What new Rock and Metal records are you looking forward to coming out this week?
It doesn’t feel as if it’s been three years since Sylosis returned to our ears with Cycle Of Suffering, an incredible feat of metal prowess where Sylosis showed they weren’t going anywhere. Now, with frontman, Josh Middleton stepping down from big-hitters Architects earlier in the year, all of his attention was able to be focused on creating the follow-up to their last bout of heaviness.
Everything is cyclical, isn’t it? These days I read numerous think pieces telling me how Nu-Metal is experiencing a revival. There are even young bands like Tetrarch and Tallah that openly identify themselves as being nu-metal acts. Would’ve never thought that possible ten years ago. No way. But yet here we are, and it seems like we all plan to attend the Coal Chamber show.
Seems like we’re going to have to score another one for the bad guys. And by bad guys, I am referring to some of Thrash Metal’s pioneers who refuse to acknowledge the passage of time and are still melting amp heads like it was 1986.
Knotfest.Com has today announced the inaugural UK “Pulse of the Maggots Fest” as the KNOTFEST brand expands into the UK for the very first time. The debut event’s international bill features some of the hottest in developing heavy artists and finds its first UK base at The Mill in Birmingham, the city internationally renowned as the global ‘Home Of Metal.’ Headlining the debut event will be the pack leaders of the new force in British metal, Sylosis. Rounding out the bill are Sweden’s Orbit Culture, the Bristol-based Heriot, Las Vegas’ Spiritworld, Sheffield’s Rough Justice (who play their debut Birmingham show at Pulse… Fest), Los Angeles’ pair All Hail The Yeti and Thrown Into Exile, and Birmingham natives, Cauldron. Tickets are on sale now at the link below!
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.
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.
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.
Bloodstock Open Air (BOA) 2021 here! The festival kicks off today after much planning with sdafety and security in mind, considering the current state of the world. With weekend passes selling out, there might still be a few day tickets left, but check in advance before heading there. Starting today, August 11th -15th at Catton Park, the main stage headliners are Devin Townsend (Friday), Kreator (Saturday), and Judas Priest (Sunday). The festival will also feature sets from Skindred, Paradise Lost, Bury Tomorrow, Diamond Head, Therapy?, Jinjer, Vio-lence, Saxon, The Wildhearts, Gloryhammer, Dark Tranquillity, Bleed From Within, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, Memoriam, Ramage Inc., Green Lung, Conjurer, Orange Goblin, The Night Flight Orchestra, Raging Speedhorn, Unleash The Archers, Sylosis, Winterfylleth, Hacktivist, The Crawling, Raised By Owls, Acid Reign, Svalbard, Soen, Blasphemer, Pist, Sharks In Your Mouth, Seidrblot, Noctem, Mother Vulture, Bloodshot Dawn, Evile, and many more. Get your tickets at the link below!