BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2010

DATE:

VENUE:

Friday 13th August - Sunday 15th August 2010

Catton Hall in Derbyshire, UK

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

CHILDREN OF BODOM; FEAR FACTORY; DEVIN TOWNSEND; AMORPHIS; OBITUARY; EDGUY; ONSLAUGHT; LEAVES' EYES; ANDROMEDA

OPETH; MESHUGGAH; POWERWOLF; SONATA ARCTICA; GORGOROTH; CATHEDRAL; ENSIFERUM; RAGE; ROSS THE BOSS; BLACK SPIDERS

Reviews by Elena Francis & Mark Holmes; Photography by Mark Holmes

SUNDAY

TWISTED SISTER; CANNIBAL CORPSE; BLOODBATH; GWAR; KORPIKLAANI; DORO; HOLY MOSES; SUFFOCATION; BONDED BY BLOOD

Reviews by Elena Francis & Mark Holmes; Photography by Mark Holmes

GWAR

When warning signs have been posted by the entrance to the photopit stating - "If you shoot Gwar it is at your own risk!!! It is your responsibility to protect your gear from blood, spunk and nuclear waste, which will damage your equipment. Look out for decapitations and dismemberments!!!", you know that this will not be your average show. Further, members of the stage crew start to cover monitor speakers etc in black bin bags and clingfilm in some sort of last minute realisation that things could get pretty messy up there. That's not to mention members of the security team and photographers dressing themselves in plastic ponchos that are conveniently placed in a box at the front of the photopit (presumably in case of rain as with the last two days). Previously aware of the American nutters propensity to cover as much of their audience in as much gunk as possible, having never caught them live before, I wasn't entirely certain to what extent this would materialise. And materialise it most certainly did in vast quantities of non-descript fluids. During first song 'Metal Metal Land' from last year's impressive 'Lust In Space' album, we have our first mutilation as a tall monster is decapitated before he assumes position on a platform centre stage to wield his neck in every direction, splattering as many people as possible with fake blood (that's propelled quite a distance). Third track in, 'Ham on the Bone' sees a zombie Hitler masturbating for the duration of the song, ejaculating yet more gunk on Bloodstock's audience who seem to be lapping it up (the spectacle that is, not the ejaculate). And so Gwar's set continues with more depravity, horror and blood than most other bands would struggle to fit into a forty five minute set - other memorable moments being a gay Nazi Pope and a canon on wheels that has sat dormant by the side of the stage for the band's whole set, only to be utilised right at the end to project even more grimy liquids over an already saturated audience. Aside from the 'shock' value of Gwar's show, there's also a plethora of adeptly performed punk-edged metal tunes on offer - it would be easy to forget such with all the visual mayhem that ensues, but they are also skilled musicians as well as showmen, with frontman and founding member Oderus Urungus (aka. Dave Brockie), a 'ringmaster' of sorts, at the helm. Perhaps what impresses me more than anything, though, is the professionalism of Gwar's performance in terms of how slick events unfold what with so much going on. Even more impressive considering a truck containing their props, costumes and gear etc only arrived on site half an hour before showtime. One of the performances of the weekend. Fucking fantastic stuff. (MH)

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SUNDAY 15th AUGUST - PART 2

BLOODBATH

Who would have guessed that combining half of Opeth’s line-up and half of Katatonia’s would result in a filthy death metal band? Bloodbath’s appearance at Bloodstock is a UK exclusive and the air is thick with anticipation for the Opeth and Katatonia alliance. Beginning with ‘Ways to the Grave’ from the ‘Resurrection through Carnage’ debut, the quintet’s intense death metal incites mosh pits rapidly, raising the temperature to turn flesh to pork. It is strange to see vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt donning a leather waistcoat and black aviators like a delinquent member of L.A. Guns who refused to dye his hair black, but his persona is still the same. His in-between song banter consists of the same dry humour that Opeth live shows have become popular for. In response to a sign at the front of the stage that requested not to stand there, Akerfeldt remarks “I’m not breaking the law like Judas Priest.” The setlist hits gold with all of the Swedes’ releases, including the title track of the ‘Breeding Death’ EP, the band’s debut recording. ‘The Fathomless Mastery’ material is very well digested, particularly ‘Mock the Cross’. Playing older material meant enjoying the likes of ‘Soul Evisceration’, ‘Mass Strangulation’ and ‘Cancer of the Soul’. Guitarist Sodomizer (or ‘Mr. Assfucker’, as Akerfeldt dubbed him) handles the Dan Swano era work with great comfort. Of course the anthem that everyone near the front desires to hear is ‘Eaten’ with several calls for the song throughout the set. When Bloodbath stop teasing the audience and satisfy them with this harrowing title, the audience reaction from the front alone can probably be heard by the Mexican food stall at the back of the field. ‘Eaten’ stomps all over the spectators who are more than happy with being ravaged. Although the band are not the most energetic on stage, the music certainly screamed volumes for them. They essentially sat back and let it do all the work, culminating in an entertaining set. (EF)

