Guitarist Marzi Montazeri Has Quit Exhorder


 Guitarist Marzi Montazeri has quit Exhorder. Montazeri shared the news of his exit in a social media post, which you can see below. He joined Exhorder in 2017 following stints with Pantera vocalist Philip Anselmo’s projects Superjoint and Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals. He wrote and toured behind the Exhorder comeback album Mourn The Southern Skies, in September 2019 via Nuclear Blast Records. Thomas confirmed in an interview with Ghost Cult last fall that the band had begun writing a new album.  Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air 2021 Part III


Having shown resounding and unequivocal support for every single band so far, the Bloodstock faithful are still raring to go after four full days of partying. As battle commences one final time, highlights on the Sophie Stage include the hard hitting Midlands retro-fuzz of Wolf Jaw, Brighton doomsters Grave Lines, the angry sounding double punch of Vexed and Pist, a debut performance from symphonic death metallers Ghosts of Atlantis, and Manchester black metal mob Necronautical.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air 2021 Part 2


 

FRIDAY

With energy levels and festival excitement still high, quality acts such as Welsh black metallers Agrona, Norfolk thrashers Shrapnel, Liverpool doom/sludge merchants Conan, and a reinvigorated and retooled Evile invade the Sophie Lancaster Stage, decimating all before them. Birmingham grindcore legends Napalm Death complete the day’s entertainment with a reliably devastating set, the crowd gathered outside the tent almost as huge as the one inside.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air 2021 Part 1



We’re back!

Sure, we might be having to follow a series of new Coronavirus safety protocols which may or not become a regular thing for live shows, but we’re back. And judging by the size of the opening day crowds spilling out from the main entrance, car parks and campsites, not a moment too soon. Since its inception Bloodstock Open Air has always attracted early birds who like nothing more than to arrive long before the gates even open, but this time feels different. Everyone seems to be here early. Coiled springs desperate for release. The festival’s twentieth anniversary isn’t just a celebration of metal this year, it’s a genuine escape

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LIVESTREAM REVIEW: En Minor Live at the Orpheum


En Minor is a project that had been rattling around in Philip H. Anselmo“s head since he was a child; they are an unexpectedly emotional and deeply serious sound that freefalls out of the genres most of the band members are associated with, including Anselmo himself, and into uncharted territory. Unconventional and, in many ways, experimental, their 2020 release, When the Cold Truth Has Worn Its Miserable Welcome Out (Housecore Records) is steeped in reverence to the Jazz tradition in New Orleans, and maybe more markedly serves as a morose interpretation of a Jazz Funeral March with hints of Vaudeville; an unironic gothic twist on Tom Waits that Anselmo has since self-described as Depression Core. 

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Win a Chance to Exhibit Your Artwork at Bloodstock 2021s RAM Gallery


Bloodstock Open Air is making plans to return in 2021 and every year festival founder Paul Gregory curates a selection from other heavy-metal-friendly artists, both established and new, who has caught his attention the previous year. In 2021, Paul wants to give a chance to artistic newcomers to win the opportunity to hang a piece of their work alongside his own and other respected creatives in the on-site RAM Gallery, so he’s devised an art competition. To enter you need to design and create your own piece of artwork, based around and inspired by one of the bands performing at Bloodstock 2021. Paul will jointly judge the competition alongside friend and fellow artist, Mark Wilkinson (illustrator of album sleeves for Marillion, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, The Darkness), and the winner will have their work professionally framed, lit, and hung in the RAM Gallery on-site next August. In addition to this honour, the winner will bag a pair of weekend festival tickets, a personal tour of the RAM Gallery on-site with Paul Gregory, and the potential to watch 3 songs from the side of the stage of the band they’ve chosen to create their artwork for (subject to closed stages). 

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Bloodstock Open Air 2021 Adds Mercyful Fate and Dimmu Borgir!


 

Bloodstock Open Air, rebooked for 2021, has announced a new headliner! The great Heavy Metal legends Mercyful Fate, featuring King Diamond, will headline the Ronnie James Dio stage on Saturday, along with Dimmu Borgir as special guests. Watch a new trailer now!
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Bloodstock Clarifies 2020 Event Position, Books Additional Bands for 2020


Bloodstock Open Air 2020 is still hoping to go forward with its 20th-anniversary edition this summer in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. The festival has announced that BOA 2020 event planning is proceeding with full care and attention, in order to bring you the best event yet to celebrate 20 Years of Bloodstock. The team is closely monitoring government guidelines and cooperating with the relevant authorities to assure the best and safest environment for our Bloodstockers, bands, staff, and site workers come August and will continue to keep you updated with any further developments. New bands added to the bill include Lost Society, Video Nasties, Wolf Jaw, Grave Lines, Vexed, and more TBA. Continue reading


Bloodstock Adds Six New Bands and New Charity Partner!


 

Bloodstock Open Air 2020 continues to pile on the big names with six new acts added to the lineup! Savage Master, Blasphemer, Liberty Lies, Black Tongue, Pist, and Sharks In Your Mouth have joined a bill that includes headliners Devin Townsend (Friday), Behemoth (Saturday), and Judas Priest (Sunday) as well as Hatebreed, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, Skindred, Paradise Lost, Life Of Agony, Bury Tomorrow, Black Dahlia Murder, Diamond Head, Jinjer, Vio-Lence, Sacred Reich, Gloryhammer, Dark Tranquillity, Bloodywood and more! The fest also named this year’s charity partner will be the mental health charity Mind. Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, and campaign to improve services and raise awareness. 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem every year and Mind won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. In addition to guestlist donations, raising funds on behalf of Mind on site at BLOODSTOCK will be festival attendee Michael Lacy, with his Patch Amnesty initiative. Bring your old, spare, or new patches to donate, browse patches to buy, or even just stop by for a chat. All proceeds go to Mind. Please look out for Patch Amnesty/Mind signage and stop by his stand in the main arena to give your support. Continue reading


Bloodstock Adds The Nightflight Orchestra, Nekrogoblikon, The Crawling, and More to Thursday Night Pre-Party


Bloodstock Open Air unveiled a slew of new bands recently for the festival proper and now has booked new bands for the Thursday night pre-party! The Nightflight Orchestra, Nekrogoblikon, The Crawling, Raised by Owls, and 2019 Metal 2 The Masses winners for Bournmouths Anakim will all help kick off the weekend. Bloodstock’s 2020 main stage headliners are Devin Townsend (Friday), Behemoth (Saturday), and Judas Priest (Sunday) and also includes Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, Skindred, Paradise Lost, Life Of Agony, Black Dahlia Murder, Diamond Head, Jinjer, Vio-Lence, Sacred Reich, Gloryhammer, Dark Tranquility, Butcher Babies, Cattle Decapitation, Bloodywood, Memoriam, Ramage Inc, Green Lung, Bossk, Hatebreed, Bury Tomorrow, Sylosis, Toxic Holocaust, Winterfylleth, Exhumed, and Necrot so far. Many more bands performing over the weekend will be announced soon!Continue reading