Megadeath

Live Review: Thrashing Through The Weekend: Bloodstock Open Air 2023

Bloodstock Open Air returned once more for yet another action-packed year of non-stop metal! After last year’s scorcher, the returning metal hoards were happy to see the weather be a little cooler this time around. Tents were set up and the first cans of beer cracked open, Thursday was a day of excitement right from the off as The Violent Incident kicked off the live music with confetti, pyro, and an explosive attitude!

As the first pits were born, many others were exploring their surroundings and saw what this year’s festival had to offer. Frozen Soul brought the cold, while King 810 brought a unfiltered and aggressive sound the Catton Park. Setting off on the metal seas was Visions Of Atlantis who braved the unruly storm before headliner SKYND unleashed a barrage of horrific deeds in the form of song. A touching tribute to Sophie Lancaster as a jacket with ‘Say Her Name Sophie’ was centre stage the entire set.

SKYND

Friday Morning came and the New Blood stage got the day in full swing with the exciting Shoot To Kill bringing high energy to the early birds! A steady stream of partly hung-over metalheads slowly filled the arena to the conflicting sounds of Bloodstock. From the black metal of Hate to the more experimental styles of Zetra, there was something for every kind of metal fan. The Ronnie James Dio stage opted for an extremely heavy afternoon with the likes of Fit For An Autopsy, Heaven Shall Burn, and In Flames unleashing their craft all afternoon.

As for the Sophie Stage, this was a much more varied affair however the evening turned to black by the extreme sounds of Gaerea, and Bossk. Friday was also a historic day for Headliners Killswitch Engage who honoured Catton Park with their first-ever outdoor headline festival performance. Flames, confetti and good vibes filled the festival grounds as Killswitch opted to pull out an incredibly expansive setlist that spanned most of their discography as well as a fitting cover of Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’ on the Ronnie James Dio Stage. Proving they are ready for the next step, Killswitch sent the fans back to their tents with smiles from ear to ear.

Trollfest

Some opted to party and some called it a night but Saturday morning was kick-started with the joyous and electrifying Seething Akira. Probably the most dance-heavy day, fans were treated to an odd mix of the heaviest metal and the grooviest music. From Urne to Royal Republic – I still find it crazy that I’m writing that. Speaking Of Royal Republic, these guys were by far one of the most entertaining bands of the weekend. Their high energy and feel-good vibes resonated well and served as a breath of fresh air for many in attendance.

Another whacky act to take to the stage during Bloodstock was the infamous Trollfest. Pink flamingo suites and a brass section are not something most expect from the home of heavy metal but by god did it go down a treat? The Sophie stage was full of inflatables and smiles as Trollfest enchanted the Bloodstock hordes. Enthralling performances from the likes of Knocked Loose and Abbath were topped off by a mesmerising light show to accompany Meshuggah. The music was tight and the pits were in full force. Despite the band predominantly being silhouettes on stage, the performance was one that many will remember for a long while.

Meshuggah | Photo: Fraser Kerr

Every festival’s final day can be a challenge of battling your decisions of the past few days and Bloodstock was no exception. Our day started with the almighty All Hail The Yeti who borough some charm and euphoria to the resurrecting fans. Tribulation would follow with a blackened masterclass before Decapitated left the festival headless once more. Church of the cosmic soul converted thousands to their… non-cult before Sepultura proved why they are one of the most fun yet chaotic bands once more in the heart of Catton Park. A last-minute replacement in the form of KK Priest brought a headline-worthy production to their main support slot. With fireworks, flames and an elaborate stage set, they proved they can pack as much of a punch as anyone else on the lineup.

All Hail the Yeti

If classic metal wasn’t your cup of tea tho you could always head over to the Sophie stage to catch Zeal and Ardor who may have just been the set of the weekend for me. Their unique sound was the perfect fit for the festival and the energy they commanded from the stage rivaled the elaborate production of KK priest without the need for pyro or theatrics. I expect these guys will only move up the bill in future years. Headlining the Sunday was Megadeth and despite Dave not sharing a single smile, they smashed this out of the park. Their set was a mix of fan favourites and deeper cuts and they sounded cleaner than I’ve ever heard them sound before. An abundance of energy from the band helped the tiring fans get that last wind and finish their weekend off with some good old-fashioned thrash!

What else is there left to say really, Bloodstock once again smashed it and only seemed to improve upon issues of previous years to make sure this festival didn’t follow suit of some of this year’s disaster classes. Despite getting all extremes in terms of weather, the festival grounds held up well and there wasn’t anything that really ran out even coming into the later hours of the final day. Bloodstock 2024 is already looking stacked and I cannot wait to be back in Catton Park! Until next year.