Mad About Rock

  There’s just 9 weekends ‘til your heavy metal brethren thunder their way onto Catton Park’s (un)holy lands for BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2025! So it’s about time to reveal the first batch of winners from this year’s hotly contested Metal 2 The Masses finals that have been taking place across the country, earning spots on the Timothy Taylor New Blood stage! These bands have battled their way through their local scenes to claim a coveted slot this August. Friday will see Belfast victors If It Bleeds , a five-piece delivering hardcore-infused metal in spades, make their mark on the New Blood Stage. Joining them are Sheffield champions ThunarWülf , fusing folk melodies, myths, and thunderous riffing; Manchester’s Vmbra , offering a fresh progressive rock/metal hybrid; Compounds , who won over the Southampton final with their punked up, melodic hardcore edge; and Baelfýr , the top dogs in Leicester, bringing a blackened death metal assault with accessible bite. Saturday welcomes Edinburgh’s...