It’s that time again already, when Bloodstock kicks off its grass roots-supporting ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ scheme, which gives unsigned and DIY bands the chance of being part of the Bloodstock  festival experience.  

     M2TM 2022 was without doubt the biggest Bloodstock New Blood initiative to date and the festival managed to capture the bands, the fans, and grab a chat with a few of the promoters hosting the events, alongside chief M2TM organiser Simon Hall. Check out the ‘Highway To Bloodstock’ video below and get a handle on another phenomenally successful year for the initiative. 

     Plans are already locked with many local promoters and Bloodstock is set to track down the hottest new metal talent in the land, who’ll grab themselves slots on the New Blood stage across festival weekend in August 2023. 21 regions are secured so far, with more locations expected to be added in due course. See the full list of participating regions to date at the top, and if you’re in a self-released or unsigned band and want to try out for a slot on the Bloodstock bill, get in touch with the event nearest you and get yourselves involved!  One winner from each region will secure themselves a slot on the New Blood stage and some of the very best runners-up may also get lucky, space permitting. 

     Bands should get their applications into their nearest regional promoter ASAP, as heats kick off in the coming weeks. Any local promoters in regions not yet represented can email Simon Hall ([email protected]) for information if they wish to host the scheme in their local area. 


Full details of venues and who to contact to enter in each region, can be found here or on  Facebook.


Bloodstock will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2023. For more info, click to www.bloodstock.uk.com. 

Cretura returns overseas in September. Taking on England, Scotland and Ireland in one tour setting. Already joining forces are Mordrake from Bristol, Byrde from Norway, A Night In The Snow from Ireland and more bands still to be announced.

     “In the set-list for this tour we’re going to try a whole bunch of different things. Our rehearsal plan is booked throughout august and September so that we can prepare everything and be at our best..even better than before!” - Sárá, Cretura

Cretura has ben on and off tour for the past 2 years after releasing their debut album “Fall Of The  Seventh Golden Star”. The album made good reviews internationally and enabled the band to do tv appearances, tours and festivals. Last festival was the Metalhead Meeting with Behemoth and Cradle Of Filth. 

Having their tour van stolen in Denmark, equipment stolen in Poland, and guitar gone missing from an aeroplane in Finland are all challenges the band has faced throughout their touring cycles and have managed to overcome. Shows are always the main priority!

  “We are excited to be able to return to London, Essex and Leicester, places we visited last time around. And to be able to cover 3 countries in one tour leg is amazing!” - Markus, Cretura

- 25.09.2018 - The Unicorn, Camden, London
- 27.09.2018 - The Basement, Essex. 
- 28.09.2018 - Firebug, Leicester. 
- 29.09.2018 - The Gryphon Real Ale and Metal pub, Bristol. 
- 30.09.2018 - Ivory Blacks, Glasgow, Scotland. 
- 01.10.2018 - The Wharf Chamber, Leeds. 
- 03.10.2018 - The Black Box, Belfast, Ireland 
- 04.10.2018 - Fibber Magees, Dublin, Ireland

www.facebook.com/Cretura
cretura.wixsite.com/creturaofficial 

Sólstafir have added more dates to their already announced European tour in support of their latest release 'Berdreyminn' this December. Their massive road-trip will kick off at Poland's B90 in Gdansk on November 20, and run through 17 more countries before the final curtain falls at the Voodoo Lounge in Dublin, Ireland on the 22nd of December.

• Sólstafir festivals

18 Aug 18 Dinkelsbühl (DE) Summer Breeze Open Air
11 May 19 Vienna (AT) Vienna Metal meeting

• Sólstafir Australian tour + Enslaved

29 Aug 18 Perth (AU) Rosemount Hotel
30 Aug 18 Sydney (AU) Factory Theatre
31 Aug 18 Brisbane (AU) The Zoo
01 Sep 18 Melbourne (AU) Max Watts

• Sólstafir European tour

20 Nov 18 Gdansk (PL) B90
21 Nov 18 Warsaw (PL) Progresja 
22 Nov 18 Vilnius (LT) Loftas
23 Nov 18 Riga (LV) Melna Vilnius
24 Nov 18 Tallinn (EE) Tapper
29 Nov 18 Gothenburg (SE) Sticky Fingers
30 Nov 18 Oslo (NO) Vulkan Arena

01 Dec 18 Copenhagen (DK) Lille Vega
02 Dec 18 Leipzig (DE) Taubchenthal
03 Dec 18 Stuttgart (DE) Im Wizeman
04 Dec 18 Winterthur (CH) Salzhaus
05 Dec 18 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod
06 Dec 18 Biarritz (FR) Atabal
07 Dec 18 Madrid (ES) Madrid Is The Dark Festival

