UK’s heaviest metal festival, Bloodstock, returns 7-10th August 2025 at Catton Park, Derbyshire. As always, the line-up is packed and will appease all metalheads with its variety and mix of huge and upcoming bands. With headliners Trivium, Machine Head, and Gojira, the festival is nearly sold out, with Saturday and Sunday completely sold out, and Friday tickets are low. The 2025 edition is going to be a big one! Here are just some of the bands we are excited to see and recommend that you check out over the UK’s heaviest weekend!
Continue reading PREVIEW: BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL UK 7-10TH AUGUST 2025Category Archives: featured
PHOTO REPORT: Behemoth, Satyricon and Rotting Christ
The Unholy Trinity Tour with Rotting Christ, Satyricon and Behemoth headlining hit Helsingin Jäähalli on Tuesday, April 22nd 2025. Although it felt like the entire metal scene of Finland was at the gig, it was surprisingly not sold out. Despite that, the anticipation of those who were there made up for the empty space. Three bands who never fail to play a flawless, powerful show.
My own personal experience has mostly seen these bands play at festivals, so the slightly more intimate atmosphere of the black box mode of the ice hall brought a new and more concentrated experience. The energy echoed louder and the pyros and light shows hotter and brighter. It felt somehow easier to really appreciate the bands visually and audially. Rotting Christ was full force from the start, maybe a bit more reserved than I have seen at the festivals but it worked in that atmosphere. Satyricon‘s production was way more than I expected, although the band itself kept a more mellow, cool steady stage presence. None the less epic and authentic. Behemoth hit all expectations in the best way possible. Tangible power and raw energy, epic stage setup and pyros, and a perfect setlist. All three bands played their hits, older gems and newer songs. It was interesting to hear Behemoth‘s fresh new singles being played live and see how the crowd reacted, which was mostly just as enthusiastic as when they play the classics. The only thing left lacking was possibly the length of the shows. Such a big production, albeit on a Tuesday, felt like it should have lasted longer (at least longer than festival shows). However, seeing as most of us at the gig are no longer in our youth, maybe it was more appreciated for the semi short but bitter play time.
Rotting Christ
Satyricon
Behemoth
photos by Serena Solomon
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ALBUM REVIEW: GHOST – ‘Skeletá’
By Carina Lawrence
Swedish theatrical rockers Ghost are back with their sixth opus, ‘Skeletá’, with founder Tobias Forge’s latest alter ego, Papa V Perpetua, signifying a new chapter for the band, which may be their most captivating offering yet.
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PHOTO REPORT: Dark Tranquility, Moonspell & Hiraes
Dark Tranquility (Sweden), Moonspell (Portugal) and Hiraes (Germany) hit Tavara-Asema in Tampere, Finland on the second date of their European tour. Although the venue wasn’t sold out, I don’t think any smaller venue in Tampere would have been able to accommodate such a high energy, high quality show! Hiraes hit the stage at full force, not only with an incredibly epic sound and presence but also seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. They fully engaged with the audience and brought the venue to their feet. Although Dark Tranquility was the headliner and the main course for most people, Moonspell was my personal highlight of the evening. They completely blew me away! Although I had seen them at numerous festivals in recent years, this club gig gave an incredibly different experience. In a way, it reintroduced me to their music. The sound and overall energy of the band and audience just clicked and somehow rejuvenated their music, reminding me just how good they are in ways that seemed to have gotten lost in the festival atmosphere. The moodiness and richness of their music really came through, aspects of their music and presence that the festival atmosphere seemed to dampened and distracted from . An unexpectedly (in the best way possible) memorable show!
Dark Tranquility, of course, were spot on. A true spectacle. They hit all the points one would hope to be hit from such professional pioneers of melodic death metal from the sound and stage presence to the epic lighting setup. They also were surprisingly good in a new way. It seemed they had done a little tinkering to some of the musical arrangements which added a bit of freshness to their set. It was also unexpected but welcome that they threw in a lot of older songs, some of which they only started playing live recently, despite it being the promotional tour for their new album Endtime Signals Also major props to Mikael Stanne as he admitted had injured (broken?) his rib(s?) only a few days prior to the tour. Watching him on stage, you wouldn’t have known. It didn’t hold him back from headbanging or dominating the stage with his signature energy and charisma. Hoping a swift recovery!
