BLOODSTOCK Open Air: the Breakdown (Part One)
BLOODSTOCK Open Air 2026 got off to a suitably explosive start as the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary with a weekend packed with heavy metal, hardcore, thrash and everything in between. Across the first two days, we caught performances from established legends, rising new blood talent and some unexpected standout acts, with plenty of mosh pits, crowdsurfers and festival chaos along the way. The celebrations also brought an exciting glimpse into the future, with Bloodstock already announcing the first wave of bands set to play next year’s festival. You can read our full article on the 2027 lineup here. From classic metal icons to fresh faces, here’s our recap of the first two days.
Thursday: Black Spiders (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
Sheffield rockers Black Spiders kicked off our BLOODSTOCK experience on the Sophie Lancaster Stage, immediately setting the tone with their raucous brand of hard rock, sharpened with a healthy punk edge. Known for touring alongside legends including the late Ozzy Osbourne, the band brought plenty of swagger and attitude to the stage.
Their performance was pure foot-stomping rock’n’roll fun, with enough energy to get the blood pumping and the crowd moving. They were the perfect choice to start the festival, delivering the perfect rock sound that feels made for a festival environment.
Thursday: Saxon (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Over on the Ronnie James Dio Stage, headliners and British Heavy Metal pioneers Saxon proved exactly why they have remained a force in metal for almost five decades. Formed in Barnsley in 1977, the band dominated the stage with a set packed with classics, including ‘Denim and Leather’, ‘Wheels of Steel’ and ‘Dogs of War’. Frontman Biff Byford commanded the crowd with the confidence of a man who has been doing this since forever. We can only hope our own hairlines and vocal cords are holding up quite as well when we reach his age!
Saxon’s performance was technically faultless, with every member at the top of their game and not a note seemingly out of place. The production was suitably theatrical too, featuring a giant eagle that descended onto the stage and lit up during several songs. At one point it even appeared to mimic a Boeing 747 in flight, adding a wonderfully over-the-top visual spectacle without ever distracting from the band themselves.
With a set that could make even legendary bands like Iron Maiden envious, Saxon reminded everyone why they remain such an important part of British heavy metal history. Here's hoping they keep playing for many years to come.
Thursday: Cryptopsy (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
Closing out day one on the Sophie Lancaster Stage were Montreal extreme metal outfit Cryptopsy. They might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those of us who enjoy our metal pushed to its most extreme limits, they were a fitting way to end the night. Cryptopsy blasted the audience with an ear-splitting combination of technical brutality and extreme metal intensity. The vocals were, at times, almost incomprehensible, exactly as they should be, while the sheer volume left our ears ringing. If you like your metal excruciatingly loud, uncompromising and to the extreme, Cryptopsy delivered in abundance.
Friday: Sellsword (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
Friday began with a siege on the Sophie Lancaster Stage courtesy of Sellsword. Complete with banners and a microphone stand made out of a real sword, the band certainly committed to their aesthetic. Thankfully, the performance matched the visuals. Powerful vocals and a fun, energetic stage presence made them an excellent way to start the second day, proving once again that BLOODSTOCK’s smaller stages can be just as entertaining as the main event.
Friday: Archaea (New Blood Tent)
Next, we headed to the New Blood Tent for Merseyside newcomers Archaea. As their frontman put it, we arrived with “shoes full of dust, bellies full of beer, and hearts full of love” and the band gave us plenty to enjoy. Their bass-driven hard rock and metal had the tent moving, while the vocalist demonstrated a decent range between clean and screamed vocals. New track ‘As You Decide’ was a particular standout, suggesting Archaea could be a band worth keeping an eye on as they continue to develop.
Friday: Life of Agony (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
New York hardcore legends Life of Agony brought a heavier dose of excitement to the Ronnie James Dio Stage. Their drum-heavy sound came with plenty of fierce energy, making for an excellent festival performance. With six studio albums behind them, there is plenty for new listeners to discover and their BLOODSTOCK set offered a compelling introduction to a band with a substantial history.
