Bloodstock 2026 Review: Saxon Rules Over A Flawless Festival
IntroductionArriving at Bloodstock on Thursday afternoon with Cozzer, we didn’t really know what to expect as it was our first ever visit. Thankfully things immediately looked promising! Media wristband collection was as smooth as can be. Thank you Cosa Nostra PR & Bloodstock for the oppertunity!
While the drive in was a breeze too (thankfully it stayed that way)! The walk to the arena was longer than we expected, but when we did get there it gave us a look at The Serpent’s Lair. Bloodstock’s VIP and media area. Packed full of facilities like a media tent, food & drink vendors, great toilets and a dedicated stage. It quickly became one of our favourite places to escape to. The atmosphere in there was relaxed, comfortable and surprisingly chilled considering the metal mayhem going off just feet away!
As we stepped out into the main area for the first time we were genuinely surprised. Bloodstock as a festival felt small but in the best possible way! You are never more than five minutes away from whatever you want to listen to, navigating between stages was a breeze. With four stages, games and a huge selection of shops there really was an enormous amount to discover too.
We were particularly impressed by the merchandise selection especially the shirts. There was a plethora of choice although a lot of the designs did appear to be variations of the same design. That made the 30 minute queue feel almost useful, because it gave me a bit more time to decide which one I wanted. I eventually settled on a grey shirt and patch for my jacket, while Cozzer picked up a fantastic bobblehead for just £5. Considering festival merchandise can be ridiculously expensive we were thrilled that Bloodstock were different in that department.
Food was another major positive for us, for such a compact arena the range on offer was remarkable. A special shoutout needs to go to Spudman, who served us jacket potatoes that were almost as big as our heads! Yes, festival food is more expensive than day to day life but compared to the other festivals we have attended this summer, the prices felt a bit more reasonable.
The bars were a touch of genius! Being inside the tents it meant that whatever you were listening to you could grab one. Also it meant the beer was always cold. On such a warm weekend this made things much easier to cope. We quickly settled on Roadcrew, one of the beers by Motorhead. Why? Because Motorhead!
Speaking of which, Lemmy actually has his own bar at the festival, while the metal museum had plenty of interesting memorabilia, artwork and a bust of the legend himself featuring some of his ashes.
By this point, it was already clear just how well organised Bloodstock is. From the layout to the facilities. Positives on pretty much every corner. The screens inside the Sophie Lancaster Stage were another brilliant touch that we need to mention.
But enough about the festival as a whole, lets dig into the music!
ThursdayHeavysaurusI didn’t have dinosaurs playing rock music on my 2026 bingo card, but Heavysaurus certainly made an impression.
This is obviously an act aimed at the younger members of the Bloodstock crowd, and honestly, why not? Musically they were actually pretty good, although some of the vocals were a little ropey. Then again, they are dinosaurs. You probably shouldn’t expect Dio.
The human fingertips occasionally broke the illusion, but it was a fun and wonderfully ridiculous way to start our first Bloodstock. Even if Cozzer wasn’t quite as convinced.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2sSgyeUkx7Jv3SQgFCxtAT?si=44023e27a484495d
Evil ScarecrowIf there was one way to make the start of the festival even more fun, it was Evil Scarecrow.
Having interviewed the band earlier in the week, we were already familiar with their wonderfully bizarre sense of humour, but seeing it translated onto a festival stage was something else.
Props, ridiculous lyrics and songs about everything from Krakhen to green bins made this exactly the sort of nonsense that people need to get their music taste buds teased. Hurricanado was a particular highlight, once again proving that metalheads are more than capable of dancing in perfect synchronisation when instructed to. Vocally this was a seriously impressive performance too!
https://open.spotify.com/track/3B2kVa5NwmIcravuF0r6Vm?si=db751e5b1ab74539
Black SpidersOur first visit of the weekend to the Sophie Lancaster Stage introduced us to one of Bloodstock’s biggest strengths. That blue tent is FANTASTIC. A bar at the rear, excellent sound quality. Might be the best tent stage we have seen.
