With Wheels of Steel still ringing in our ears, we’re up bright and early ready for day two of Bloodstock. Our first band of the day, Party Cannon (9) are a much better hangover cure than the hair of the dog too. Starting things off with Weird But Not Illegal, which seems like the perfect way to describe the kind of carnage that’s about to unfold. Because the quintet from Glasgow have a few special surprises lined up.
In the bands own words, they’re out to set “four of the dumbest world records of all time”. The first among which is the loudest gang chant ever. Which, despite pulling a serious crowd, they expectedly fail to hit their 420db target. Which is probably for the best seeing as the atmosphere of the Earth itself can only withstand 197db.
We actually think they nail attempt number two, which is the largest circle pit featuring the most banana costumes. However, the “independent adjudicator” respectfully disagrees. Taking a WWE-style steel chair shot from vocalist Daryl Boyce for his trouble. As if watching a banana fuelled melee wasn’t a spectacular enough sight. With just a few songs left, Party Cannon attempt to break the record for the most people crowd surfed on inflatables. Which has a menagerie of dinosaurs, unicorns and axolotls flying over the barrier like a pool party gone feral to the sound of a 250bpm blast beat.
Somehow, the man we’re beginning to suspect might not actually be from Guinness at all is still unimpressed. Leaving Party Cannon with no choice but to feed him into the handy nearby Human Squelcher 3000. Finishing off their set with a massive push up pit to none other than Human Slime. Tongue in cheek antics, hefty breakdowns and a chest pump… who could ask for more on a Friday morning?
Making an extremely welcome return to Bloodstock after Covid-19 cancelled their last scheduled appearance back in 2020. Our next band of the day, Life of Agony (8) are a total change of pace. Which is probably for the best after the breakneck pace and hilarity of Party Cannon’s set.
Relying much more on emotional weight than outright savagery. Their performance still hits just as hard, albeit on a very different level. Hailing from Brooklyn, you can tell where Life of Agony came from without ever going near a fan page or Wikipedia bio. From the pounding drums and thrashing power chords of This Time, which would be right at home on the New York hardcore scene. Through to the more delicate vocal lines and sludge laden alt-rock riffs of Underground. Life of Agony are a band that wear their heart and their influences on their sleeve in equal measure.
Sticking to a setlist built largely around their seminal debut album, River Runs Red. They drift delightfully between the melodic and the malevolent. Weaving a hit or two from Ugly and Soul Searching Sun into the mix along the way. Putting on a hard rock history lesson for an audience that are actively becoming more and more involved in and absorbed by every track. Much to the delight of lead singer, Keith Caputo. Who can’t hide a smile even as the band take their final bow.
Next up on the Ronnie James Dio stage, we’re staying in the five boroughs, but in an entirely different style. Thanks to deathcore stalwarts, Fit For an Autopsy (8). Who seem even heavier than usual today. Whipping the audience into a frenzy right from the get go with an opening one-two combo of Lower Purpose and A Higher Level of Hate. Turning the circle pit into an oversized meat grinder.
We aren’t exactly sure just how low guitarists Pat Sheridan and Time Howley are tuning their seven strings. But you can feel every note hit you like a punch to the chest. Backed perfectly by the relentless drumming of Josean Orta. Who’s feet are working serious overtime on double kick drums that must be begging for mercy by the halfway point. Then, just as we think nothing can get much heavier than this. The New Jersey natives drop Pandora and the brakes are well and truly off.
The chaos that ensues reaches a point where we can barely see the stage because of the dust cloud being kicked up in front of it. Making the scene that follow as the band drop their last two songs, Saviour of None/Ashes of All and Far From Heaven look more like a natural disaster than a live show. Leaving a lasting impression, as well as probably a few welcome bruises on anyone brave enough to venture near the pit one last time!
For a band with such storied history, Biohazard (7) really don’t seem to have that big of a crowd waiting for them when they emerge from backstage. We’d even go as far as to say that it’s the smallest gathering that the Ronnie James Dio stage has seen all afternoon. Which is a shame, because even for the uninitiated like us. The chance to see one of the bands that gave birth to New York hardcore as we know it isn’t one to be missed.
Thankfully, with three decades of live experience under their collective belts. Biohazard aren’t put off in the slightest and start rattling through a collection of hardcore bangers like Shades of Grey and Fuck The System. Summoning an audience as if by sheer will. Quickly packing out Bloodstocks main stage. Playing with a level of energy you’d be hard pressed to find in a band twenty years younger.