08 Dec 18 Lisbon (PT) Under The Doom
09 Dec 18 Porto (PT) Hard Club
11 Dec 18 Cognac (FR) West Rock
12 Dec 18 Audincourt (FR) Le Moloco
13 Dec 18 Lille (FR) Aeronef
14 Dec 18 Eindhoven (NL) Eindhoven Metal Meeting
15 Dec 18 Istanbul (TR) Garajistanbul
16 Dec 18 Athens (GR) Fuzz Club

• SÓLSTAFIR UK/Ireland tour

17 Dec 18 Bristol (UK) The Fleece
18 Dec 18 Birmingham (UK) Hare & Hounds
19 Dec 18 Manchester (UK) Deaf Institute
20 Dec 18 Glasgow (UK) Classic Grand
21 Dec 18 Belfast (UK) Limelight 2
22 Dec 18 Dublin (IR) Voodoo Lounge


The band will be touring in support of the Icelander's latest album, 'Berdreyminn' which is streaming in full here.

www.solstafir.net
www.facebook.com/solstafirice

As BLOODSTOCK’s regional finals for their grass-roots-artist-supporting METAL 2 THE MASSES scheme thunder through local venues around the country this month, the festival is very excited to announce the first winners who won themselves a slot on 2018’s New Blood stage this August.  

Joining the bill on Friday are hard-rocking trio, PELUGION (www.facebook.com/pelugion), victors of the Coventry heat, who blend classic metal styles reminiscent of Diamond Head & Black Label Society, as well as Glasgow’s winners, A RITUAL SPIRIT (www.facebook.com/aritualspirit), Edinburgh-based heavy rockers whose debut album, ‘Carnival Carnivorous’ is available now.

Landing a Saturday spot are Sheffield’s winners and symphonic metal 7-piece, AONIA (www.facebook.com/aoniauk). The band feature two ‘soprano with balls’ vocalists and have been compared to Therion, Avantasia, and Nightwish. If your tastes are more on the brutal side, check out the champions of the Reading heat, crust/grind/powerviolence trio, NEGATIVE THOUGHT PROCESS (www.facebook.com/negativethoughtprocess). Also gaining a Saturday New Blood slot are Belfast’s groove metal victors, ORACLE (www.facebook.com/oraclebandni/), whose debut EP, ‘Tales of Pythia’ is out now.

Rolling in on Sunday are Dublin top dogs, THIS PLACE HELL (www.facebook.com/ThisPlaceHell).  The five piece’s ferocious metal show is renowned at home in Ireland and has been described as ‘organised chaos’!  Also appearing Sunday are irreverent power metal bards, SELLSWORD (www.facebook.com/mercenarymetal) who grabbed their slot via CD application. Their debut album, ‘...And Now We Ride’ is available now. The CD applications were so good, BLOODSTOCK’s also added OBZIDIAN (www.facebook.com/ObzidianBand), purveyors of classic thrash from the home of metal in the Midlands.

Alongside the first phase of M2TM winners come some of the Jagermeister Stage bands. Expect to see THE HERETIC ORDER (www.facebook.com/thehereticorder) on Friday. The band recently signed with Massacre Records and release their second album, ‘Evil Rising’ on 22nd June.  Saturday brings you a set from Belfast’s SINOSENCE (www.facebook.com/sinocence), who’ve just completed work on the third of their trilogy of EPs under the ‘No Gods, No Masters’ banner - expect Vol.3 to land this summer.  Also booked for Saturday’s Jagermeister Stage are West Midlands hard rockers, VOODOO SIOUX (www.facebook.com/Voodoo-Sioux-234030206630714). 

Sunday, we welcome one for the classic metal fans, Aussie rockers TRUE BELIEVER (www.facebook.com/truebelieverofficial), who describe themselves as a blend of Dio, Mastodon, Ghost, Foreigner, Alice In Chains and Deep Purple!  Also appearing are black metal experimentalists, ABDUCTION (www.facebook.com/abduction616) who bring their extreme sonics to the bill and GEMMA FOX (www.facebook.com/gemmafoxmusic), frontwoman for prog metal outfit Collibus, in her solo guise.

June’s BLOODSTOCK club nights are locked down and rack up as follows.  Get along to your local club for the chance to win weekend tickets and associated prizes and hear tunes from BLOODSTOCK bands, old and new.

