Bloodstock Festival 2023. As the first band up on Saturday on the Main Stage, Seething Akira would have a point to make to those early risers, and if there is a band that can make a point, then it is quite definitely these guys.
Bloodstock – Seething Akira
Seething Akira are hard to define. For those who like to put a label on a band, then quite honestly, pick one that suits you. Their music is a complex cross-over of styles touching on elements as diverse as hardcore, hip hop, dubstep, drum and bass, electro and a massive slice of Metal.
This is a band that wears their hearts on their sleeves and are completely unapologetic about their approach and delivery. They certainly have a point to make and clearly made it as the early arrivals embraced them with alacrity. With three albums now released, they also have the material to make themselves felt and to win over the Bloodstock faithful.
Seething Akira are not your standard band. For a start, they have two male vocalists, Kit Conrad and Charlie Bowes, who play and rap off of each other, venomously spitting out the lyrics with attitude and an element of defiance for those who may feel they should stand in their way.
This is a band with a 100mph assault attack approach to their music, and they take no prisoners. There is a strong and commanding element to their musical attack. They clearly know what they are doing and what they want, and no one is going to stop them.
Though there is, at times, an element of Nu-Metal to their sound, there is more to them than that. In reality, they are a great Heavy Metal band who want to mix genres up. And quite honestly, they do it really well.
With their adrenaline-fuelled approach, they tore the Bloodstock arena apart, and the masses responded in kind with pits and circles aplenty.
They are also a band that likes to engage with their audience, and though there is seriousness to their songs, there is plenty of tongue-in-cheek fun to be had at the expense of today’s crowd.
Playing new song, Resilient, they showed that their songwriting abilities are expanding and developing, and this tune quite clearly had the most intense breakdown that anyone was going to hear and experience all weekend. It was positively brutal.
As with so many of the opening bands, the set was all over far too soon, and with the obligatory crowd photo and a wave goodbye, ‘Pompeys favourite chav Metal crew’ were gone.
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.
