Bloodstock 2024: Ten Bands We’re Excited to Check Out – Sophie Lancaster Stage

Bloodstock Open Air 2024 is right around the corner. Taking place August 8th to August 11th, the UK’s premier metal festival has, once again, delivered a stellar line-up. Featuring four stages of music and a litany of bands from within the rock and metal world, alongside numerous other forms of entertainment (such as official bin jousting)! You don’t want to miss out, so get off that fence, and pick up your tickets now!

Buy Bloodstock Open Air 2024 tickets here.

Often the most varied stage of all, this year’s Sophie Lancaster stage features an array of bands pulled from a wide number of genres all at very different stages of their careers. Some, only just getting started and making a name for themselves, and others considered ‘legends’ after many years of making music and performing it live. From death metal to hard rock, to industrial, thrash, and melodic metal, to trap, hardcore, and prog rock, there’s something for everyone on this stage. We’ve got ten bands from it that we’re pretty excited to see. You know how this goes, five chosen by Brendan, and five chosen by Carl.

Brendan – Ryujin

I really love it when we get bands from so far away come and entertain us with strong metal laced with their culture. The Japanese band, self-described as “Samurai Metal” hit hard with epic power metal tunes and are clearly a band that will soon be playing higher up slots at festivals with hem being recently signed to Napalm Records and already having 4 albums released as well as picking up guests like Matt Heafy on a recent single. I really look forward to checking these guys out – I love me some power metal and that, with the Japanese cultural elements should make for a really neat set.

Carl – Burner

Blackened death mixed with intense hardcore, if you know me and what my writings here, you know that I’m a Burner fan. I’ve seen them live loads already, but to see them at Bloodstock is an opportunity not to be missed. I’m very confident that they will do so well on a stage of this size, and those who have never experienced them before will come away shell-shocked by what they see and hear.

Brendan – Tailgunner

Tailgunner are a band I have listening to a bit recently and I really enjoy their quite traditional Heavy Metal style. A bit thrashy, they deliver fast and energetic music with riffs and melody driving the songs on. The vocalist is great, really hitting some nice high notes as well delivering plenty of aggression and attitude. It may feel quite old school, but it has a modern edge and production to really bring that old school Heavy Metal sound to modern times. I can’t think of many better bands to really get you in the mood on the Thursday at Bloodstock.

Carl – DeathCollector

Death metal, combining the best of the old-school and new-school, and coming from a talented band capable of making one hell of a racket. It’s going to be special, heavy, but special, especially as legendary drummer, Andy Whale (ex-Bolt Thrower/Memoriam) will be hanging up his sticks after this show. Who doesn’t want to celebrate a career like his by banging the head into oblivion.

Brendan – Infected Rain

I have long been a fan of Lena Scissorhands vocals but most often came across them as guests on multiple songs from many different bands and only really in the last year or so started actually listening to Infected Rain, but they are a really strong band. They have a very modern alt metal sound with, of course, amazing vocals and strong foundation of rhythm and riffs as well. These days, classing myself as a mild fan of the band, this is a great opportunity to see how their songs translate to the live stage. It will be my first time seeing them so I am excited to see if I can turn that mild fan into something a little stronger.

Carl – Igorrr

I’m not quite on the hype train with Igorrr, even though I recognise there is something quite special about their genre-defying ways. However, their live shows are heavily lauded and that’s what I want to experience. If they are as good live as so many people claim, then this set will hopefully be the thing that turns me into a superfan. Them being the Sophie stage headliner makes it an easy choice too as nothing will be clashing with them.

Brendan – Korpiklaani

A band that can be a bit hit and miss for me on record, delivering plenty of top songs and plenty of duds, but this style of music, at a festival, always goes down a treat. The energetic folk metal is sure to get pits moving and dancing, plenty of silliness going as well as lots and lots of smiles from what will be a well drunk crowd by the time these guys come on the headline. It’s probably going to be tough to get in the tent – I expect they will draw a huge crowd in, but if you can squeeze yourself in there, expect Korpiklaani to leave you with your energy replenished and a big smile on your face.

Carl – Mimi Barks

Shout it loud, Mimi barks is going to be one of the highlights of the entire weekend, even if the trap-metal artist will have some attendees shaking their heads in disapproval. Go see something else then, the rest of us (and there will be plenty) are going to be losing our mind to Barks. Easily one of my most anticipated sets of the entire weekend.

Brendan – Enemies Everywhere

Another band I became more interested in recently, when a song called God of Pain made it’s we into my weekly downloads a few months back. They bring powerful modern deathcore in the vein of Lorna Shore. They utilise emotive symphonic arrangements to back the bands crushing drums and riffs, powerful melodies and of course bring a vocalist that has supreme power, range and tone. It makes the songs I have checked out feel really quite epic, in amongst the utter chaos and carnage they deliver alongside. I think they could really be a massive force in the future of this genre, and this could very possibly be the last time you see them this low down a bill.

Carl – Sylosis

I’m actually surprised that they’re not the headliners of the Sophie stage the day they’re playing, such is the form they are on. They should be, in my opinion, and I think this is going to be one of the more packed moments of the Sophie stage all weekend. They’re a great band, getting better and better with age, and their live performances are always amazing.