bloodstock open air festival, catton hall. 13th august 2023

I woke up on Sunday with an overwhelming feeling of bittersweet, it was with a heavy heart that it was the final day of Bloodstock but on the other hand, I was exuberant that there were so much to look forward to at Catton Hall today.

As I entered the arena, I gained myself an excellent vantage point for something a little different, my first Main Stage band of the day were Uuhai, a unique blend of Mongolian Throat Singing, Long Song and Horse-Head Fiddle Music, this was going to be interesting to say the least. As the band emerged onto the stage and launched into their set it was well and truly a feast for the senses, visually it was captivating and audibly it was powerful, haunting and thought provoking. The drums gave it a solid backbone and the string work from different components across the whole stage gave it a chilling air of brutal and emotive power. The vocals were grandiose and eclectic, formidable and commanding, each word was propelled out into the midday air with passion and fortitude. This was a genre which was missing from my arsenal (apart from my one encounter with The Hu at Download earlier in the year) but this is now one that I need to go and research some more. One of my biggest finds of the festival for sure.

I stuck with the Main Stage for my next instalment and that fell to the American Metal Core bruisers, All Hail The Yeti, and boy did they come with some intentions. From the off they were pulverising and brutal, Garritty was authoritative and captivating, owning the stage as if he had been a resident for years and it was his own back yard. The strings from Vanderlinde were piercing and technical, melodic and delicate whilst still maintaining an air of violent callousness throughout. The set drew to an all too soon end and it was clear that they had poured every ounce of their souls onto the stage this afternoon and the recipients standing before them seemed appreciative beyond belief.

I marched my way over to the New Blood Stage next for Nameless, and they absolutely destroyed the tent. The crowd they drew was impressive given the early afternoon slot, and they absolutely pummelled the tent right through to its foundations. The crowd were boisterous in response to the show they were being given and the band seemed to soak it up and pay it back out ten fold. This is a band to keep an eye on for the future, surely they can only go from strength to strength on the back of that show?

Tribulation, and their fairly unique brand of goth-soaked death metal, emerged onto the Ronnie James Dio Stage to pretty much a ‘heroes’ welcome. ‘Harmatia’ and ‘Nightbound’ punctuated the set as personal favourites for me and the vocals from Andersson were haunting and chilling, mesmeric and anthemic of equal proportions. Even though the sun was out for the majority of the set the atmosphere the band managed to create with their riffs and melodies helped to polish the whole set with their trademark melancholic and evocative air. I’ve managed to catch this Swedish juggernaut on a few occasions in the live setting now and I may just have to chalk this one up as one of their best output to date.

Written by Backseat Mafia