That said, for all the ferocity they bring with them. There are a few tracks that seem to fall a little flat. There’s Wrong Side of the Tracks for instance, which just doesn’t hit as hard as it should. Along with a cover of Bad Religion’s We’re Only Gonna Die. Which, much as we love the original, is a bit out of place. Leaving us feeling as though despite having put on a good show, Biohazard fail to recreate the runaway freight train that was their performance in the Sophie Lancaster tent just a few years ago.
Sticking in our little spot over at the main stage. It’s time for a band that has divided opinions for almost as long as we’ve been attending festivals, Sepultura (8). Who, despite being one of the most important names in thrash metal, have seen by many as essentially a cover band since Igor Cavalera departed back in 2006. Taking the last of the bands original DNA with him.
We can definitely see that same mix of emotions in the audience as the Brazilian heavyweights start things off with Inner Self as well. Half the crowd are headbanging along with guitarist Andreas Kisser like their lives depend on it. While the other half gaze on with mild scepticism, here only to tick a big name off their bucket lists. Which is a shame, because for all the line-up changes, side projects, public beefs and subsequent reconciliations. This is the longest serving, most stable iteration of Sepultura and it shows.
The band are firing on all cylinders and while Derrick Green may not have the same level of charisma on the microphone as Max Cavalera. As the band start pulling out classics like Attitude, Dead Embryonic Cells and Territory. It’s impossible to deny he has the range for them. Especially when you look at the crowd and see how many sceptics have been fully converted over the course of Sepulturas set. All of whom have stopped internally questioning the bands credentials and started pumping their fists in the air to Refuse/Resist.
The one thing that’s confusing about Sepulturas set here tonight though. Is the lack of fuss they make about this being their final UK performance. There’s no fluff between songs about it being their last outing here. No fireworks to mark the occasion. Other bands will spend half their set reminding you that it’s the final date of a tour cycle. Whereas Sepultura display nothing more than a pure, almost blue collar work ethic.
The only clue we get is when half the days roster of artists walk out on stage to do a little tribal drumming alongside Greyson Nekrutman. Which takes Roots Bloody Roots to a new level entirely. Making for quite the finale. Yet, in the moment, even that feels like just another magic Bloodstock moment. More akin to III from Sleep Token joining Trvium last year than a final goodbye from one of metals biggest names. That is until the band are taking their last bow and Derrick casually thanks the crowd for years of support and reminds us we’ve just seen their last show in the UK. Leaving us speechless at the reality of a world where both Sepultura and the Cavaleras alike are collectively calling it a day.
We don’t have too long to lament though. Because tonight’s main event, Lamb of God (10) are up next. It’s difficult to believe it’s been twenty years since Sacrament first landed on store shelves and cemented them as the titans of heavy metal they’ve become. But since then, the wrecking crew from Richmond Virginia have headlined Bloodstock three times in the festivals lifespan. A feat which puts them neck and neck with godfathers of the genre, Judas Priest and symphonic metal darlings Nightwish for the accolade of most headline performances at the festival.
Despite having been around the block. As well as having seen them top the bill just a few years ago. We’re still blown away by the level of savagery Lamb of God bring to the stage. Kicking things off with a triple threat of Ruin, Laid to Rest and Now You’ve Got Something to Die For. Leaving us and everyone else in the vicinity reeling.
Even when they’re coasting through a show, which doesn’t happen often. Lamb of God are a sight to behold. They’re at the top of their game tonight though. Not so much a band, but a well oiled machine bent on destruction. Helmed by the most intense incarnation of Randy Blythe we’ve seen since he threw himself clean out of his own shoes at Back to the Beginning.
This is not a man who needs to ask for circle pits. He could simply stare a hole in the audience from his pulpit of pyrotechnics until one happens.
Considering the entire stage is decked out in artwork inspired by Into Oblivion. Including the bands “controversial” new logo. They don’t really dip their toes too deep into their latest release. With only the title track, Blunt Force Blues and Parasocial Christ making the cut. All of which sound absolutely brutal. Instead, Lamb of Gods focus tonight seems to be on delivering pure, uncensored shock and awe. A feat which they achieve with practised ease. Loading their set-list with heavy artillery like Omerta, 512 and Walk With me in Hell.
Riding a wave of bone crushing momentum that keeps the capacity crowd in a frenzy for ninety awe inspiring minutes. Before bringing their final encore to an end… not with a song, with a motherfucking invitation… Redneck. Which lands the final knockout blow like Mike Tyson in his prime. Walking away. Sweaty, smiling and nursing at least three crowd surfer related injuries. We have only one question… How long until they’re back again?
For more information on Bloodstock, you can head over to the festivals official website. Where tickets for next years event are already selling fast! Go ahead and give them a follow on social media. Oh and of course, keep an eye out for the rest of our coverage from this years Bloodstock Festival, which will be coming soon!