Fri 1st June - Nottingham Student Union (Tactical Assault)
Sat 2nd June - Brighton Envy (Apocalypse)
Sat 2nd June - Stoke Sugarmill (Devil’s Night)
Sat 9th June - Southampton Engine Rooms
Fri 22nd June - Camberley Agincourt
Fri 29th June - Leicester Firebug
Fri 29th June - Exeter Cavern Club
Sat 30th June - Birmingham Eddie’s Rock Club
Sat 30th June - Sheffield Corporation

Come join us in August!  Standard weekend tickets are on sale now, priced at £145 for four days of metal fun.  Grab yours at https://bloodstock.seetickets.com.  If you already know you can only attend for one day, sign up for an email reminder so you don’t miss out when a limited number of single day tickets go on sale at the end of June.  Register your interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/register/bloodstock.

With Friday night headliners JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners GOJIRA and Sunday’s bill toppers NIGHTWISH announced, as well as EMPEROR, AT THE GATES, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, JASTA & FRIENDS, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, VENOM INC., MR BIG, ORPHANED LAND, KAMELOT, POWER TRIP, CONJURER, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH, EXHORDER, PALLBEARER, MEMORIAM and many more, we’re more excited than ever for BLOODSTOCK 2018!

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018.  Get additional information at www.bloodstock.uk.com.  

Rising rock band Crown The Empire have announced a UK headline tour this September.
Support comes from Volumes and Coldrain.

You can see Crown The Empire at the following dates:


Tue 18 Sep The Haunt Brighton - Tickets
Wed 19 Sep Talking Heads Southampton - Tickets
Thu 20 Sep The Fleece Bristol - Tickets
Fri 21 Sep 02 Islington Academy London - Tickets
Sat 22 Sep Asylum Birmingham - Tickets
Mon 24 Sep Green Room Dublin - Tickets

Tue 25 Sep Oh Yeah Centre Belfast - Tickets
Thu 27 Sep Classic Grand Glasgow - Tickets
Fri 28 Sep Riverside Newcastle - Tickets
Sat 29 Sep Academy 2 Manchester - Tickets
Sun 30 Sep Waterfront Norwich - Tickets

Tickets on sale
Friday 1st June at 9am

The band are returning to the UK this weekend and will be playing Slam Dunk Festival.

You can see the band at the following dates:

May 26th - Slam Dunk Festival - Leeds, City Centre
May 27th - Slam Dunk Festival - Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire
May 28th - Slam Dunk Festival - The Nec, Birmingham

https://www.facebook.com/Crowntheempire
https://twitter.com/crowntheempire 
https://instagram.com/crowntheempire 
http://riserecords.com/

There are your standard heavy metal festivals – and there is 70000TONS OF METAL. Just imagine: You’ve just returned from a beautiful island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after spending hours enjoying the sun and white sand on a wonderful Caribbean beach. Feeling the warm wind blowing in your face, you are now sitting in a hot tub on a giant cruise ship, up close to a large stage, headbanging to your favourite band. You are watching from one of six whirlpools with a direct view of the stage on the pool deck, which is the biggest open air stage structure to sail the seas. It’s loud. It’s full of metalheads from all over the world. Sounds perfect? Well, it is ......

It’s been more than a week now since most fans have returned home from a more than successful 70000TONS OF METAL 2018 - round 8, more than a few of them still suffering from a serious case of PCD (post cruise depression) following four incredible days on board the Independence Of The Seas. More than 3,000 metalheads boarded the ship together with 61 bands, each of which was going to perform at least two shows (124 shows on 4 stages in total) during this unique event at sea. Some fans spent the shore day in Turks and Caicos with their favourite band during one of the various artist-led shore excursions. Picture yourself swimming with Meshuggah in the awe inspiring presence of majestic stingrays, or snorkeling with Aborted and Exhumed by your side to make you feel safe. Wolves on a safari? Sure, go on a coast-to-coast island tour with Wolfchant!

On top came the one of a kind All-Star performance “Jamming With Waters in International Waters” featuring members e.g. from Kreator, Sabaton, Cannibal Corpse, Destruction, Sonata Arctica, Meshuggah, Enslaved, Primal Fear, Dark Tranquility, Voivod, Seven Spires and many more, playing all time heavy metal and hard rock classics together on stage for the first time ever.

And there was another premiere, a record rather, that no one expected to be broken after last year’s peak of 74 different nationalities represented on board: 2018 beat 2017 by one more nation and proved once again that 70000TONS OF METAL is the most global cruise, uniting 75 nations on board this year. Germany, USA and Canada were among the top five of the most represented nations aboard. The youngest sailor was only 1 year old, the oldest turned 79 on the ship.