All three bands fit well together, and had their own strengths and unique sounds. If the tour is coming near you, don’t miss it!
Hiraes
Moonspell
Dark Tranquility
Photography by Serena Solomon
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PHOTO REPORT: Tribulation and Mørket
Swedish goth/horror metallers Tribulation returned to Finland with a two date headlining tour in Jyväskylä and Helsinki along side Finnish black/crust band Mørket. Although Tribulation have come to Finland numerous times (not often enough) this was their first time headlining here. I hope the turn out has convinced them to come back soon! Again, an almost full venue on a Thursday night. Mørket definitely warmed the place up with their crazy unhinged energy! The vocalist didn’t even stay on the stage for most of the show, balancing on the railing or bouncing around in the audience! And although there wasn’t much room on the stage, the other members managed to give off the same energy, seemingly in non stop motion the whole gig. Although their music wasn’t exactly to my taste, and maybe some others in the audience, I think we felt much respect for them after their over the top and energetic set. I would love to see them at a festival!
I absolutely loved the fact that although Tribulation only played three shows on his leg of the tour (two in Finland and one in Oslo) which were smaller clubs, they still put effort into their stage decor and presentation. Not only the large backdrop and custom drums but unique details through out the rest of the setup as well. Beautiful backlit side panels reminiscent of church windows adorned with shapes of bats and skulls. Each member having their own light in front of them so they were lit from below. Large decorative incense holders for both sides of the stage complete with incense (also love that extra sensory level during live gigs!). All of those details plus their stage clothes, makeup and overall vibe fit flawlessly with their sound, tying it all together with that common horror element that has been part of their sound and aesthetic since the early years. Pure gothic/horror ambiance with a death metal core.
The fact that it was (finally) a headlining tour gave them the opportunity to play a longer set than they have previously played in Finland (which personally still felt too short!). Their set included a perfect mix of new and old despite it being the promotional tour for their latest album Sub Rosa In Æternum. Their energy felt as if it had shifted a bit, more suitable to the newer sound. A bit more chill and maybe even more polished than the last time I had seen them (opening for Ghost in 2019). Still no less unique, powerful and moody (in a good way) than before. The vibe coming from the band and the music could be felt through the entire audience. An unforgettable and much anticipated evening!
Mørket
Tribulation
photos by Serena Solomon
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PHOTO REPORT: Cemetery Skyline and The Eternal
Cemetery Skyline played a sold out Olympia in Tampere March 20, 2025. Although it was their first ever tour, they sold out all of the dates along side The Eternal (and Red Eleven on one date). Even though the venue was packed with warm excited bodies, it was somehow refreshing to be there and see it filled to the brim (on a Thursday no less!). The crowd was on its toes, hands in the air from the beginning of The Eternal’s set to the very end of Cemetery Skyline.
There couldn’t have been a better opening act than The Eternal. Their stage presence was spot on to set the mood for the evening and their music and setlist were perfect. It was an even mix of heavy rock, groovey melodies and melancholy to create an energetic yet cool atmosphere to lay for the gothiness Cemetery Skyline have cloaked themselves in.
The audience went crazy for Cemetery Skyline. And of course, these well seasoned musicians knew just how to play to the audience in this new context far from the music they are more known for. They played a “purely old school- from the first album” set as Mikael Stanne joked. They also included their newest release, a cover of Cyndi Lauper‘s “I Drove All night” which pushed the crowd even farther over the edge! There was another unexpected and very special moment for fans of Sentenced when they played a cover of the instrumental song “Konevitsan Kirkonkellot”. Overall, the stage presence and hype from the packed audience provided a wholesome and pure yet authentic rock show vibe with enough heavier and more melancholic moments to satiate all.
The Eternal
Cemetery Skyline
photos by Serena Solomon
Dark Art Conspiracy 
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