Shropshire Star

Metal bands compete for place at Bloodstock Festival in Wolverhampton - review

The Metal 2 The Masses competition is currently taking place at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, with unsigned bands battling it out for a place on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2019.

Published
Atarka. Picture by: KS Photography / Klare Sherwood

Starting with twenty eight bands, eleven remain after the first semi-final that took place last Friday.

At the end of heat one, we saw Eyes of the Raven and Militia Inc. go through to the semi-final. Heat two winners were Recall The Remains and Elyrean.

Crows and Crosses. Picture by: KS Photography / Klare Sherwood

Heat three then saw Born Zero and The Black Hounds head on to the semi-final. Heat four saw three lucky bands progress - Rustlung, Mystiek and Dead Mob.

Next, heat five’s winners were Crow and Crosses and Exiles, and finally, heat six winners were Atarka and Blood Church.

With the heats over and the final imminent, we head in to the first of the semi-final battles.

Eradikator. Picture by: KS Photography / Klare Sherwood

All the bands put on a great show, with everything to play for. We saw Eyes of the Raven put on an impressive performance, which saw them secure a place in the final.

These smartly dressed, beer-fuelled gents encouraged the crowd to get involved with a sing-a-long.

Eyes Of The Raven. Picture by: KS Photography / Klare Sherwood

Another band to secure their place in the final was Rustlung. With their heavy stoner riffs topped off with vocalist Pete’s ferocious tones, they won the crowds over.

For the second semi-final, we’ll see five strong bands battle it out on the stage. The Youthful Dead Mob, the blackened groove- rockers Atarka, Melodic hardcore quartet Exiles, Telford-based metal heads Recall the Remains and the crushingly heavy Blood Church.

Militia Inc. Picture by: KS Photography / Klare Sherwood

This will be an immense battle, with all bands very strong competition for each other - an evening not to be missed.

Head to KK’s Steel Mill tonight for some more ear-ringing action.

By Klare Sherwood