Coming up: Round 9

So watch out, Sailors: After the cruise is before the cruise. Fans can already look forward to round 9 of 70000TONS OF METAL, THE original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise sailing from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale to Labadee, Haiti and back, January 31 – February 4, 2019.

With the release of the third Bloodshot Dawn album Reanimation last Friday and the band due to embark across the UK starting this week. The band have now revealed plans for their first foray into northern America territories. The band will tour across guitarist Morgan Reid's home country of Canada in April. "We are hitting Canada this April!!!" exclaims band leader Josh McMorran. "We are pleased to be hitting North America for the first time as well as going to Morgans home country!!"


Catch the band in Canada at the following dates!

17/04 - Quebec City Le Scanner
18/04 - Montreal Piranha Bar
19/04 - Ottawa Cafe Dekcuf
20/04 - Toronto Hard Luck
21/04 - Waterloo Maxwells
22/04 - Guelph Silence
24/04 - Venue TBC

25/04 - Regina Cloud Nine
26/04 - Saskatoon Vangelis Tavern
27/04 - Edmonton Brixx
28/04 - Vancouver Astoria
29/04 - Kelowna Muninn's Post
30/04 - Venue TBC
01/05 - Calgary Distortion

The new album 'Reanimation' is out now and is available for streaming on Bandcamp and all other major streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Deezer, etc. Listen on Bandcamp here:  https://hostilemedia.bandcamp.com/album/reanimation

Out via Hostile Media on 12th January 2018; Reanimation features prominent guests including Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, Nevermore), Paul Wardingham, Ken Sorceron (Abigail Williams, The Faceless), Mendel Bij De Leij (Aborted). The album was mixed and mastered by Per Nilsson from Scar Symmetry while artwork was completed by Chris Kewli & Tomasz Strzalkowski.


Bloodshot Dawn UK Live Dates

17/01 - Black Heart, London
18/01 - Green Door Store, Brighton
19/01 - Boiler Room, Guildford
20/01 - The Underground, Plymouth
21/01 - Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff
22/01 - The Flapper, Birmingham

23/01 - Audio, Glasgow
24/01 - The Fulford Arms, York
25/01 - The Peer Hat, Manchester
26/01 - An Spailpin Fanach, Cork
27/01 - Limelight, Belfast
28/01 - On The Rox, Dublin

The band will also appear at this years Hellfest Open Air Festival and UK Tech Fest.

Order Reanimation Here: www.hostilemedia.net/shop

www.facebook.com/bloodshotdawn
www.hostilemedia.net

Dutch symphonic metal giants Epica are proud to announce the supports for their upcoming ‘The United Principle’ 2018 UK tour: Danish metal sensation Myrkur and US progressive metallers Oceans Of Slumber!

Tour dates:

06.04.18 Rock City – Nottingham
07.04.18 02 ABC 1 – Glasgow
08.04.18 O2 Academy – Bristol
10.04.18 Tivoli – Dublin
12.04.18 O2 Ritz – Manchester
13.04.18 O2 Forum - London

Tickets and VIP upgrades are available here: www.epica.nl/tour

Epica celebrates 1000th show anniversary at 013 Tilburg!
 
On Saturday 14th April 2018 – just after their UK tour - the symphonic metal icons, along with support from Myrkur and Oceans Of Slumber, will celebrate their 1000th show anniversary at 013 in Tilburg, the Netherlands. After their recent sold out shows in the Netherlands, Epica is more than proud to announce that they will perform this mile-stone event at the legendary 013 venue, the exact same venue where it all started for the band 16 years ago!

Vocalist Simone Simons stated: "Back in 2002, we could have never imagined that one day we'd be playing our 1,000th live show! This couldn't have happened without the support of our dearest and most loyal Epica legion, so in order to make this an unforgettable night, we've invited some very cool guests to perform with us!"

Guitarist Mark Jansen added: "I remember our very first show at 013, Tilburg as if it was yesterday. Back then we were supporting Anathema, but now 16 years later, we'll have the honour to be celebrating our 1,000th show at the same venue as headliners. We could have never achieved this without the support of our loyal fans, so we definitely wanted to make this an amazing night to celebrate all together with also some very cool special guests! We hope to see you all in Tilburg!"

