As we brush away the layers of dust, beer, and unidentifiable festival residue from corners I didn’t even know existed we look back on what went down at Bloodstock Festival 2025!
Words by James Crisp, images by Artur Tarczewski | August 16, 2025
I write this as I still brush away layers of dust, beer, and unidentifiable festival residue from corners I didn’t even know existed mostly on my poor camera lens, so yeah, please do banish whatever mental images you’ve just conjured up, one thing is certain we at Amped have once again survived and thrived at another year of the mighty Bloodstock Festival.
Once again, the mighty fine people at Bloodstock delivered a line-up that just killed!!! With some of the biggest and best names in the metal world. This year’s mainstage headliners, Trivium, Machine Head, and the almighty Gojira, completely tore up the stage with an added immense amount of pyro and c’mon, we all love a bit of pyro, don’t we? But we’ll get to their carnage soon enough. First, let’s talk about some of the other glorious offerings the festival had in store. Let’s go!
Trivium
Trivium opened Bloodstock 2025 with a statement performance that balanced ferocity and theatre. Their setlist spanned the breadth of their career, from early staples like Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr to the crowd-shaking In Waves. Special guests elevated the evening, Robb Flynn joined for a cheeky Black Sabbath cover, Emperor’s Ihsahn added joined the band for the intro shouts for the song In Waves, and Sleep Token’s III brought an ethereal presence to Throes of Perdition. With a massive stage mascot, nods to the late great Ozzy Osbourne and an awesome cover of Metallica’s Master of Puppets. Trivium ensured the production matched the scale of their music. It was more than a headline, it was a career-defining showcase of the band’s huge evolution over the years.
Machine Head
Machine Head’s long-awaited return to Bloodstock was nothing short of explosive. Their set combined sheer aggression with masterful showmanship. Halo and Imperium thundered across Catton Park, with Robb Flynn orchestrating the crowd like a boss. Pyrotechnics heightened the intensity, while a record-breaking 1,011 crowd surfers captured the sheer chaos of the night. The band even took time to perform the incredibly emotional and spine-tingling Darkness Within, which was dedicated to the band’s late long-time publicist Michelle Kerr. Every note landed with precision, every chorus roared back by thousands. It was an electrifying reminder of why Machine Head remains one of heavy music’s most commanding live forces.
Gojira
Gojira closed the festival with a performance that was both monumental and jaw-droppingly immersive, genuinely beautiful. Opening with Only Pain, the French quartet immediately set a tone of scale and ambition. Their trademark blend of obscure brutal riffs and intricate rhythms was enhanced by some of the coolest visuals I have ever seen, with added fog, insane lighting and everyone’s favourite PYRO!!! And so so much of it too, it truly made the stage feel like a cinematic film set. Tracks like Another World and Stranded showcased their unique ability to balance technical precision with emotional resonance. The audience was equally mesmerised and energised, drawn into a set that felt more like an odyssey than a concert. Gojira didn’t just conclude Bloodstock they elevated it, blew it away, killed it, delivering a finale worthy of the weekend’s stature.
Paleface Swiss
Paleface Swiss delivered a monster of a set, immediately commanding attention with their relentless breakdowns and brutal riffs. The crowd responded with full-force energy, moshing and windmilling throughout the show. Tracks like “My Blood On Your Hands” showcased both aggression and a surprising emotional depth, making their set one of the most intense of the weekend, definitely highlight number one.
Breed 77
Breed 77 impressed with a masterful fusion of flamenco and metal (yep). Even after a hell of a lengthy hiatus, their technical precision and infectious rhythms kept the audience fully engaged. Songs such as “La Última Hora” encouraged crowd participation, with clapping hands, sing-along choruses and movement blending seamlessly with heavy riffs, creating a celebratory and dynamic performance.
Ministry
Ministry brought their industrial metal sound with uncompromising force. Al Jourgensen’s stage presence was as commanding as ever, and the band’s, high-intensity grooves enveloped the crowd. Classics from The Land of Rape and Honey were met with mental reception, while new material demonstrated the band’s continued relevance. Their set was relentless and an exhilarating experience.
Thrown
Thrown delivered an immediate impact, blending nu-metal and hardcore with a sort of constant aggression. The energy was indeed palpable as each breakdown sparked the pit into chaotic motion. Their concise, high-intensity set left a strong impression, demonstrating both crazy ability and unrelenting ferocity.
Emperor
Emperor’s performance was another highlight for me (I’m a big fan of anything involving Ihsahn) atmospheric and beautifully brutal. Dominated by Ihsahn’s piercing black metal style vocals and the band’s intricate, icy riffs. “I Am the Black Wizards” was a standout moment, exemplifying the precision and ritualistic grandeur that have defined Emperor’s legacy over the last 25 years, give or take. Their set was both immersive and oh so awe-inspiring.
Heriot
Heriot impressed with a visceral, sludgy sound marked by intense, low-as-low-can-be riffs and aggressive vocals. The interplay between Debbie and Jake added a compelling dynamic, heightening the intensity of each track. Their performance suggested a band poised for significant growth in the metal scene, which they are 100% doing.
Mastodon
Mastodon showcased their full range, blending sludge, prog, and melodic elements and making it look far too easy as they did. Nick Johnston’s integration felt utterly seamless, maintaining the band’s signature complexity and tightness. Classics like “Blood and Thunder” inspired collective sing-alongs, while more intricate songs and sections highlighted their musicianship. A professional, captivating performance and yes, another highlight.
August Burns Red
August Burns Red combined energy and just pure pure pure metal. Delivering a high as possible-octane set of metalcore riffage. The fiddly riffs and explosive breakdowns energised the crowd throughout. Tracks from their back catalogue were performed with remarkable intensity, demonstrating both technical mastery and an ability to engage the audience fully whilst doing so, oh, and I have to mention, they opened the set with a cover of Chop Suey by System of a Down, which personally caught me by surprise, love it.
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil offered a visually and sonically impressive set. Cristina Scabbia’s soaring vocals contrasted with Andrea Ferro’s gritty tones, creating a dynamic interplay across their gigantic repertoire. Highlights included “Heaven’s a Lie” and their cover of “Enjoy the Silence,” both demonstrating the band’s ability to combine gothic atmosphere with accessible hooks and who doesn’t enjoy a set that is accompanied by giant confetti cannons right (even if they did completely cover the massive stage screens).
Prodigal
During my time at Bloodstock, I was able to check out a few up-and-coming bands on the New Blood stage, and Prodigal are a band that I have to mention. With a sound very reminiscent of early to mid-2000s Deftones, but with more of a haunting undertone. These guys were just so unbelievably watchable and so listenable. Talk about vocal gymnastics from lead vocalist Stan Kayley too, all whilst using every inch of the stage and even the front barrier to his advantage. Definitely a band to look out for.
Kublai Khan TX
Kublai Khan delivered a set defined by immense intensity. Their slow, pounding riffs and aggressive vocal delivery consistently drove the pit into motion, some of the biggest of the festival in fact, but hey, that’s to be expected from them, right? Matt Honeycutt’s commanding presence reinforced the band’s reputation for damn right heavy and uncompromising hardcore loveliness, making their set one of the most physically demanding and memorable of the weekend.
You did treat us all this year, with not just an incredible line-up, but with such an amazing atmosphere too. To everyone involved in putting on this absolute beast of a festival, myself and Amped thank you so very much
We will see you all next year in 2026 when we can do it all over again with the recently announced 2026 line-up, which includes Lamb of God, Slaughter to Prevail, Judas Priest, Biohazard, Leprous, Orbit Culture, Of Mice and Men, Northlane, and so many more.
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