I usually try to get my Bloodstock coverage up sooner than this, but with my “real job” buggering about with my holidays I have had zero time since returning from four days of metal before being chucked back into the harsh reality of “this is what pays the bills”. If anyone can let me know how to make this site pull in enough for me to switch careers, I know a press tent full of people who’d be interested in listening to you!
I’m currently sat in my nice cool kitchen and finding it hard to believe that seven days ago I was alternating between an oven and a sauna depending on whether I was outside or inside. As anyone who was there will know, Bloodstock was hot this year. Damn hot. And not just the music! The New Blood tent was often a pleasant respite, being busy but not rammed and as a result I think a lot of people hung around and caught some bands they otherwise wouldn’t have seen.
And what bands! The New Blood line-up this year was particularly strong (which is saying something) though I didn’t catch as many as I would have liked due to interview commitments and the heat. Off the top of my head: Fyresky, Prolapse AD, Collected, Silen, Draconian Reign, Cast in Tephra and Novacrow were amongst those I did manage to see for a bit. There wasn’t one who disappointed. Fyresky‘s vocalist really knows how to hit the high notes while their petite pink-haired guitarist surprised me with death growls! Prolapse AD reminded me, both in musical style and level of humour, of Lawnmower Death many years ago when they were still funny (we love you, LD!). Draconian Reign were just outright scary and powerful. Novacrow rocked our tits off, which I gather was their intent.
I caught surprisingly few bands on the main stage, missing quite a lot on Friday for reasons I’ll get to shortly. Bloodywood were bloody brilliant and I look forward to their postponed shows over here in the new year. Following them on the Sophie stage, though, were what killed my Friday (and almost killed me), the secret set by Marmite band Machine Head. Yes, I know I’m seeing them in a couple of weeks in Glasgow but no way was I missing this! Featuring live debuts of three songs (“BECØME THE FIRESTØRM” and “CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE” from the upcoming album ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN, and the Roadrunner United track “The Dagger”), this was a special setlist for a special occasion.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Before the set started, I was talking to a large chap next to me and getting somewhat lightheaded with the heat. Common sense said that I’m 50, out of shape and too warm. So I should stay at the side and watch.
However, I have very little (if any) common sense. I’d got near the front and by the time “FIRESTØRM” was halfway through I was in the middle of the pit and even sweatier than I had been 3 minutes previously. The one hour set just flew by, containing only ten songs, but some of them were of typical MH protracted length. The biggest surprise was perhaps the lack of “Old”, but the set finished with a huge rendition of “Halo” that had me so fucking pumped that I was in tears. I have had 12 months of so many emotional ups and downs that I didn’t realise what I was bottling up. I needed this. An hour of complete mayhem to one of my favourite bands was enough for my brain to go “this is it… get it all out”.
As the song reached its crescendo I surfed to the front to escape via the photo pit as I had an interview to get to. Not that I was in any fit shape to do it! As I said earlier: broken. Absolutely drenched in sweat, emotional and more dehydrated than I think I’ve been since my last trip to Vietnam. Thank you to the bands who put up with me afterwards (especially Red Method and Ireosis) as I was a sweaty mess. Mind you, so was pretty much everyone else on Friday.
The net result of realising that the human body needs a regular supply of water and I’d failed to maintain that supply was a period of required rest out of the sun while I drank so much water that at any other time I’d have drowned in it. Thank you to the press crew for looking out for me, and Katie for the bottle of water! I missed Exodus, Testament, GWAR and Party Cannon who’d all been on my “to see” list. At least I caught the last two in Glasgow on Tuesday.
More thoughts in Part 2 shortly…
wpDiscuz