It’s that time of year again!

With Bloodstock less than two weeks away, it’s time to get your camp chairs, tents and drinking horns out from under the cupboards again and choose your favourite brand of cheap, warm lager to take with you to those hallowed grounds at Catton Park. We’re all looking forward to the opportunity to see the likes of Lamb of God, Testament, Mercyful Fate, GWAR, Sylosis, Cattle Decapitation, Sleep Token and Malevolence, and even the lesser-known bands on those stages such as Pelugion, Bloodywood, Pupil Slicer, Desert Storm, Heriot, Mastiff and Red Method are worth a punt.

However, we’re going to give a shoutout to those bands on the Jäger and New Blood Stage today, some of which will certainly be tearing up those bigger slots in a matter of years.

If you’re after something different, or are faced between seeing that band for the 17th time or seeing someone new for the first time, here’s a handy guide to some of the best up-and-comers over the Bloodstock weekend.

Headpress (metal/hardcore)

Winners of the Metal 2 The Masses heats in Stoke, the home of Discharge and Lemmy Kilmister, Headpress will suckerpunch the New Blood Stage into oblivion very soon now. Relentlessly heavy and gloriously groovy, Headpress have built up a steady underground reputation for over a decade, and the time has now come for them to deservedly tear it up at Catton Park. Hatebreed unfortunately had to pull out of Bloodstock this year, but if you’re still mourning their absence then you’d be foolish not to head over for this set.

Swamp Coffin (sludge)

Last year’s blistering Noose Almighty was my introduction to Swamp Coffin, who are rumoured to be the only sludge metal band in history to get a full page spread in the Rotherham Advertiser. Full of dirty, down-tuned, dismal ragers, they mix NOLA sludge with Sabbathy swing and a sprinkling of gut-punching extremity. Opening track ‘Your Problem’ has been on pretty consistent rotation for me since, a simple yet blindingly heavy anthem of grimness, and I for one won’t be missing the chance to see it myself.

Torus (stoner/grunge)

I first saw Torus pop up on my news feed in the early stages of the pandemic. With plenty of fuzzed-out attitude, gritty energy and catchy hooks, I found myself listening immediately whenever a new song was brought out, and this is a band I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing for the first time. Torus do not so much wear their influences on their sleeves, but unapologetically throw them in your face, so if you like the rock giants of the 90s and want to see a band on a smaller stage before they blow up, they’re playing on the Sunday.

Tribe of Ghosts (industrial/post-metal)

Tribe of Ghosts have been setting the South Coast alight with a string of tightly-polished, atmospheric performances, recently rewarded with their victory at Metal 2 The Masses Brighton. Atmospheric, apocalyptic and dystopian, their art peers into what could be a not-too-distant future with crushing riffs, technically impressive instrumentation and a dual vocal attack. When I saw them myself a few weeks ago I was shocked at the intensity and energy they brought to the room. I won’t pass up the chance for another helping.

Tumanduumband (instrumental doom metal)

The Stourbridge horror doomers are poised to unleash their riff-tual at a major UK festival for the first time. With an impressive work ethic that has seen them perform up and down the country since we re-opened our doors just over a year ago, their graft has paid off and they saw success in the Birmingham Metal 2 The Masses heats. Expect riffs, fuzz, Satan, corpsepaint and a genuinely unsettling atmosphere that will suck you in hypnotically and then spit you back out to the world when they’re done.

Master Charger (stoner/sludge)

Nottinghamshire’s very own ‘Satanic Blues Rumble’ missed out on their spot on the Jägermeister Stage last year due to the dreaded plague, but (fingers crossed) they’re back in a couple of weeks to reclaim their spot. The excellent Origin of the Lugubrious from 2020 saw them introduce bangers such as ‘Earthbound Hellbound’ and ‘Embers of the Sun’ into their repertoire, and we’re sure to be treated to at least a couple from that record – maybe a new one if we’re lucky, as well?

Devastator (blackened speed metal)

For denim and leather devotees, Devastator absolutely must not be missed. With the spirit of Motorhead, Venom and Sodom proudly looming over the fourpiece, the glory of old-school heavy metal will be brought back to Bloodstock’s New Blood Stage, with bullet belts, booze, Satan and all. Over the last five years, Devastator have worked hard to actively fly the flag for black thrash, with thunderous live performances that are full of good fun and high energy. You could argue the aesthetic’s gone out of style, but they wouldn’t be listening.

Sulvain (grunge/Southern metal)

Sulvain’s swaggering, groovy heavy rock will lay waste to the New Blood Stage on the Sunday. Soulful, gravelly vocals lie over powerful, detuned riffs that wouldn’t be out of place in a smokey whiskey bar in New Orleans. Sulvain had already shown themselves to be one of the hardest-working bands in the Midlands, but with victory at Metal 2 The Masses in Leicester, they’ve earned the right to show off to a larger crowd. I was supposed to play with them with one of my own bands last year, but the dreaded C-word got in the way and they had to pull out… Better late than never for me to see them myself and I can’t wait.

Callous Hands (death/groove metal)

Finalists in Coventry in 2019 and runners-up in Birmingham this year, Callous Hands impressed enough over their Metal 2 The Masses runs to be offered a slot on the New Blood Stage. Watch their assault on the Sunday and you’ll see why they were very unlucky to have not won outright – stunningly heavy, water-tight on stage and full of contagious energy, the future is bright for them. With a blend of death metal, groove and hardcore, they’re everything you could want in a metal band in 2022. 

Syncolima (stoner/grunge)

From the ashes of a previous band, Syncolima have found their feet impressively quickly. In the space of twelve months, they played live for the first time, released their debut album, established themselves across the UK live circuit and finished as runners-up at Metal 2 The Masses in Nottingham, impressing enough to gain a spot on the Jäger stage. Where The End Meets The Beginning seemed to be banger after banger, taking influence from all corners of rock. You’ll leave with the catchy hooks living permanently in your head.

See you there!