Black Spiders delivered an hour of excellent Hard Rock, with a three guitar pronged attack that created a huge sound. Cozzer was particularly impressed by their drummer, who he told me is heavily involved in charity work.
There was one slightly strange element though. The band had brought a female vocalist with them who we found it impossible to hear. Still she did walk around the stage a lot, so she got her 10,000 steps in for day at least!
Song like What Good’s A Rock Without A Roll and KISS Tried To Kill Me landed brilliantly with the crowd. I did find thousands of people being told to tell Black Spiders to “F*ck Off” a little odd but apparently they do it at every show.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6rav9LnbGplsfHHw0I6kv0?si=e463fd09cacc492c
SaxonClosing out our first ever Bloodstock day were British Heavy Metal legends Saxon. Bloody hell they were great! Despite forming way back in 1975, Biff and the band sounded fantastic. Having previously seen them at Hard Rock Hell I was pleased that they sounded somehow even better this time.
Songs like Wheels Of Steel, Never Surrender and Denim & Leather were all huge highlights. The crowd response to those songs alone demonstrated why Saxon remain such an important part to Heavy Metal.
With a set that lasted well over an hour and a half it really was one hell of a way to round out our first day. We wanted to give a special mention to the two minute solo from the guitarist that was absolutely incredible too. As we walked back to the car , we were already wondering if Saxon had set the bar a bit too high for the rest of the weekend.
https://open.spotify.com/track/181bQUGjSDPa0mZoPVGJes?si=16e5aa5cafd649ee
FridayThunarWülfFriday began in The Serpents Lair with ThunarWülf, a band seemingly on a mission to make metal folk again. Mission well and truly accomplished.
Their performance felt like walking straight into a fantasy tavern. If I had been handed a Viking horn full of mead, I would happily have raised it in approval.
Blood & Plunder and We Ride were particular highlights and provided a brilliantly theatrical start to the day. Especially as we could lie down on the big red cushions and take it all in!
https://open.spotify.com/track/4ufCixFPVJiG385lEsNciE?si=521b630e3068431e
Fit For An AutopsyCozzer: Right out of the gate, Fit For An Autopsy brought an intensity and ferocity that kept you captivated.
The aggressive instrumentation was complemented perfectly by the mix of harsh and clean vocals, adding much needed emotion to the heaviness.
With a setlist that felt like hit after hit, including Far From Heaven and The Sea Of Tragic Beasts, this was an excellent performance from start to finish.
https://open.spotify.com/track/79yvAWlqVukArNOxtyyKCI?si=5defe0e5b1a2483a
Nothing SpeaksWe briefly escaped the sun by heading back into The VIP area to be greeted by the songs of Scottish Hard Rockers Nothing Speaks.
The band brought plenty of enthusiasm and the crowd duly responded in kind. Fell Apart was my personal highlight of their set. I did have to wonder though why they had not been given a bigger stage. The band felt more than capable that holding their own in one of the main arena tents.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7d3RerIRn4F9WEBar5nP3f?si=1db2e3a10df44abf
Seething AkiraWe are thrilled we decided to stay for the entirity of this set. The six-piece Nu-Core outfit exploded onto the stage with energy, passion and a willingness to blend genres. It made them impossible to ignore.
Had the set been twice as long we would have stayed rooted to the spot. Ironically despite having a song called Smile Thief they spent their entire performance putting smiles on everyone’s faces. At the end of their set was a touching moment when a band member called his girlfriend to the stage and proposed.
Congratulations!
https://open.spotify.com/track/1AqBbvlw9IUdLNjnQbXAAy?si=de3ad138c6e14afc
Municipal WasteSo this was a Municipal Waste of time.
I’m sorry.
But honestly, I was disappointed. Too much of the set involved the frontman talking rather than the band actually playing.
