Finally, after months of participation, Metal 2 The Masses comes to an end. From the stage at Downstairs At The Dome, the Grand Final is beginning. Scatter The Tribe, Worship The Sacrifice, Mensvreters, Roet, Nymphic, and Them Bloody Kids are more than ready to give their best to reach the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Festival 2024.
Bloodstock – Metal 2 The Masses – Grand Final
Downstairs At The Dome, Tufnell Park – 8 June 2024
Words: Carol Giannattasio
Photography: Antonio Giannattasio – (Nymphic: Richard Mukuze)
Scatter The Tribe
Let’s begin with the first band of the night, Scatter The Tribe. From the university to the stage together, their set opens with the Intro, followed by Consume, immediately setting the tone for an incredible night. Their presence on stage is nothing short of electrifying.
Whether you categorize them as modern Metal, Metalcore, or Hardcore, one thing is clear: Scatter The Tribe are determined to offer a fresh sound.
As they admit, their goal is to “break the mould and innovate as much as we can.” Inspired by bands like Tesseract and Northlane, Scatter The Tribe brings authenticity and energy to their performance. Despite coming from different countries and backgrounds, their on-stage chemistry is undeniable, and they clearly enjoy every moment.
The crowd was already going wild from the first band, a promising sign for the rest of the night. The lead singer delivered an exceptional performance, especially during Vacant Stares, Tempest, and culminating in an impressive finale with Rush.
Scatter The Tribe truly impressed me, and I hope to see them on stage again very soon.
Worship The Sacrifice
Returning to the Metal 2 The Masses stage, we find Worship The Sacrifice, who were eliminated in the first quarter-finals but are now more than ready to make a comeback. Hearing this band for the first time was far from disappointing. Their stage presence was formidable, and the lead singer’s voice, both furious and profound, captivated the audience.
Since 2001, guitarist Steve has been brimming with ideas, leading him to start writing music. Over time, he met Lazerus, now the band’s vocalist, and together they formed what is today known as Worship The Sacrifice, a melodic Death Metal band.
Inspired by childhood idols like Corey Taylor, Randy Blythe, and Angela Gossow, Lazerus commands the stage with confidence. Despite his fierce performance, he is one of the kindest people you’ll meet, as evidenced by our brief conversation.
Lazerus is also the founder of the London Metal Coalition, a group dedicated to supporting London-based underground metal bands and the entire scene.
The other band members also deserve recognition for their energetic and engaging performances. Dancing, screaming, and jumping on the stage, they added a fun and chaotic element typical of Metal concerts.
Their new single Aphotic, along with other tracks like Wake Up The World, Bloodletting, and The Sacrifice, elevated the crowd’s energy, setting the stage for the next band to perform.
Mensvreters
With their unconventional stage presence, Mensvreters immediately caught my attention. Silicone heads piled on the stage, a grill, and a roasting skeleton set the scene for their performance.
Mensvreters, a three-piece cannibal ’90s gangster rap/Death Metal group from South Africa, offered an experience that was both unique and challenging to watch.
Brolloks and Boggel, the two vocalists, kicked off the performance with Amazim zim Ayeza, screaming and jumping around the stage while Zet cooked the skeleton on the grill. It was a bizarre continuation of the night, but I was impressed by the effort and audacity they put into organizing the spectacle.
During their unreleased track Slaughterhouse, Zet played a fake human guitar. Their set included songs like In Da Club, and Fok Die Polisie, showcasing their ability to deliver a truly theatrical performance. The show featured two cowgirls dancing on stage and a masked man running through the crowd, searching for Brolloks and Boggel. The act culminated in a staged scene where they captured the man and pretended to cut his chest, complete with fake skin and blood.
Their shocking acting can be disturbing for sensitive viewers, making it difficult for them to find venues willing to allow the use of fake blood, fire extinguishers, and flamethrowers.
Despite their crazy and audacious performance style, Mensvreters were fantastic from start to finish, engaging the crowd and having fun throughout the night.
Roet
Formed in 2019, Roet made their debut with the single Severity, followed by the EP Enlight. They began their Grand Final performance with Dusk, moving seamlessly into Conquer, a heavier piece that had the crowd pushing and shoving in excitement.
Although I enjoyed their songs, it was sometimes difficult to hear the lead singer’s voice clearly. However, during the cleaner vocal sections, his powerful voice truly shone through.
