BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012

DATE:

VENUE:

Friday 10th August - Sunday 12th August 2012

Catton Hall in Derbyshire, UK

Sepultura at Bloodstock Open Air, 10th August 2012

Photograph copyright © 2012 Graham Hilling - www.metal-discovery.com

Reviews by Mark Holmes & Hannah Sylvester; Photography by Mark Holmes & Graham Hilling

(Freedom Call; The Commander-In-Chief; Grand Magus)

(Moonsorrow; Andraste; Sepultura; Dio Disciples)

(Watain; Alcest; Behemoth)

(Splintered Soul; I Am I; Dripback; Chthonic; Crowbar)

(Rising Dream; Mayhem; Bull-Riff Stampede; Winterfylleth)

(Tempus Fusion; Witchsorrow; Sight of Emptiness; Testament; Machine Head)

(Kobra and the Lotus; Corrosion of Conformity; Flayed Disciple)

(Nile; The Black Dahlia Murder; Anvil; Shattered Skies)

(Paradise Lost; Dimmu Borgir; Alice Cooper)

MOONSORROW

Moonsorrow, who rarely play these shores, make a welcome return to the main stage after being one of the highlights of the festival in 2008. Flawless from start to finish, the Finns play a stunningly slick five song set of mainly older material, kicking off with the epic blackened-folk ‘Ukkosenjumalan Poika’ from ‘Suden Uni’, with the only recent track being the more keys-heavy ‘Huuto’ from their latest album. Considering the blistering heat and blinding sunlight the band and crowd have to contend with, Sorvali and co. pull off one of the most vibrant and energetic performances I have seen from them, and in fine harmony vocal too, with a serious (or probably, more so, knackered from the heat) but very appreciative rune-adorned, drinking horn swilling crowd joining in, with much air punching and the audience seemingly in fine voice too. A highlight of the weekend and one of those sets that passes by way too quickly. Here’s hoping they don’t leave it so long before they return to the UK again. (HS)

FRIDAY 10th AUGUST - PART 2

SEPULTURA

It's been a long time since I last caught Sepultura live at a rather impressive 2003 performance at the Academy 2 in Manchester so I was relishing the opportunity to witness these legendary Brazilian metallers in live action once again. Just before 5pm and with the sun at its hottest on this first day of Bloodstock, the intro music from 'Arise' resonates from the PA which, somewhat disjointedly, switches abruptly to the 'Beneath the Remains' intro and it's the latter track they open with ('Arise' appears much later in their 45 minute set). Sticking to retro mode, 'Refuse/Resist' is up next, before airing the title track from latest album 'Kairos'. Sepultura, quite simply, sound amazing. With just the sole guitar of Andreas Kisser, they have a surprisingly impressive sound of full-on metal fury, aided by the ever reliable bass playing of Paulo Jr and newcomer behind the kit Eloy Casagrande. At just twenty one years of age, Casagrande is an asset to the band and their sound, seemingly injecting their live show with a renewed energy as he beats his kit with unrestrained energy and rhythmic precision. Then there's the formidable stature of frontman Derrick Green who, today, if not before, will surely have quashed dissenters of a post-Max Sepultura. The American singer is a frontman par excellence and owns Bloodstock's main stage with full command over an audience who show their appreciation and sustained enthusiasm for Sepultura in 2012 with mass movement and pits galore. The remainder of the set is a nice balance of old and new which includes a guest vocal appearance of Dio Disciples' Tim "Ripper" Owens on 'Territory' and closer 'Roots Bloody Roots' which sends the crowd into a predictable pit frenzy. Sepultura have set a high standard on Bloodstock's first day and it'll take something rather special on the Ronnie James Dio stage to top the might of their exhilarating metal attack. Incredible stuff. (MH)

DIO DISCIPLES

With Bloodstock's main stage re-named the Ronnie James Dio stage in 2010 following the cancellation of Heaven & Hell's planned headline appearance after the sad passing of the great man himself, the booking of Dio Disciples seems somehow more apposite than any other band this weekend. Constituted by a collection of musicians who are either famed from playing with Dio in his band/s over the years or a prominent name within the scene in their own right (Tim "Ripper" Owens fronts this troupe), the sole purpose of their formation is to pay tribute to Dio and his music, keeping the man's legacy alive and thriving on the live stage. And indicative of their unpretentious demeanour, they agreed to play in an earlier time slot than that for which they were originally booked as Swedish black metallers Watain apparently refused to perform at the festival until sundown. However, switching with Watain meant an extended set time for this jolly bunch of musicians so they end up entertaining Bloodstock's audience for 75 minutes rather than the originally scheduled hour. Unfortunately, due to interview commitments, I only manage to catch the first 25 minutes of their set but, during that time, I witness Catton Hall transform into one big party as Dio's music is performed with skill, respect and gusto, and is lapped up enthusiastically by a sun-drenched crowd. Bloodstock's Ronnie James Dio stage has finally had the chance to live up to its name. (MH)

Reviews by Mark Holmes & Hannah Sylvester; Photography by Mark Holmes & Graham Hilling

(Freedom Call; The Commander-In-Chief; Grand Magus)

(Moonsorrow; Andraste; Sepultura; Dio Disciples)

(Watain; Alcest; Behemoth)

(Splintered Soul; I Am I; Dripback; Chthonic; Crowbar)

(Rising Dream; Mayhem; Bull-Riff Stampede; Winterfylleth)

(Tempus Fusion; Witchsorrow; Sight of Emptiness; Testament; Machine Head)

(Kobra and the Lotus; Corrosion of Conformity; Flayed Disciple)

(Nile; The Black Dahlia Murder; Anvil; Shattered Skies)

(Paradise Lost; Dimmu Borgir; Alice Cooper)

ANDRASTE

So, it’s 4 o’clock on a Friday afternoon in the blazing sunshine and scorching heat, and there’s quite a little gathering accumulating around the Jäger acoustic stage mid-site. Bloodstock is distinctly folk metal-lite this year and this has, without a doubt, favoured this Manchester folk metal quintet’s (with Susan Harris as a sixth member today, playing violin) chances of attracting a larger audience for those in the know. One problem though…cheese is still emanating at stupidly loud volumes from the main stage PA. Yup, Iced Earth’s engineer clearly doesn’t have a care in the world about the decibel levels! Tuned up and ready to play, the band decides sensibly to hang fire for 15 minutes so they can at least be heard, but it’s seriously worth the wait. Cramming more instruments onto the tiny stage than your average band (spikey mandola, mandolin, guitars-a-plenty, violin, bass, drums, tin whistles…), Andraste (not A Andraste as they had been billed) launch their set with a fantastic 4-part vocal harmony. Impressive stuff. Vocalist/guitarist/mandolin player Atticus announces the next song as ‘The Enchantress’, a song about paganism and how it’s dying out. Featuring skilful tin whistle playing over growled vocal, folk violin, and very slick and tight bass, and more vocal harmony; whilst clearly fitting into the “folk metal” genre, they have a very unique and quintessential English feel to them, with a distinct black metal influence. Continuing with tracks from their album ‘The Secret Valley’, including songs about the Norman invasion of England, pirates, a new track influenced by renowned folk whistle player Mike McGoldrick (apparently!) and the excellent ‘Realm of the Supernatural’, they even let the drummer (who is a humorous chap to watch live – more bands should have daft drummers) out from behind the kit to play left handed acoustic on one song. An extremely enjoyable set and a collective of very talented musicians. (HS)