Final preparations are ready for this weekend’s Bloodstock Open Air, kicking off today, the 10th of August through the 14th at Catton Park, Derbyshire. Sad news as Helloween has been forced out of the fest due to a last-minute illness. They are being replaced by KK’s Priest, led by former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing. BOA ‘s2023 Ronnie James Dio Main Stage Headliners are Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah, and Megadeth. with the full band list below.
As this year’s event gets ever nearer, Bloodstock is thrilled to announce that Sunday day tickets for 2023 are now SOLD OUT!! Standard weekend tickets remain available but are going quickly, plus a limited day allocation for Friday and Saturday. Read on for more band news, plus all the details on the RAM Gallery exhibitors, the return of the T-Shirt/CD Amnesty and Planet Rock Signing Tent, plus how to do a one-stop-shop for all your festival essentials.
Festival season in Athens, Greece has begun with Nightwish and In Flames debuting at Release Athens Festival on June 7th, in Water Square. The headcount featured over 12,000 fans singing along and crowd-surfing throughout the night.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this show for months since its announcement. Helloween and Hammerfall: two staples of the Power Metal movement invaded the Worcester Palladium on a warm clear night. When I arrived, enthusiastic metal heads were wrapped around the building and down the block. After I got my credentials and ventured inside and waited for the show to start.
Fotograf, Photographer, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Heidelberg
We talked to Power Metal legend Markus Grasskopf of Helloween on the eve of their current USA tour. Markus who is an OG Helloween co-founder shared all kinds of gems about his career, the “Pumpkins United” lineup, how he continues to challenge himself on bass, signing with Atomic Fire Records, NEW Helloween music, and more!Continue reading
Catton Park, United kingdom, 13 Aug 2022, Lorna Shore performing on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival Credit: Rich Price/Ghost Cult Magazine
Bloodstock Open Air 2023 will be here before you know it! The festival continues to inspire by dropping content. Head over to their YouTube channel to watch full video performances from bands, including a new one from Lorna Shore. The fest also dropped more merch, including Download Mascot plushies on pre-order, and a reminder that their deposit scheme for 2023 closes soon.
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Bloodstock Open Air 2023 (BOA) has announced a slew of new bands, filling out the Ronnie James Dio Main Stage, and Sophie Lancaster stage. Now on the bill are Candlemass (replacing Whitechapel who have dropped out), Tribulation, Royal Republic, Employed To Serve, Witchsorrow, Wytch Hazel, Skin Failure, Bloodyard, Wolfbastard, Tribe Black Coast, Russkaja, Gaerea, and Striker. Watch the new Bloodstock trailer here. Continue reading
Bloodstock Open Air has added two new bands for 2023, including an all-important third headliner! to the already impressive lineup! Meshuggah is now the day two headline band, along with the addition of Power metal kings Helloween. Full details are below. Also, the fest has announced the full Metal To The Masses competition details and their popular Deposit Scheme announcement. Check out our review of the 2022 fest here. Bloodstock will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2023.
Just when you thought things had finally returned to normal after the pandemic, up pop Victorius to make you question your own sanity. Returning with their sixth full-length studio album (or second since going full dino-ninja bonkers) the five German nutters with a Gloryhammer sense of humour and an instant autocorrect for a name thrust Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 – The Great Ninja War (Napalm Records) onto an unsuspecting (Jurassic) world.Continue reading
Mortuary Drape – Wisdom – Vibration – Repent (Peaceville)
When looking at Mortuary Drape’s latest EP, the thing that immediately draws one’s attention is the cover of Mercyful Fate’s ‘Nightmare Be Thy Name.’ In addition to being the only cover to show up on one of Drape’s proper studio releases, it’s a deep cut from one of Fate’s more overlooked efforts. Thankfully it’s ultimately a solid rendition; the obligatory King Diamond falsetto emulations make it an inherent outlier, but the added grit and ominous guitar acrobatics ensure it isn’t out of step with the EP’s original tracks.