Bloodstock 2025 // The Sophie Lancaster Stage // Saturday August 9th
Review + Photography: Jayne Slater
Friday was a scorcher, and Saturday morning brought a nice breeze that descended slowly into another boiling pit. The sun was already creeping over the arena as people began staggering out of their tents — some still clearly feeling the effects of last night’s Linkin Park afterparty. The air was heavy with that early-day festival stillness, but the first act was ready to break it.
Ireosis, Yorkshire’s own, were tasked with waking up the Bloodstock faithful, and they handled the “morning shift” like seasoned pros. The crowd wasn’t at capacity — plenty were still horizontal somewhere in the campsite — but those who made it were rewarded with high-energy riff anthems and infectious stage presence. The band interacted at every opportunity, coaxing more and more response from a slightly bleary-eyed audience. It was the kind of set that shakes the cobwebs off, even if you didn’t think you had the energy to move.
Vnder a Crvmbling Moon followed, bringing a different kind of awakening. Their atmospheric, genre-blending approach filled the Sophie tent with textured melodies and slow-building crescendos — a gentle but intriguing contrast to the more straightforward heaviness of earlier bands. They’ve clearly carved themselves a space in the post-metal scene, and with a stronger visual stage setup, they could be a serious force. As it was, their sound alone was enough to draw people steadily from the sunshine into the shade.
Ba’al kept the Sheffield representation strong, opening with shimmering atmospheric riffs before dropping harsh vocals that landed like a jolt to the chest. The music itself was tight and layered, the interplay between melodic passages and more punishing sections striking a nice balance. Still, there were long instrumental stretches with little movement or interaction, leaving pockets of “empty” stage space. It’s the kind of gap you sense they’ll grow into over time — because when the vocalist did address the crowd between songs, the response was warm and immediate. A promising showing with room to evolve.
The heat outside was unrelenting, but Pengshui shifted the energy indoors in a completely different direction. Their nu-metal/hardcore hybrid was a bolt of adrenaline, and the 3-piece took complete command of the stage from the first beat. Rapped verses, crushing breakdowns, and grooves you could feel in your chest had the crowd surging, with a good chunk singing along word-for-word. They might not be the heaviest act on the bill, but the pit was chaos, and along the barrier, heads were banging in unison.
Waterlines made their return to Bloodstock after winning over the New Blood Stage in 2023, now stepping up to the Sophie tent with confidence. The northern 4-piece have been on a sharp upward trajectory, rebranding and reshaping their sound into a polished electronic metalcore hybrid. The crowd was theirs from the start, whether bouncing along to the riffs or linking arms for the band’s signature “daisy chain” movement. The vocalist’s banter kept the energy up between songs, and their enthusiasm was matched by their physicality, each member making full use of the stage.
From there, things heated up — literally — as Phoenix Lake brought fire to the Sophie stage. Hailing from Nottingham, they paired their classic-meets-modern heavy metal sound with full pyrotechnics and smoke cannons. The music drew in both older fans and younger metalheads, with a vocal delivery so crisp and controlled it felt like the frontman had been doing this for decades. The fire bursts were more than spectacle; they gave the music extra punch, accentuating big moments in each song.
As the smoke cleared, two performers emerged with flaming swords in hand — the unmistakable herald of Neonfly. Years of relentless touring have built them a loyal following, and their festival experience showed. They delivered a tight, high-energy set of classic rock swagger fused with heavier riffs and pounding drums, creating an atmosphere thick with hype. The visual elements, combined with the musical power, had all eyes locked on the stage. You couldn’t help but think how well they’d pair with a theatrical act like Creeper on tour.
Then came Undeath, all the way from New York, and any hint of subtlety went straight out the window. Their thrash-and-hardcore-infused death metal was a blunt-force assault, and the crowd responded instantly. A simple challenge from the vocalist — “I want to see more of you come over the fence” — triggered a relentless surge of crowd surfers from every direction. His guttural vocals were filthy in the best possible way, locking the audience in a chokehold from start to finish.
Breed 77 brought a unique flavour to the lineup. Travelling from Gibraltar, they’ve long been pioneers in blending flamenco and Latin influences into metal — a combination so rare it’s practically its own genre. Their synergy on stage was magnetic; every member pulled focus in different moments, making it impossible to watch just one part of the performance. The sound was rich, textured, and unmistakably theirs.
And then it was time for a true industrial-metal institution: Static-X. For many, they’ve been part of the soundtrack to discovering heavy music, and their ability to blend cyber-themed aesthetics with crushing riffs is second to none. The vocalist’s masked presence was already captivating, but two songs in, a giant Frankenstein puppet roamed the stage, bobbing along with the beat. The whole set felt like a metal party — theatrical, fun, and unrelenting — the perfect way to keep the crowd buzzing until the midnight hour and into the afterparty.
Saturday closed on a high, both in temperature and in energy. The heat was brutal, the pits were wilder, and the music hit just as hard as Friday’s — if not harder. With Sunday left to go, the final day of Bloodstock 2025 is shaping up to be something special. If the last two days have taught us anything, it’s that this crowd isn’t slowing down for anything.
Review + Photography: Jayne Slater