Epica’s latest EP – ‘The Solace System’ was released September 1st via Nuclear Blast – purchase links below:

Limited Edition Digipack CD: http://bit.ly/2zPeREY  
Limited Edition NB Anniversary Green Vinyl: http://bit.ly/2zPOaQG
Limited Edition Black Vinyl: http://amzn.to/2j3iL5p
Order ‘The Solace System’ digitally: http://apple.co/2A80DSE

www.epica.nl
www.facebook.com/epica
www.nuclearblast.de/epica

In early 2018, Brazilian thrash metal legends Sepultura will head out on a lengthy and extensive European headline tour in support of their highly acclaimed album ‘Machine Messiah’, which was released in early 2016 via Nuclear Blast. Be prepared for a full 90 minute onslaught of pure Sepultura, with a set list featuring new hits as well as some timeless classics.

After an extremely successful tour with Kreator and a raft of festival shows in 2017, Sepultura will return to the UK, Ireland and Europe with their most powerful billing yet. German technical death metal masters Obscura are confirmed as direct support, followed by US-based death / black metallers Goatwhore and New Jersey's finest deathcore outfit, Fit For An Autopsy.

Andreas Kisser states:

     "Sepulnation Europe, I’m very happy to announce our first headline tour for the Machine Messiah album in February/March 2018! I couldn’t be more excited with the bands that are going to be with us, such amazing acts like Obscura, Goatwhore and Fit For An Autopsy! So be ready, the Messiah is on the move, see you all soon! DESTROY!!!!”

‘Machine Messiah Tour 2018’
w/ OBSCURA, GOATWHORE, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY

23.02.2018 DE - Leipzig, Conne Island
24.02.2018 CZ - Zlin, Masters of Rock Cafe
25.02.2018 HU - Budapest, Barba Negra
27.02.2018 IT - Rome, Orion Club
28.02.2018 IT - Milano, Magazzini Generali
01.03.2018 AT - Graz, Explosiv
02.03.2018 SK - Bratislava, Majestic Music Club

03.03.2018 PL - Warsaw, Proxima
04.03.2018 PL - Gdansk, B90
06.03.2018 DE - Berlin, Columbia Theater
07.03.2018 DE - Hamburg, Docks
08.03.2018 DE - Saarbrücken, Garage
09.03.2018 DE - Stuttgart, LKA Longhorn
10.03.2018 DE - München, Backstage

11.03.2018 NL - Utrecht, Tivoli Ronda
13.03.2018 UK - Bristol, SWX
14.03.2018 UK - Glasgow, SWG3
15.03.2018 IRE - Dublin, The Tivoli
16.03.2018 UK - Pwlhelli, Hammerfest
17.03.2018 UK - Sheffield, Foundry
18.03.2018 UK - London, Koko

20.03.2018 FR - Paris, Elysee Montmartre
21.03.2018 DE - Bochum, Zeche
22.03.2018 DE - Nürnberg, Hirsch
23.03.2018 AT - Salzburg, Rockhouse
24.03.2018 CH - Solothurn, Kofmehl

​Irish metal three-piece Dead Label have today, announced a special London UK showcase performance for fans and industry professionals in Camden’s Black Heart on October 3rd. Tickets on sale now via Music Glue priced £5.00.
 
Following a busy Summer schedule with shows at Download UK, German dates with Nervosa as well as festival dates across mainland Europe, Dead Label are finally bringing their intense live show to London for a one-off exclusive showcase performance.
 
Having released their smash-hit video for ‘Pure Chaos’ earlier this year, the Celbridge-based metal band have been winning over legions of fans on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to their infectious blend of formidable riffs and crushing grooves.

Check the out the video for "Pure Chaos here!

With a considerable amount of road experience under their collective belts, including 2014’s Japanese tour, 2015’s North American tour, 2016’s European tour with Fear Factory, as well as Irish dates with Machine Head, Gojira, Raging Speedhorn and notable festivals such as Bloodstock Open Air, Download UK, Metal Days to name but a few, Dead Label continue their quest in becoming one of metals hardest working unsigned bands.
 
Hand-picked by Live Nation’s Andy Copping for this year’s Download UK Festival, as well as appearing in Metal Hammer’s 'Hot New Bands’ feature in their December 2016 issue, to which Dom Lawson described the band as ‘A punishing groove metal monster with a thrash heart and a hardcore soul’ Dead Label have proved themselves to be one of metal’s most talked about unsigned bands and if you’ve seen them live, you will understand why that has come to be.
 
With Irish dates confirmed with SiKth this December and Hammerfest UK in March 2018, this will be the bands only London show for 2017 as they continue to write the follow-up to ‘Throne of Bones’.