Bloodstock 2023 Band Feature: Ofnus

Bloodstock 2023 takes place from August 10th to August 13th. Across 4 stages, the festival boasts an incredible line-up that includes headliners Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah, and Megadeth. As always, we will be featuring some of the bands that will be playing this year’s festival. Giving you a rundown of who they are, what they’ve released, and what you can expect come August.

Pick up your Bloodstock 2023 tickets here!

Metal 2 the Masses has outdone itself this year. Just look at the New Blood stage line-up and tell us that isn’t one of the best line-ups the festival has ever produced? So many great bands from so many different areas of metal, it’s a head-banger’s dream.

One of the most startling things about the New Blood stage line-up is how many bands have only been around a short amount of time. One such band is the blackened melancholic monstrosity that is Ofnus, who only came into existence at the end of 2021. That’s not even two years. Hell, they only made their live debut in January of this year.

Yet, they seem like such a well-oiled machine already. Have they made some sort of deal with Satan? Individually, they might have as Ofnus features members from the likes of Agrona, Democratus, Blind Divide & Black Pyre. Members with a wealth of experience and talent, that they have all brought to Ofnus.

The result?

A debut album called ‘Time Held Me Grey And Dying’ which can be simply called phenomenal. An album we described as:

What we’re hearing is the sound of band having been lost in the Nordic woods for the past twenty years. Howling at the trees, feasting on the flesh of wild animals, wandering through decaying monuments to the old gods, and crying frozen tears of pain and suffering. Ofnus are a new revelation in British black metal and Time Held Me Grey and Dying is a stunning debut release.

Read our full review here.

If that wasn’t spectacular enough, Ofnus will be appearing at Bloodstock this year, taking to the New Blood stage on the Saturday of the festival. It’s going to be a gloomy and miserable time, but it’s going to be unforgettable. Don’t take our word for it though, we spoke to them about what it means to play the festival, what Bloodstock means to them, and what attendees can expect from their show. They had this to say:

What does it means to play the festival?

Rich – Playing bloodstock after standing in the crowd staring at the stage for so long is literally a dream come true for me. I love that the festival has a platform for up-and-coming bands to showcase to a larger audience and give a leg up to musicians that you may not usually get to check out.

Ethan – I’ve never actually been able to visit the festival in the past due to one reason or the other, however Bloodstock is a festival I’ve always wanted to go to. To have my first Bloodstock festival be one I play is a privilege and I am humbled. This will be the biggest stage and biggest crowd I’ll play to and I have no intention of wasting this opportunity!

Alyn – This will be the third time for me having performed twice before in Agrona, however it’s just as special a moment as the first. To showcase your graft and art in front of a larger audience is an absolute privilege that any respecting musician instinctively craves, and to do it this time with a new band but with the experience behind us to make the most of it is an amazing thing. Plus I get to feel something quite vicarious with it being the first time hitting that stage for 3 of the band. I honestly can’t wait!

What does Bloodstock means to you?

Rich – I’ve been attending bloodstock since 2007 and it has literally been the benchmark for me for other festivals. The atmosphere and people really do make bloodstock special and it’s something I look forward to year after year.

Alyn – Rich has me beat by a year! I’ve been amongst the crowd since 2008 after hanging up my waterlogged Download Festival shoes. Bloodstock has a vibe that other UK outdoor festivals will always struggle to match as it combines both expanse and intimacy well, and it has been a mainstay in my August calendar since my first attendance, as well as being the festival which supports and uplifts the underground scene the most by some margin.

What can attendees can expect from your show?

Rich – A different path from the usual black metal sound. We strive to put on a good show at any venue and if we can do that at Bloodstock I will personally be extremely happy.

Ethan – Expect songs which are in the progressive vein which take you on a ‘journey’ and will spiral away and keep evolving as the songs plough on. There’ll be parts which are angry, melancholic and have epic orchestral/symphonic swells reminiscent of a film-score which will no doubt send shivers down your spine. Oh! And expect a healthy dose of blast beats in there as well!

Alyn – A thoroughly memorable time embellished in euphoric misery. If you don’t leave the tent with a strong urge to crumple to your knees in a thunderstorm with arms raised to the heavens embracing the rain, then we have failed you.

We won’t fail you.