8th August 2025
A good warm, dry and sunny day. Coffee for breakfast
Ofnus
Epic, atmospheric black metal at 10:30 a.m. is always surreal, but Cardiff’s Ofnus, driven by their impressive Valediction album, handled the Sophie stage step-up with quiet confidence. The set delivered sweeping, keyboard-laced soundscapes and frenetic tremolo picking, creating an enveloping misery. They wisely front-loaded the show with colossal tracks like the mournful “Proteus.” While not suited for early-morning pit action, it was a deeply effective dose of melancholic grandeur, perfect for clearing the head. This solid, compelling performance proved they absolutely belong on a bigger stage.
Shrapnel
Norwich’s Shrapnel opened the main stage on Friday, handling the tough, early slot with professionalism. Drawing mostly from their latest album, In Gravity, the set featured their metalcore-infused sound. Frontman Daniel Moran’s energy got the morning crowd moving, effectively setting a solid, heavy tone for the rest of the day.
Famyne
Famyne’s debut on the Ronnie James Dio main stage at Bloodstock 2025 was a quiet, definitive triumph. During their early Friday slot, the Kent doomsters created a heavy, resonant soundscape, cutting through the midday heat. Vocalist Tom Vane commanded the space, anchoring the complex, melancholic riffs that felt both massive and grounded. This steady, compelling performance simply confirmed they are built for the big stage.
Bloodstock – The Battle of Bloodstock – Viking Combat
Inbetween bands, Selina and I went to watch ‘The Battle of Bloodstock‘, this is a full-contact competitive Viking combat event held annually at the Bloodstock Open Air heavy metal festival in the UK. Far from mere historical re-enactment, this is a genuine, un-choreographed athletic competition where warriors from across the country compete in one-on-one duels (known as Holmgang) and team battles to be crowned champions.
Konvent
We caught the end of Konvent, a pure, stripped-back set of crushing death-doom on the main stage.
Flotsam and Jetsam
Flotsam and Jetsam delivered a tight, no-frills masterclass in speed and precision to the Bloodstock crowd early on Friday. Despite the brief mid-afternoon slot, they maximized the energy with foundational tracks like ‘Hammerhead‘ and ‘No Place for Disgrace‘.
The production was pure, relentless energy, not flash. Frontman Eric A.K. Knutson’s vocals remained fierce, perfectly anchoring the dual guitar attack. This was comfortable, reliable classic thrash, proving the fundamentals are enough to kick the dust up at Catton Hall and set a solid bar for the day.
Paleface Swiss
Paleface Swiss, making their main stage debut on the Dio Stage, just got on with it. They delivered a predictably heavy set of bruising deathcore and jolting breakdowns.
Despite the early slot, the crowd response was significant. Avoiding theatrics, they simply unleashed pure, calculated aggression, efficiently delivering the zero-frills brutality promised. It was a strong, functional performance that moved serious dirt around Catton Park—nothing dramatic, just extremely heavy and effective.
Back in VIP Serpent’s Lair
Back in VIP Serpent’s Lair the fun was kicking off, yes it was the conga
Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin’s final festival appearance at Bloodstock Open Air was marked by professional consistency, coinciding with the conclusion of their three-decade tenure. The high-density, riff-centric stoner metal genre executed furnished the requisite aural stimulus for the audience. Subsequently, the core repertoire, featuring “Red Tide Rising” and “Scorpionica,” was delivered with considerable force, validating the ensemble’s established efficacy within the heavy metal canon of the United Kingdom.
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil gave a reliably solid performance on the main stage at Bloodstock 2025, exactly what you’d expect from the Italian veterans. Despite a late start, they quickly hit their stride, opening with “Layers of Time.” Cristina Scabbia’s vocals were incredible, soaring effortlessly over the field, backed by Andrea Ferro’s gruff counterpoint. They hit all the necessary tracks, including “Our Truth” and the classic “Enjoy The Silence” cover. The set was polished and professional: no major surprises, just the consistent quality the gothic anthems demanded.
Pop-Up Puppet Cinema presents Jaws
This event “Pop-Up Puppet Cinema presents Jaws” was a quirky and humorous stage adaptation of the classic film Jaws by the troupe known as Pop-Up Puppet Cinema. It filled in the time before the next band was on, and gave us time to drink some real ales and ciders. What with ciders, puppet shows and finding something to eat for supper, we missed the band Emperor. Instead we were refreshed are ready to enjoy Trivium to the maximun.
Trivium
Trivium’s impactful Bloodstock 2025 headline performance featured flawless execution and augmented stage production, including pyrotechnics. The band’s professional authority drove significant crowd dynamics. Strategically mixing Ascendancy tracks with newer material, and featuring guest collaborations, the set conclusively validated their enduring mastery.
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