Get your battle jackets and viking horns at the ready, Bloodstock is back! Celebrating it’s twenty fifth year of bringing heavy metal to the masses. The festival is kicking off a mammoth four day line-up today at Catton Hall in Derbyshire. So, before we pack our bags and join the 20,000 strong horde of headbangers, here are our top ten bands that should definitely be on your watch list this weekend!
1. The first band on our list, Lamb of God should need no introduction. The groove metal titans from Richmond Virginia have more than earned their status as headliners. Blazing a trail of destruction for over two decades. With a brand new album under their belts and one of the most ferocious frontmen in the game we have no doubt that Lamb of Gods set is going to set a high bar when they take to the Ronnie James Dio stage on Friday night!
2. One of the most requested artists on the bill this year. Rap metal outfit, Bodycount don’t come to the UK very often. Making an appearance from Ice T and co an event all in itself. Throw in a back catalogue packed with anthems like Cop Killer, There Goes The Neighbourhood and of course, Bodycounts in the House and you’ve got the recipe for an absolutely magnificent show on Sunday afternoon.
3. In terms of the new generation of UK metal, few are flying the flag as well for homegrown heaviness as well as URNE. Their early 2026 album Setting Fire To The Sky is destined to appear in all of the end of year best album lists (or at least those with any semblance of good taste). Having recently bolstered themselves up from a trio to a fully fledged four piece, expect URNE to pack even more of a punch live than they have previously. Following a rejig of the Bloodstock 2026 schedule, URNE were promoted to the main stage on Saturday. It’s a slot they fully deserve, and we expect them to make the most of it. Do not miss them under any circumstances.
4. Nothing livens up a Friday morning like a bit of Scottish slam metal and Party Cannon are poised to deliver that and oh so much more! Promising not one, not two, not three but FOUR world record attempts during their mainstage set. Making it your chance to participate in the world’s loudest gang chant. To witness the world’s largest banana costume circle pit. Join in with the world’s biggest inflatable crowd surf or just drop and give the boys twenty in a record breaking pushup pit!
5. One of thrash metals longest serving icons, Testament are always a treat to watch live. Between Chuck Billy’s iconic vocals, the duelling guitars of Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick and the fantastic rhythm section of Steve Di Giorgio and Chris Dovas. When they’re at full chat, Testament are a sight to behold. Sandwiched between the industrial Swedish death metal of Orbit Culture and the rock and roll fury of Black Label Society we think they’ve got the perfect spot on Sundays main stage line-up too!
6. Local heroes Mantis Defeats Jaguar really stepped up at Bloodstock last year. Winners of the Birmingham heat of Metal 2 the Masses. Their funky hip-hop infused party anthems rocked the foundations of the New Blood stage last year. Making them the ideal band to open up the festivals new and improved Sophie Lancaster stage this Thursday! Just make sure you’re ready to bounce!
7. They must be putting something in the water up in Scotland. Because Bleed From Within are the second band from across the border to make our list of must-see acts this weekend. Hot off a headline tour that laid waste to every venue on their schedule back in March. Expect plenty of pulverising riffs, brutal breakdowns and of course, some suitably patriotic bagpipes when the boys from Glasgow hit the main stage on Saturday afternoon.
8. No Bloodstock weekend would be complete without a band that tickles our nostalgic pickle and there are some seriously strong contenders on this years bill. However, we’ve got to give the nod to Wednesday 13. Who will be leading the after party in the Sophie Lancaster stage on Friday night. With a little dash of Murderdolls and probably a couple of numbers from Frankenstein Drag Queens thrown in to sweeten the deal. This is a late night dose of shock rock you won’t want to miss!
9. Looking for some good old fashioned heavy metal among the blast beats and cryptic death metal logos? Look no further, because Viking axeman Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society have got your back. On top of their usual menu of Sabbath inspired riffs and face melting solo’s. The band have their brand new album, Engines of Demolition to take for a test drive and if it makes an appearance, which it’s almost certain to. We fully expect Ozzy’s Song to be one of the festivals standout sing-along moments on Sunday!
10. Last but by no means least, closing out Bloodstock this year, Judas Priest are not to be missed. Godfathers of heavy metal and legends in their own right. Rob Halford and his band of merry men don’t know how to put on a bad show. As anyone who witnessed their 50th anniversary show at Catton Hall will gladly attest! With all the talk of a follow up to 2024’s Invincible Shield being well underway you might even get a sneak peak at some new material in amongst what’s sure to be a set packed with hit after hit!
Haven’t got your ticket yet? There are a limited number of day tickets still available for Thursday and Saturday. Or, you can head over to the festivals official resale partner, Tixel to try and bag yourself a last minute deal.
For more information on Bloodstock you can head over to their official website and if you want to keep track of all the antics from this weekend, go ahead and give them a follow on social media.
