After an action-packed night. Mostly spent screaming ourselves hoarse at Camp Midgards bin jousting (you’re our boy, Tom and don’t you forget it!). It takes the promise of German power metal upstarts, Feuerschanwz (8) to beckon us away from the campsite and into the arena. A move that turns out to be well justified, even in the blazing heat of Sunday afternoon.
Clad in chain mail and armour. It’s a miracle the medieval Eurovision hopefuls aren’t melting live on stage. With the mercury already hovering around the thirty-degree mark as they begin their set with Dragonslayer. Being Feuerschwanz’s debut UK show, like many others around us, we’re experiencing most of their songs for the first time. However, despite feeling like a fish out of water. The allure of tracks like Knightclub soon has us nodding along. Fuelled by the same power metal bounce that’s put the likes of Sabaton and Powerwolf on so many Spotify playlists. The party atmosphere Feuerschwanz bring to the table is irresistible.
So much so in fact, that by the end of their set, they even manage to pull off a heavy metal version of Gangham Style. It absolutely shouldn’t work, but trust us when we say it’s the perfect way to polish off their first ever appearance here at Bloodstock. Why can’t the UK’s Eurovison entries be this much fun?
Appetites well and truly whetted. It’s soon time for Michigans finest melodic death metal export, The Black Dhalia Murder (8) to take to the Ronnie James Dio stage. They sound positively lethal today too. Galloping their way through old favourite, Miasma with the kind of fury that first put them on the map back in the early 00’s. It’s Rocksins first time seeing the band since the unfortunate loss of Trevor Strnad on vocals. However, we have to say that Brian Eschbach does a great job filling his ample shoes. Adding a slightly different texture to their sound as the band rattle through a setlist laced with classics like Statutory Ape, Everything Went Black and A Vulgar Picture.
With the groups latest album, Servitude less than a year old. We expected todays set to be packed with a little more new material. Yet while Cursed Creator and Mammoths Hand make the cut. Sitting nicely alongisde the bands more well known fare. They stick mostly to what Eschbach refers to as “mouldy oldies” this afternoon. There’s a moment of sphincter tightening horror at one point. When the band announce that there are some technical difficulties back stage. Which gives us flashbacks to Lacuna Coil on Friday afternoon. Thankfully however, they’re rectified before Brian can even finish padding for time with his story about the bands trip to Alcatraz Festival. Leaving us on a cliffhanger that’s forgotten as soon as they kick into a particularly filthy rendition of On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood.
There’s nothing fancy about their performance, no costumes, no fancy production trickery but there doesn’t have to be. Like the Ronseal of melodic death metal, The Black Dhalia Murder deliver exactly as advertised. Providing a sonic beatdown so potent. That we feel like the victims of a cold case ourselves by the time they’re finishing off things off with Warborn.
Speaking of fancy, Lords of the Lost (7) are the next band on our list and we can’t help but think there’s some kind of conspiracy behind the scenes at Bloodstock today. As this is the second Eurovision act to occupy the Ronnie James Dio Stage this afternoon. The six piece who, like their Eurovision brethren in Feuerschwanz, also hail from Germany. Make their way through the clouds of smoke enveloping the stage into the sunlight looking somewhat like a sparkly Dimmu Borgir. Sporting equal measures of glitter and corpse paint. The symphonc, choir laden verses of the likes of Moonstruck hit the mark well. As do the satisfying chugging riffs of We’re All Created Evil.
Just as we’re beginning to get into Lords of the Lost though. They throw a curve ball into the mix in the form of a cover of Bronski Beat hit, Smalltown Boy. Which is when, for us at least, they begin to struggle to find the right gear. Shifting from glam rock, to heavy metal. Then back to a more symphonic blackened sound seemingly on a whim as they meander on. Making it really hard to find a groove and enjoy their set to the fullest. With a little more thought, we’re certain there’s a great setlist to be made from their exhaustive back catalogue. Here, today though, it just isn’t working. Which is a shame because Lords of the Lost clearly have a great deal of potential. By the time they’re bringing their set to a close though we can’t help but wish Feuerschwanz or The Black Dhalia Murder had been given extra time to shine
After an ever so slightly disjointed experience with Lords of the Lost. It’s up to prog metal behemoths, Mastodon (9) to pick up the pieces. It’s been a while since Mastodon have graced the UK with their presence too. As long as you’re not counting their recent appearances alongside Slayer and their spectacular showing at Back To The Beginning earlier this summer. The Bloodstock crowd greet them like old friends though. Raising their horns to the sky and bellowing in adoration as soon as the intro to Tread Lightly kicks in. The new line-up appears to have breathed some fresh life into the band too. With bassist Troy Sanders and drummer Brann Dailor taking on a much more active role. Interacting with the audience far more than in days gone by.