The Guinness World Record attempt for the most people crowd surfing was undoubtedly entertaining, and whenever the band were actually playing, they were perfectly good.
I just wanted more music.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6egRwYsMJ8DVJQAKOjHWou?si=2d032c3812d9486d
SepulturaBrazilian Metal legends Sepultura are currently on their farewell tour after four decades of entertaining people. But there was no sense that they were going through the motions at all!
They delivered 75 minutes of fantastic Metal, with elements of their home country adding a whole other element to their songs and performance. By the time the crowd were singing along to Roots Bloody Roots, I had grown a real appreciation for the band.
It feels a genuine shame they are calling it time.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6ursmCnbc9oDRGa2yHKkoZ?si=ce0ca4ed1f5649c0
Lamb Of GodCozzer: With their heavy riffs and Randy Blythe’s unmistakable vocal style, Lamb Of God kept me headbanging from start to finish.
Randy’s interaction with the crowd made an already energetic performance even more entertaining. I still laugh now about the mention of the gated community in Europe. But the highlight came when the entire crowd sang along to Walk With Me In Hell.
A brilliant way to round off Friday.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0Aq5S8Did22z1YrpO7MJIG?si=35576953bc67445f
SaturdayDescendancySouth Yorkshire Thrash/Metalcore band Descendancy were our first band at the New Blood Stage. To play that stage you need to have won one of the heats of Metal2TheMasses.
The music was more than enough reason to stay.
With dual vocalists giving each song its own identity, their set never became repetitive. Crowd interaction was also handled particularly well, making this a very promising performance from a band still early in their journey.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3pmfqjjmnpKipe7nIVXavn?si=5ac7593ad73c4f25
VendedVended came out swinging.
Pure aggression, energy and showmanship ran through the entire performance, and it was obvious that the band have grown up surrounded by people who understand how to put on a show.The comparisons to Slipknot are unavoidable, but Vended are much more than an imitation act.
Nihilism stood out thanks to its balance between harsh and clean vocals, while the band’s visual aesthetic helped complete the package. Man do these guys look menancing!
And yes, the kitty tattoos were brilliant.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2JDPR8ZjXGGUHmqKTpJzcm?si=b8e6dd935545421a
NevermoreWhile the rest of us cooked like lobsters in the midday sun, Nevermore were busy shredding through some seriously complex riffs. Vocally, this was phenomenal. Cozzer compared the performance to former Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate, and it was easy to see why.
Everything sounded incredibly great. Oh, and that beard…Envious over here!
https://open.spotify.com/track/3zdUWmaNcbTqv2V7ZYLXQ8?si=69863d623b7247d3
Bleed From WithinCozzer: Kicking off their set with the iconic bagpipe sound of their Scottish homeland, Bleed From Within immediately showed just how much this performance meant to them. This was their biggest festival slot yet, and that excitement was obvious.
They generated some of the biggest mosh pits and wall-of-deaths of the entire weekend, while their Scottish pride was once again on display during the closing song, In Place Of Your Halo, which featured a fantastic bagpipe solo. We both thought it was an incredible touch to invite Hannah Boulton to perform with them, she really added something amazing.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5oxfvvsW3cXmfZzOc1bEqz?si=55d06d948d8a449d
Slaughter To PrevailCozzer: Slaughter To Prevail unleashed absolute fury upon Bloodstock. From the opening riffs, Alex Terrible’s almost inhuman vocals demanded attention. The demonic masks only added to the band’s aggressive aesthetic.
Bratva was a particular highlight, with the combination of huge riffs, relentless vocals and theatrical presentation making this one of the most visually striking sets of the weekend.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2PIyfs1wqwjsOOnlYCUk2t?si=e907644ec2574cce
SundayOrbit CultureCozzer: Hailing from Sweden, Orbit Culture immediately got the crowd moving. Death Above Life set the tone from the beginning, with the band’s ferocity and energy continuing throughout the performance. A brilliant way to start our final day.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3DnSGTaMu11TybQmW9hJ1O?si=3e5fee9819d746a6
Old Sarum Tattoo StudioI took a slight detour from the music, but one that deserves mentioning. I got my first ever festival-acquired tattoo!
