Bloodstock // Sophie Lancaster Stage // Friday August 8th
Review + Photography: Jayne Slater / Artur Tarczewski
The sun was already relentless as the first blast of music rolled across the site, the kind of heat that makes every patch of shade feel like prime real estate.
Ofnus, hailing from Wales, opened with a wave of atmospheric black metal that landed with both precision and weight. Their steady, commanding vocals cut cleanly through the dense layers of guitar and drums, giving each track intent and focus. While the performance was sonically tight, there was a certain restraint in their stage presence; just a bit more movement might have pushed the set from solid to unforgettable. Still, it was a strong start that set the tone for the day.
The sun didn’t ease off as Turin took their turn. The homegrown metal band have seen their growth over the past few years be nothing short of remarkable. Confident, tight, and effortlessly commanding the crowd, they worked the stage like seasoned pros. Punchy riffs, sharp timing, and well-placed crowd interaction kept the energy levels high—no small feat when you can practically feel the heat rising off the barrier.
Lock Horns kept that momentum burning. The Northern Irish outfit’s blend of soft, melodic passages and guttural, harsh vocals landed with real force, anchored by resonant bass and pounding drums. They’d clearly made the long trip with something to prove, and from the cheers, it was paying off. Bloodstock got the full measure of their sound, and it left a mark.
By now, the afternoon heat was in full swing, the kind that has you juggling between watching the stage and making sure you’re not melting into the grass. My Diligence, over from Belgium, took that moment and filled it with a rich, genre-blending set. Each member locked to their instrument, they didn’t cover the stage with movement, but instead held the crowd through sheer musical presence. The grounded delivery let their intricate catalogue shine, pulling you into every twist and turn of their sound.
Then Rough Justice arrived, and the energy flipped into pure chaos. They’ve never been ones for a bad show, and today was no exception. Circle pits carved out huge swathes of the ground while surfers poured over the barrier, keeping security constantly on edge. The band thrived in it, delivering a tight, high-octane set where every member locked in perfectly with the others.
Shade Empire brought something entirely different—a flood of immersive, cinematic black metal that pulled the crowd into another world. The Finnish act’s vocalist shifted effortlessly between harsh growls and soft, airy tones, building an aura that was hard to shake. The tent swelled with people, many just passing through, drawn in by the pull of the sound.
Eihwar, a duo, proved that you don’t need numbers to fill a stage. The female vocalist roamed freely, striking the drum with primal force and keeping the energy flowing. Folk-metal fusion seems to be in Bloodstock’s good graces lately, and Eihwar’s set was a perfect example of why—it was spirited, tight, and hard not to move along to.
High Parasite followed with full gothic flair—well, partially. The guitarist and vocalist embraced the costume aesthetic more than the rest, and while it may be an unpopular opinion, a unified wardrobe can really tie a show together. A rocky start left the vocals buried in the mix, but once they came through, the harsh growls added weight to their sound. The guitarists stole the spotlight, always on the move and constantly hyping the crowd.
By the time Nailbomb’s set approached, the air was thick and the crowd restless. Photographers were given a very clear warning about the incoming crowd surfers, and it was no exaggeration. With a legacy rooted in the ’90s and a much-hyped return announced for 2025, the stage was packed—not just the founding duo, but a full band that played as if they’d been together for decades. From the first blast of heavy riffs to the relentless thrash assault, they had the audience in their grip, surfers spilling one after another over the barrier. If you were to bottle the essence of Bloodstock—the noise, the chaos, the sweat—this would be it.
And then came Kataklysm, bringing Canadian death metal to the heart of the Derbyshire countryside to close out Friday in thunderous style. The anticipation was palpable as the crowd surged from the main stage toward the Sophie tent, the air buzzing with expectation. The moment they launched into their set, the intensity was undeniable—blistering riffs, pounding drums, and a vocal performance that never faltered, holding its stability even through the most aggressive growls. Their stage presence was commanding from the first note, driving the energy in the tent to fever pitch. It was the kind of finale that leaves you grinning, drenched in sweat, and already thinking about what tomorrow will bring.
If Friday was this good, Saturday’s got a lot to live up to—and something tells me it’s going to deliver.
Review + Photography: Jayne Slater / Artur Tarczewski