Newcomer, Nick Johnston does a truly admirable job taking on Brent Hinds role too. Throwing a few of his own tasty guitar licks into tracks like Crystal Skull and Black Tongue. Never stepping too heavily, yet still adding a little of his own flavour where it counts. As their set goes on, we can’t help but wonder if we’re looking at future headliners in what’s approaching their final form. All the key ingredients are here. Two decades worth of familiarity. Formidabble stage presence. All coupled with enough hits tucked under their belt to make a contract killer blush. With a new album looming on the horizon as well, if we asked a magic eight ball right now. We think all signs would point to yes!
Right now though, it’s difficult to focus on much beyond the spectacle on stage. As even after twenty years. The opening chords of Blood and Thunder are still powerful enough to give the most seasoned metalhead goosebumps. We aren’t sure we could ask for more as final drum roll brings the song to an end either. Then, Mastodon throw in an extra treat. Their streoid infused cover of Supernaut by Black Sabbath. In arguably even better form than they managed at Villa Park. Putting a full stop on what ought to be their last performance here at anywhere but the top of the bill.
Tonight, that honour belongs to Gojira (10) though and rightly so. The French progressive metal giants have been on an even more stratospheric trajectory than usual of late. Bringing heavy metal to the Olympic Games. Joining Metallica on their M72 world tour and wowing the audience at Black Sabbaths farewell show. It’s obvious that they’ve really stepped up to the plate tonight too. As the pulsing double bass and screaming whammy pedal attack of opening track, Only Pain kicks in. Joe Duplantier and co. don’t just sound absolutely gargantuan. The stage set-up they’ve rolled out for their headline set here at Bloodstock, apparently their biggest ever, looks spectacular too. With flame throwers engulfing the stage as the barrage of strobe lights and video screens mesmerise and hypnotise. All synced perfectly to the ferocious polyrhythmic beat being hammered out by Mario Duplantier.
Despite having been around for nearly three decades. It’s easy to forget just how many bangers Gojira have in their arsenal. A fact we’re quickly reminded of. As the likes of Stranded, The Cell and Flying Whales all land with the technical precision of laser guided ordnance. That’s not to say there aren’t moments of hilarity sprinkled throughout Gojira’s set though. Be it the batch of inflatable whales that descend as if from nowhere into the mosh pit. Or Mario’s wordless introduction to From The Sky. Where he emerges from behind the drums and holds up a handwritten sign asking if we want more double kick. Answering the respounding cheer of approval that follows by holding up another hastily written sign that simply says, “Fish & Chips – £10”. Proving that despite being on another level musically, the band still haven’t lost their sense of humour.
The bands claim to Olympic fame, Mea Culpa makes a gold medal worthy appearance too. Emphasised to the full by an explosion of fireworks and confetti that showers a crowd that lost any inhibitions long ago. Having given themselves over fully to the sheer technical ecstacy on display. Amazonia, which serves as tonights pre-encore aperitif, hits so hard that Gojira could call it a day there and go home. Calling their show tonight a job well done. However, the Frenchmen have a few tricks left up their sleeves.
Beckoned back to the stage by the baying crowd. Gojira dutifully return for a three song encore that delivers in every way imaginable. L’Enfant Sauvage, or Wild Child in their native tongue, lives up to its name in any language. Dropping harder than a lead anvil. Followed by a monumental cover of Under The Sun by Black Sabbath that seems to shake the very ground beneath our feet. Then, just as we think it’s all over. Joe Duplantier starts to tease us with a little two handed tapping that can mean only one thing, The Gift of Guilt is up next. Bringing their landmark performance tonight to a fittingly triumphant end. Before the band take final bow and depart the stage, victorious. You could hang this headline set in The Louvre. It definitely deserves a place among the other masterpieces on display!
With Rock Sins and most of the capacity crowd too fired up to head back to camp just yet. Bloodstocks traditional post-headline after party calls to us. The need to headbang is still strong after such a ridiculous prog-metal masterclass. Thankfully, this year is being overseen by death metal mainstays, Obituary (8). Who are putting on an old school clinic of gore-infested 90’s era classics. Celebrating the 35th anniversary of their sophomore album, Cause of Death in style. Giving us all ample opportunity to exorcise the demons in an oasis of metal thrashing madness. Before we try to sleep and hope to dream of more flying whales…
Tickets for Bloodstock 2026 are on sale now. However, if you want to attend the festivals jam packed 25th anniversary weekend, we recommend you act fast. As over 85% of weekend tickets have already sold out. For more information on next years line-up, you can go to their official website. Or, head over to social media and give them a follow to stay up to date on any further announcements.
