Bloodstock 2021
“Will it happen?” has thankfully been replaced by “let’s do this.” There’s even sunshine instead of the biblical squalls we have been used to, and the forecast is looking good too. Never mind the skies though, all the action is down here on the ground, and the air is ringing with the sweet and brutal sound of Metal.
Onslaught as headliners were red hot, mainly due to bringing enough pyro to burn your face off, so much so that the pit was cleared as it was way too dangerous to take photos. The veterans showed no sign of slowing down, maintaining their influential status. Security reported dragging an astounding 270 revellers over the barrier—no such thing as peaking too soon here.
Thursday Fury meant business early doors with a beefed-up classic sound guarantee to blow the space dust out of just-woken eyes. They were a last-minute replacement for Mother Vulture. There have been many changes, unsurprisingly, but the ability of the bands and event organizers to put on a seamless show is legendary. Ashen Crown gave us our fix of agPHOTOS: JOHN INGLIS
It’s here, it’s true, it’s real. We are standing in the hallowed ground of Bloodstock, with freshly glittered nails, our entrance has been secured, and the heart in mouth feeling of the past few weeks caused by the pandemic uncertainty can finally start to abate.
PHOTOS: JOHN INGLIS
METALTALK • OCTOBER 2021
Onslaught
Wednesday Anakim were the first band on the Sophie stage, the Dorset Death Metallers fizzing with energy and packing in the layers of sounds. Ward XVI impressed with their theatricality, the full show an amalgamation of gothic and horror tropes which didn’t feel contrived and set a mood of danger and intensity, making sure the adrenaline was pumping. 54
