BLOODSTOCK Open Air: the Breakdown (Part Two)
After the festival mayhem of Thursday and Friday, the final two days of BLOODSTOCK Open Air 2026 brought even more variety. From thrash and black metal to progressive, industrial and classic heavy metal, there was something for every kind of metalhead. Here are our highlights from Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday: Imperium (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
Opening day 3 we started out in the Sophie Lancaster Tent to catch Imperium’s set. Uncompromisingly thrash metal, with all the speed and intensity you'd expect and plenty of guitar solos, if you love thrash you can't go wrong with Imperium.
Saturday: The Scratch (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
On a recommendation from a neighbouring camper, we headed over to the Ronnie James Dio Stage to catch The Scratch. The Dublin band defy easy categorisation, and even ‘folk punk rock’ doesn’t quite capture their unusual energy. Driven by acoustic guitars and distinctive percussion, their set was enormous fun, with ‘Cheeky Bastard’ and ‘Gladrags’ particular standouts. Singer and percussionist Daniel Lang was also fantastic at working the crowd. During their cover of Motörhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’, he got a huge wall of death going, much to the delight of the crowd. They’re touring in January, and we’d heartily recommend grabbing a ticket.
Saturday: Nevermore (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Next up on the main stage were the ground-breaking Nevermore, known for their technical prowess and ever-changing lineup. With core members Jeff Loomis and Van Williams carrying the torch, the band promise to honour their legacy whilst pursuing a fresh new sound! Vocalist Berzan Önen has an indescribably powerful voice that demands attention. Their complex guitar shredding combined with intricate drumming and shifting double-bass patterns. Slower sections gradually built into more intense passages, creating songs that constantly increased in intensity. It was well worth a watch – and a mosh.
Saturday: Troll Mother (EMP Stage)
Over at the EMP Stage, we stopped by for Troll Mother’s set. For a two-person band, they make a lot of racket. Their vocalist/drummer switched between guttural growls and falsetto, creating a sound that was hard, fast, dirty… and more than a little bit silly. If you like your music heavy with a sense of humour, they’re worth checking out. Their troll-themed power sludge can be heard on their new EP, ‘Forest Child’.
Saturday: Imperial Demonic (New Blood Tent)
Next, we headed to the New Blood Tent for Irish black metallers Imperial Demonic. Corpse paint, thunderous drumming and raspy vocals created a furious wall of black metal noise and spectacle. The crowd clearly appreciated the performance.
Saturday: Chained Saint (New Blood Tent)
We stayed in the New Blood Tent for one more set, this time catching South Floridian thrashers Chained Saint. Technical issues delayed their performance, leaving them with a smaller crowd than they deserved as their set overlapped with Bleed From Within on the main stage. Despite the setback, they powered through with a confident and fresh take on thrash. Standout tracks ‘Free Reign’ and ‘Snakeskin’ came from their debut album, Blindside. For such a young band, Chained Saint are an incredibly talented bunch. Their lead singer was self-assured and engaging, while the musicianship was genuinely excellent. We look forward to seeing what they do next.
Saturday: Bleed From Within (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Glasgow metalcore giants Bleed From Within ripped through their set with an active crowd from the very beginning. During ‘Stand Down’, vocalist Scott Kennedy got the audience to answer his screams of “out for blood” with “out for war!” The response was deafening. The mosh pit was huge and the crowd was suitably rowdy, showing just how well the band were received. There was plenty of movement across the field, with fans throwing themselves into the songs and keeping the energy high throughout. It was a strong festival showing from the Glasgow five-piece.
Saturday: Leprous (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
To round off another incredible day, we headed back to the Sophie Lancaster Tent for Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. Originally the backing band for Norwegian singer and songwriter Ihsahn, they have since honed their live performance into a well-oiled machine. Despite their 10:40pm start, the crowd had plenty of energy and clearly adored the band. Einar Solberg delivered his signature soaring vocals, opening with ‘Silently Walking Alone’. Their performance also featured the band’s trademark platforms, flames and synchronised dancing. Fan favourites ‘Atonement’ and ‘Nighttime Disguise’ went down particularly well. It was a fitting way to finish another packed day.
Sunday: Graphic Nature (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
We started the final day with nu-metalcore band Graphic Nature on the Ronnie James Dio Stage. Vocalist Harvey Freeman spoke openly about neurodivergence and the experience of not fitting in. He encouraged the men and boys in the audience to express their feelings and work towards reducing suicide rates among men and tackling domestic violence. That openness was particularly refreshing in a genre where machismo can sometimes dominate.
Musically, Graphic Nature blend raw, personal lyrics with crushing metalcore, nu-metal and hip-hop influences. The result was an intense and memorable set, with heavy riffs, electronic elements and huge breakdowns giving their sound plenty of weight live. It was a great performance that showed exactly why the band have been making a name for themselves on the UK metal scene.
