Bloodstock announces Metal 2 The Masses finals and first New Blood Stage bands

Bloodstock have announced the first wave of bands for their New Blood Stage at this year's fest, taking place at Catton Hall on August 10-13.

As well as a bill loaded with metal madness like Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah, Megadeth, Gatecreeper, In Flames, Triptykon, Employed To Serve, Abbath, Sepultura, Tribulation, Zeal & Ardor and loads more, Bloodstock are once again offering unsigned bands a chance to join the line-up.

Friday's first announcements are London death metaller Lokust, Stoke-On-Trent aggro-monsters Headpress and Yorkshire hardcore crew Street Soldier.

Saturday sees Welsh black metallers Ofnus joining the bill, alongside Manchester metal trio Vice, the doom of Ireland's Soothsayer, and all the way from Denmark, youthful death metallers Nakkeknaekker.

For Sunday, bands so far announced are thrash mob Elimination, Northern Irish rock trio Skypilot, and the bonkers noise of Outergods, featuring members of Raised By Owls and Evil Scarecrow.

As well at that, the organisers have revealed the dates for the finals of their Metal 2 The Masses events where rising bands get a shot at a slot. UK dates are...

April

29 Leicester O2 Academy

May

6 Edinburgh La Belle Angele
12 Belfast Voodoo
13 Dublin Fibber Magees
20 Sheffield Corporation
20 Manchester Rebellion
25 Norwich Brickmakers
27 Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms
27 Leeds The Library

June

3 London The Dome
3 Newcastle Trillians
16 Colchester Coda
17 Gravesend Leo’s, Red Lion
23 Birmingham Devils Dog
24 Hitchin Club 85
24 Wrexham Xs @ The Penny Black
24 Bristol The Exchange
30 Bournemouth Bear Cave
30 Cheltenham Frog & Fiddle

July

1 Burnley Sanctuary
1 Stoke The Underground
1 Northampton The Black Prince
1 Liverpool Zanzibar
1 Cardiff Fuel
8 Nottingham The Old Cold Store
8 Saltash Livewire
8 Oxford Jericho Tavern