Roet’s music is described as spiritual, cinematic prog-Death Metal. In a brief chat with the singer, he explained that they draw influences from various genres during the writing process, including thrash, Metalcore, electronic sounds, and ’70s prog. Inspired by bands like Opeth, Gojira, and Mastodon, Roet delivered two more incredible songs in their set before concluding, reminiscent of these influences.
I particularly enjoyed Flow and Ablaze. The band members, each with different musical influences, have evolved significantly, creating something special with their varied tastes. As the singer Simant affirmed, “We have created a very unique blend and style of music that we call Roet today.”
Nymphic
With the first page of their comic displayed across the room and fans proudly wearing their merch, it was time for Nymphic to take the stage. Their flower mascot hobbled onto the stage, while singer Stix made a dramatic entrance by walking through the crowd, holding a flag, and narrating a short story.
She was accompanied by her companions from the London Metal Valkyries, a collective representing the voices of women and non-binary people in the London Metal Coalition.
The intro was amazing, followed by their new song Meeting My Maker and then Money Man. I can’t hide how much I like these guys. I’ve watched them grow over the years, starting as a five-piece Nu-Metal/rap rock band before parting ways with their rapper after a couple of years of gigs and friendship. It was at this point that I saw Nymphic truly bloom.
Despite going through rough times, including a life-changing surgery for one of the members that led to a six-month break, they returned with new songs and a renewed determination as a four-piece Nu-Metal band. Their ability to rearrange songs like Get By and Party at N.10 with one less voice showcases their incredible teamwork.
With a live presence comparable to Rage Against The Machine and Linkin Park, Nymphic draws influences from classic Metal bands like Iron Maiden and modern sounds like Royal Blood. Their flower mascot, standing in the pit and then lifted onto the shoulders of fans, sparked one of the biggest mosh pits I’ve ever seen at a Nymphic concert.
The crowd was having fun, and the band was clearly comfortable on stage. Everything went smoothly as their set concluded with Peony, set to release with a music video on June 28th, followed by Enemy, and ending with one of my favourites, Party at N.10.
I couldn’t resist joining the pit, which went completely wild for this banger.
As always, Nymphic left us hungry for more, with fans demanding more songs even after they were ready to leave. I’ve seen firsthand the passion these guys put into their music and their dedication to the band’s future. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Them Bloody Kids – Bloodstock Festival 2024 Bound
Before we get to the special guest of the night, let’s talk about the last band. After several attempts to reach the festival, they finally brought home the victory. Them Bloody Kids will grace the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock, having won the Metal 2 The Masses Grand Final.
The night began with The Demon, and as the end drew near, the crowd’s intensity and roughness only increased. Everyone wore pointed hats bearing the band’s name, and beer cups flew through the air to the tunes of Radical Animals and Help Me. On stage, the energy was palpable, leading the band to their triumphant conclusion.
Them Bloody Kids have had their share of ups and downs, struggling to find stability with frequent member changes. However, in the past two months, the band has finally stabilized, forming a well-connected unit that led them to victory in Metal 2 The Masses after two years of trying.
This was my second time seeing them live, and they were fantastic, showcasing great stage presence. Frontman Sebastian was outstanding with his unique style. While their genre is flexible, blending rock, Metal, and punk, they are best described as Alternative Metal.
They ended their set with Molly and Light On Upstairs, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their next performance.
King Kraken
After powering their way into the Cardiff finals of the 2019 M2TM, King Kraken, a five-piece heavy rock band from South Wales, closed this finale as special guests with a stellar performance.
I had a blast during their set, especially with songs like Bastard Liar, Green Terror, Scream, and Haddonfield (with over 40,000 listeners on Spotify). These tracks reminded us of their triumphant return after COVID with their debut album MCLXXX, showcasing their renewed hunger and energy.
They played almost the entire album, and the lead singer’s voice was incredible. The crowd remained active, with people moshing and headbanging, making for an exciting yet relaxed end to the night.
Them Bloody Kids won’t be the only band participating in the Bloodstock festival. In fact, King Kraken will perform at the EMP Stage.
Their set came to a quick end with Freak and Castle Of Bone, and I must say, it has been wonderful seeing this band live. They sounded amazing, and their performance left a lasting impression.
As the curtains draw to a close, it’s inevitable that all good things must come to an end.
For everyone involved, this journey has been more than just a series of victories and defeats; it’s been a journey of growth. What I witnessed throughout these evenings, after eagerly anticipating each one, was not only the passion for making music and storytelling but, above all, the unwavering support shared by everyone involved.
Truly, this Metal 2 The Masses event has been nothing short of amazing and congratulations to Them Bloody Kids.
