Mad About Rock

  How about a whole host of excellent BLOODSTOCK news that doesn’t announce a single band? BLOODSTOCKers, we know you’ve been asking, and HQ wants you to have pleeeenty of time to plan the most splendid FANCY DRESS outfits, so without further delay, here are the themes for 2026! On Thursday, we know it’s been done before, but with HEAVYSAURUS on the bill and it being SO MUCH FUN, it has to be DINOSAURS again. That costume you bought a couple years back is now excellent value for money, huh? On Friday, we embrace the dark, the macabre, and the creative… we want to see how you interpret TWISTED FAIRYTALES as a theme! Black widow bitten Miss Muffet? Malice in Wonderland? Goth fairies welcome! Saturday rolls back the clock to the 1980’s! Bring out your best ‘80’s fashion (mullets encouraged, neon leg warmers optional), or be a character from your fave ‘80s movie, TV show, or band! There is no such thing as too much leopard print. On Sunday, there’s a special treat in the RAM Gallery, a...

  After an unforgettable debut last year, BLOODSTOCK’S WINTER GATHERING storms back this winter, bringing the spirit of the UK’s premier metal festival indoors once again for a full day of festive heaviness. Returning to take over KK’s Steelmill, Wolverhampton, on Saturday 5th December 2026, this one-day celebration promises towering riffs, intimate chaos, and all the community magic that BLOODSTOCK is known for. Just a 20-minute walk from Wolverhampton station, with all-day parking nearby for a couple of quid, KK’s Steelmill is easy to get to. Alongside a stacked lineup of crushing bands, there’s a range of food available to help you keep up your energy for 8 hours of solid headbanging, plus a fully stocked bar serving drinks throughout the event, with cash, card, and contactless all accepted. And because December is definitely coat weather, there’s a cloakroom available too - drop off your big coat and warm up in the pit! Doors will open at 2pm, with bands performing from 3pm – 1...

  Fresh off BLOODSTOCK’s inaugural Winter Gathering, this holiday season BLOODSTOCK gifts metalheads something seriously heavy: five exclusive, newly released, pro-shot videos from GOJIRA’s earth-shaking 2025 headline performance, individually re-engineered with the band’s sound engineer to create the best and heaviest listening experience possible. Dropping across the holiday period, these live cuts capture the French titans at full power - a perfect festive binge for fans hungry for riffs. Your essential festive viewing includes “Stranded,” the groove-driven anthem from their 2016 released Magma opus, which airs first, blazing with the ferocity that made it a modern classic. “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!),” which made waves after the band’s blistering performance during the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony, drops next. “Only Pain” follows, also taken from Magma, and showcases GOJIRA’s signature blend of precision and emotional weight. Next, the band’s crushing take on “Under The Sun...

  Have you recovered from the last BLOODSTOCK announcement yet? Well hold onto your battle jacket, because your cries of delight over that news can only be matched by today’s reveal. BLOODSTOCK can now confirm that 2026’s stellar line-up will be further enriched by Bay Area thrash icons TESTAMENT , who have been ripping the UK a new one this month already. With more than 40 years of excellence and influence under their belt, miss their set on the Ronnie James Dio main stage before BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on Sunday at your peril. While you wait, they’ve just dropped their brand new album, Para Bellum, only yesterday via Nuclear Blast - check out its first single ‘Infanticide A.I.’ here . TESTAMENT will be joined by their thrash pals from further down the Californian coastline, LA based THROWN INTO EXILE . If you aren’t familiar with them yet, get your ears around clobbering new single ‘Eternal Nothingness’ here and if it makes you want more, grab their last EP, Passageways, too. They’...

  It’s happening. After years of fans requesting it, BODY COUNT are finally set to tear up BLOODSTOCK in August 2026. The Grammy-winning crew led by Ice-T will make their long-overdue debut as special guests on the Ronnie James Dio main stage on the festival’s final day, Sunday 9th August, playing directly before headliner JUDAS PRIEST. No strangers to controversy or crushing riffs, BODY COUNT have been a rallying cry for raw, unapologetic heavy music since the early ‘90s. Born from Ice-T and guitarist Ernie C’s vision to fuse street grit with blistering metal, the band has built a reputation for leveling every stage they set foot on. With a Grammy win for Best Metal Performance (for ‘Bum-Rush’ off their Carnivore album) under their belt, they’re louder, harder, and more relevant than ever. Festival director Vicky Hungerford comments, “After 10 years of trying we FINALLY get Body Count to Bloodstock!!! This is going to be one of the most memorable shows the festival has ever seen...

  BLOODSTOCK is delighted to return to Catton Park in August 2026 to celebrate its 25th anniversary - will you be there to celebrate this momentous occasion with everyone? With 2025’s event fully underway with headliners TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA melting faces this weekend (alongside 120+ more bands), BLOODSTOCK cordially invites you to get excited for 2026 too, by revealing the first 25 bands set to make 2026 the festival’s best year yet. You can snap up tickets immediately at the on site box office at an early bird price, saving yourself the booking fee. More info on all ticket types and on sale dates is further below. BLOODSTOCK is overjoyed to welcome back titans of groove metal, the unmistakable LAMB OF GOD as Friday’s headliner on the Ronnie James Dio stage. Frontman D. Randall Blythe states, "We are thrilled to return to headline Bloodstock in 2026! The UK is one of our favourite countries in the world to play and Bloodstock is one of our favourite festivals. And...

  BLOODSTOCK IS NEXT WEEK!!! Let that sink in, only one more weekend to go!! And there’s a whole host of information to share from more details about this year’s event to how and when you can get the cheapest tickets for 2026, so read on, dear metalhead, for the full lowdown. OZZY First off though, all at Team BLOODSTOCK are devastated at the loss of Ozzy, the one and only Prince Of Darkness. Some members of our team were lucky enough to be at Villa Park for the almighty Black Sabbath’s incredible final show, others watched the live stream… all were moved. The impact that Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne had on heavy metal can never be overstated. It’s been touching to see all the tributes from across the world since his passing, and we know BLOODSTOCKers have big hearts. There will now be an unmissable 17m Ozzy tribute wall next to the main stage (by the charity stands), and BLOODSTOCK encourages all fans to write their heartfelt messages of tribute and/or condolence on it. There w...