Friday: Fit for an Autopsy (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Fit for an Autopsy turned the intensity up several notches with their devastating combination of technical metal, death metal and hardcore. Their eardrum-bursting sound was impossible to ignore, even from across the arena. ‘Pandora’ was a particular highlight, opening up a gigantic circle pit that swallowed moshers whole like a tornado. Considering the summer heat was pushing towards 30°C, the sheer commitment of the crowd was impressive. Brutal, precise and completely unmissable.
Friday: Concrete Age (New Blood Tent)
One of our standout discoveries of the entire festival came in the New Blood Tent with Concrete Age. Formed in the North Caucasus region in 2014, the band combine death metal and thrash influences with traditional instruments including the Kalyuka and Sarod. The result is something genuinely innovative. Their sound is heavily driven by bass and rhythm, creating music that doesn’t just reach your ears but resonates deep in your gut. It was a fascinating performance and one that left us convinced Concrete Age are definitely a band to watch.
Friday: Biohazard (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Biohazard had an extra reason to celebrate at this year's 25th Anniversary edition of BLOODSTOCK, with the New York hardcore legends also marking 35 years of Biohazard. Their fierce hardcore sound was balanced by an unexpected moment of festival silliness when giant black inflatable balls were unleashed into the crowd. What followed was pure chaos, with fans batting the enormous inflatables around for the remainder of the set. Old and new fans alike were treated to a memorable performance, and we can only hope some of the madness makes its way into the band’s upcoming 35th anniversary documentary.
Friday: Municipal Waste
The main stage also became the scene of a world-record attempt, with bands competing to achieve the highest number of crowdsurfers during a single song. Municipal Waste didn’t just participate, but absolutely smashed it, reaching an incredible 1,013 crowdsurfers. “Municipal Waste are gonna fuck you up”, vocalist Tony Foresta warned the crowd and they certainly did. Fan favourites including ‘Slime and Punishment’ and ‘Mind Eraser’ fuelled a bombastic, high-energy set complete with shooting flames and plumes of smoke. Their fun, feral take on thrash was impossible not to enjoy, and we’re sure they picked up plenty of new fans in the process.
Friday: Sepultura (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Brazilian metal icons Sepultura brought 40 years of experimentation and evolution to the main stage. Their set moved effortlessly between groove-heavy sections and full-throttle thrash, showcasing the technical skill that has helped them maintain such longevity. ‘The Place’, from their new EP The Cloud of Unknowing, was a standout, with the bass taking centre stage and driving the song forward. It was the kind of track you don't simply hear, but feel it in your gut. ‘Means to an End’ was another beast entirely, while a horde of percussionists flooding the stage during a song celebrating the band’s Brazilian heritage providing one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Sepultura's longevity makes perfect sense when watching them live. Rather than becoming trapped by their history, they continue to experiment, incorporating doom, groove and thrash influences to keep their sound fresh. After four decades, they remain every bit as capable of surprising their audience — and that’s no doubt exactly what makes them such enduring metal icons.
Friday: Lamb of God (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Headliners Lamb of God blasted into their set with ‘Ruin’, running straight into ‘Laid to Rest’ and ‘Now You’ve Got Something to Die For’. Starting with three fan favourites could only bode well, with tracks from Lamb of God (2020) and Into Oblivion (2026) mixed in with older songs to keep both old and new fans happy.
The stage setup was simpler than Friday’s Saxon headline show, but the projection panels and back screen were used well, with album and music video graphics that added to the performance without distracting from it. Pyro, smoke and fireworks were also used just the right amount to emphasise the songs. Musically, Lamb of God were at the top of their game. Randy Blythe went from the haunting opening of ‘Memento Mori’ straight back into his signature guttural vocals, while whipping the crowd into a frenzy. A massive wall of death and one of the biggest circle pits we’ve ever seen made for an unforgettable set. Our only complaint? We wanted more! Fifteen songs wasn’t bad for a festival, though, and ‘Redneck’ was the perfect ending.
Friday: Wednesday 13 (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
To finish the night, Wednesday 13 brought horror-punk and heavy metal to the Sophie Lancaster Stage. With excessive eyeliner, costume changes, sweets thrown from a Halloween pumpkin and three encore songs, they were chaotic, campy and incredibly fun. Two Murderdolls songs paid tribute to Joey Jordison, adding a touching moment to an otherwise wild set. It was a brilliant end to an already killer day.