Sunday: Testament (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
We stayed at the Ronnie James Dio Stage for American thrash legends Testament, whose set was one of the day’s highlights. After more than four decades, they proved they are still at the top of their game. Their set combined classic tracks with newer material, including fan favourites ‘Over the Wall’ and ‘Practice What You Preach’. Their technical guitar work was matched by an impressive stage setup. A giant inflatable horned skeleton loomed over the band, while projections, fire and smoke added to the spectacle. We also have to mention their guitars, just absolutely beautiful pieces of kit, even to the untrained eye. Their most recent album, Para Bellum, will undoubtedly be finding its way onto plenty of festival-goers’ post-BLOODSTOCK playlists.
Sunday: Dream State (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
We squeezed in Welsh rockers Dream State between headliners. Their set was surprisingly heavy in places, with vocalist Jessica Powell displaying a truly immense range. She moved effortlessly between clean vocals, screams, guttural growls and even the occasional operatic flourish. Powell was also fantastic at working the crowd, getting everyone on their feet to dance and mosh. Tracks such as ‘Words Unsaid’ and ‘Still Dreaming’ were fun and easy to dance to, while the imagery on the screens added another visual element.
Overall, Dream State provided a more mellow break from the day's heavier performances, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sunday: Black Label Society (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Then it was a dash back to the main stage for Black Label Society. Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde was a force to be reckoned with. Images of Ozzy appeared on the screens behind the band, prompting the crowd to chant his name in a touching tribute to the metal legend. Wylde looked suitably cool in his custom leather Black Label Society battle jacket and red-and-green leather kilt. The rest of the band wore matching denim battle jackets, completing the look. With a minimal stage setup, the focus was firmly on the musicianship. The only central features were a platform piled with skulls and a crucifix microphone stand. The band’s guitars were enough to make any aspiring guitarist jealous. Watching the musicians play solos while holding their guitars over their heads or behind their backs was a spectacle we'll not forget.
Sunday: Mushroomhead (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
Over at the Sophie Lancaster Stage, industrial metallers Mushroomhead were introduced by the theme tune to SpongeBob SquarePants. Yes, the entire crowd sang along. Despite the unexpected opener, their set was startlingly heavy. Combining masks, horror-inspired imagery and bombastic energy, they delivered something that was difficult to categorise but incredibly entertaining. The masks, percussion and matching boiler suits inevitably brought Slipknot to mind, but sonically Mushroomhead were very much their own beast. We’ll definitely be exploring their back catalogue.
Sunday: Body Count (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Of all the bands you’d expect to bring children on stage, Body Count probably wouldn’t be the first that springs to mind. Yet Ice-T invited the youngest Body Count fans onto the stage, and brothers Harrison and Sebastian are unlikely to forget the experience. He spoke to them about dealing with bullies before launching into ‘Talk Shit, Get Shot’. Meanwhile, Ice-T's son Lil Ice, who is also a member of the band, crowd-surfed into the pit and joined the mosh for a song. The band’s version of‘Disorder’was described by Ice-T as what you get when you mix The Exploited, Slayer and Body Count. It certainly got the crowd moving. The set was ferocious and packed with scathing social commentary on racism, police brutality and gang violence. Body Count left the crowd thoroughly energised and ready for the final act of the night.
Sunday: Judas Priest (Ronnie James Dio Stage)
Then came Judas Priest. Blazing onto the stage, they dominated the arena and proved that age really is just a number. They opened their heavy metal assault with ‘You've Got Another Thing Comin'’ before launching into classics including ‘Metal Gods’, ‘Breaking the Law’ and ‘Painkiller’. Rob Halford hit those high notes with ease and had an extensive wardrobe of increasingly impressive jackets, from a studded leather number to a floor-length battle jacket. Halford’s mere presence seemed to summon a mosh pit, and the one at BLOODSTOCK was absolutely massive. Priest are currently on the Faith Keepers tour and have a new album on the way, showing no signs of slowing down. For the encore, Halford rode onto the stage on his chopper before the band launched into ‘Electric Eye’, ‘Hell Bent for Leather’ and ‘Living After Midnight’. They left the crowd exhausted, sweaty and completely euphoric.
Sunday: Carpenter Brut (Sophie Lancaster Stage)
Finally, we finished the weekend with French electronic artist Carpenter Brut. Somehow, despite four days of moshing, the crowd found one last burst of energy to party. Carpenter Brut, aka Franck Hueso, was joined on stage by guitarist Adrien Grousset and drummer Florent Marcadet, both of French metal band Hacride. Together they created a series of hugely entertaining party jams. Pre-recorded messages encouraged the audience to create a wall of death, along with various thank-yous and instructions. It was a suitably chaotic and fun way to end an amazing weekend.
After four days of mayhem, it’s safe to say BLOODSTOCK Open Air 2026 was a riotous celebration of all things metal. From industrial and progressive metal to thrash, deathcore and hard rock, there really was something for every kind of metalhead. The festival also offered an excellent mix of established names and new artists, making it the perfect place to discover your next favourite band.
Most of all, we loved the sense of community and belonging that has clearly been carefully cultivated over the past 25 years. Being at BLOODSTOCK genuinely felt like coming home, and we’re already planning for the next one. We’re exhausted, dusty and bruised from the pit, but very, very happy.