickets are available now for 2027. For full details and to grab your tickets, visit MaidOfStoneFestival.com.
MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2025 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2025.
MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2024 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2024.
For MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2023 coverage, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2023.