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CANNIBAL CORPSE

The torture does not stop as Cannibal Corpse step up to the stage and launch themselves directly into the brief but stinging ‘Scalding Hail’. Mosh pits instantly flare up in homage to the controversial death metal legends and imitators of non-stop windmilling frontman Corpsegrinder, with a neck that undoubtedly marks him impervious to decapitation, are in bountiful supply. The setlist is fairly spread out over the gorehounds’ career and includes the ultra rarity ‘Scattered Remains, Splattered Brains’ from the debut album ‘Eaten Back to Life’ (and the eponymous demo) and the somewhat uncommon ‘Savage Butchery’ from ‘Gore Obsessed’. The remainder of the set is left to Cannibal Corpse favourites, including ‘I Will Kill You’, ‘I Cum Blood’, ‘Make Them Suffer’ and ‘Devoured by Vermin’. ‘Sentenced to Burn’ sounds incredibly intense live, as does the forceful ‘Pounded into Dust’. Instead of ‘Fucked with a Knife’ (which is absent from the setlist today, sadly), ‘I Cum Blood’ is dedicated to all the ladies, which mixes events a little. The technical prowess of the members should not be understated, particularly on the later material; technically speaking, Cannibal Corpse are incredibly underrated although I suppose their ‘image’ overshadows this. The older, more straight-forward death metal songs like ‘Gutted’, ‘Savage Butchery’ and ‘Hammer Smashed Face’ receive greater ovations though. Corpsegrinder announces ‘Hammer Smashed Face’ as the final song and after enjoying probably the most recognisable guitar hook in death metal as well as summoning the largest pit of the festival on the insistence of Corpsegrinder, the frontman retorts “Remember when I said that was the last song? I lied,” which anyone who has seen Cannibal Corpse recently would have known. The sinister ‘Stripped, Raped and Strangled’ rightfully concludes the show and the world’s most popular death metal band have left yet another commanding performance behind them at their Bloodstock debut. No frills death metal here. (EF)

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TWISTED SISTER

And so the time for the final band of the festival to arrive: Twisted Sister. While some may complain that they are not quite metal enough to headline Bloodstock, it was an obvious choice that such a fun group with an inventory of perfect songs such as themselves would be a fantastic decision to conclude the tenth anniversary of Bloodstock. The opening of ‘Come Out and Play’ is heard before the band can be seen and when the anticipation can mount no more, Twisted Sister do indeed come out and play. The iconic Dee Snider and his trademark blonde curls were visible from a mile away and although the band no longer bothers with the flamboyant outfits they are popular for, the Americans still endeavour to produce a highly memorable show. There is a party mist over the audience with many inebriated and everyone in good spirits. The setlist provides a bevy of opportunities for the audience to sing in unison, even those completely unfamiliar with the work of the quartet. ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ is elongated for the fans’ pleasure and indeed every voice in the vicinity sings along to the chorus, which still retains its prominent message in 2010, almost twenty five years since the original release. ‘The Kids are Back’, ‘You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll’, ‘Stay Hungry’, ‘Burn in Hell’ and ‘I Wanna Rock’ secure great ovations and after this slew of tracks, it is impossible to hate Twisted Sister. Many of the audience members cast away their inhibitions and break into full-on dancing throughout the set and this is really the standard that festivals should aspire to. Most impressively, this incarnation of Twisted Sister is the very same that released their debut album back in 1982, Snider is proud to inform the audience, and this is an indescribably impressive feat for any band with such a duration. Original guitarist J.J. French informs the audience that Twisted Sister do not visit the UK as often as they should and promises that they will do so more often, which is greeted with rapturous applause. With an encore cover of the Rainbow classic ‘Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll’, no doubt in tribute to Dio, and ‘S.M.F.’, Twisted Sister wrap up Bloodstock’s 2010 edition perfectly as the crowd thin out with grins plastered to their faces. (EF)

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