I’d spotted a little ghost with a guitar at Old Sarum earlier in the weekend and, by Sunday, the itch had become impossible to ignore. Wanting another tattoo for some time, it also seemed like the perfect way to celebrate the number of festivals Fox Reviews Rock has covered this year.
The Old Sarum team were fantastic throughout, from choosing the design to communicating everything clearly and taking great care during the tattoo itself.
I’m absolutely over the moon with the result.
Black Label SocietyCozzer: Black Label Society demonstrated their technical ability from the opening note, with Zakk Wylde leading the band through a masterclass in musicianship.
Quality radiated throughout the entire performance, but the personal highlight came when the band paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with a cover of No More Tears. A truly fitting and emotional moment.
https://open.spotify.com/track/1h4XKoYvrypa9cqCSfDraR?si=a7edfa80af9840d1
Body CountThis was my first time seeing Body Count and, honestly, I had no idea what to expect. The relationship between Ice-T and Little Ice was heart-warming. Who would not want to share this type of moment with their dad?
Bringing a couple of kids onto the stage added another memorable moment. However the profanity was perhaps a little advanced for them, mind you.
The band delivered a strong performance and the crowd were clearly loving it. Some of the shooting terminology didn’t quite translate as naturally over this side of the pond, but that felt more like a cultural difference than anything else.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3CkQ541HYl8Gh4pNCKWytC?si=b16bc72abcd8447d
Judas PriestBy the time Judas Priest arrived, the combination of heat and four long days was beginning to catch up with us. The gap between Body Count and the headline set felt particularly long. Thankfully, the tiredness disappeared as soon as Priest took to the stage.
It was Cozzer’s first time seeing the metal legends and he had been eagerly anticipating it. While we both felt the performance lacked some of the energy and standout moments of earlier sets, there was still something special about watching Judas Priest close out the weekend.
Another Thing Coming and Breaking The Law provided the inevitable singalongs and ensured we finished the festival exactly as we should: rocking out to one of Britain’s most iconic metal bands.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2RaA6kIcvomt77qlIgGhCT?si=18e2ac7b7a89495f
Final ThoughtsOur first Bloodstock experiance was, well, quite simply a bloody good one!
From the incredibly easy arrival, excellent organisation to the compact arena and stage layouts. Helped further by reasonable food and merchandise prices. The festival consistently impressed us.
Most importantly, the music delivered.
We discovered new bands, watch legendary acts and experience performances that ranged from brilliantly ridiculous to genuinely emotional. Evil Scarecrow provided the laughs, Seething Akira provided the energy. Saxon reminded us why the old guard still matter and bands like Descendancy and Nothing Speaks showed us that the future of Metal is in very good hands.
There is something particularly appealing about the size of Bloodstock too. It manages to be a major festival without ever becoming overwhelming. You can wander between stages without spending half the day walking or grab a drink without missing half a set.
Perhaps most importantly, the festival feels like it knows exactly what it is.
It is unapologetically metal, but it also does not take itself too seriously at the same time. Whether you’re there for the biggest names in the genre, emerging talent, crazy dinosaur bands or simply having a great weekend surrounded by like-minded fans. There is going to be something here for you.
For our first Bloodstock, the biggest compliment I can give is that by the time we were leaving on Sunday we were already thinking about what we would watch next year.
Honestly, that is probably all you need to know, Bloodstock Open Air 2026 was a triumph.
All rights to the songs used in this review are retained by the recording artists. This site claims no rights over them. All images were provided by Cosa Nostra on behalf of Bloodstock Open Air Festival. Photos were taken by Abbi Draper-Scott, Sophie Jones, Steve Dempsey, Katja Ogrin.
#Album #Blog #Bloodstock #Festival #Music #MusicReview #Photography #Review #rock #Writing
