With so many metalheads heading down to Catton Park on Thursday for 4 days of metallic mayhem, we thought we’d give you the lowdown on ten bands you seriously do not want to miss. There are tons of freaking great metal bands representing all genres from trad and power to death, black, and doom metal, it’s hard to pick just ten, but for our money here at Fistful Of Metal, these are the acts you don’t want to miss on pain of death.

1: TAILGUNNER

These fiery newcomers won our album of the year in 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Since first exploding onto the scene in 2022, this London trad metal act have toured with the likes of Armored Saint and Riot, bands they share certain kinship with, as well as heavyweights like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Catch them on the Sophie Lancaster stage on Thursday, August 8^th.

2: NERVOSA

Modern death/thrash doesn’t come quite as deadly as Brazil’s Nervosa, an all-female death squad sure to have you on your knees begging for mercy when they play to kill on the Ronnie James Dio stage this Friday, August 9^th. 2023’s fifth album ‘Jailbreak’ is the band’s finest, a tornado of Destruction/Sodom worship that will eat you alive.

3: OPETH

With a special fan-selected set, the Swedish progressive death-turned rock gods have plenty of surprises for the longtime fan. As anyone who has seen them before can attest, they still put on one hell of a show, and Mikael Akerfeldt’s amusing stage banter is second to none. Make sure you catch their headline set on the RJD stage this Friday.

4: ETERNAL CHAMPION

A bit of a coup for BOA to nab these gnarly Texans, and if you’re into your barbarian-worshipping epic trad metal, you certainly don’t want to duck out of their set on Friday on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Stomping riffs and resplendent choruses make EC a sure bet for fans of Visigoth, Gatekeeper, and Manilla Road.

5: GRAND MAGUS

Bow down to the doom kings! This Swedish trio are a blast live, being one part Candlemass and one part Manowar, although there are enough bluesy riffs and chest-beating refrains in their catalogue to appease power metal and even sludge fans as well. Catch them crushing skulls on the RJD stage this Friday.

6: DEICIDE

Ah, Glen Benton. What would the death metal world be without you? It’s seriously awesome to see the Floridian legends kicking ass and taking names on new album ‘Banished By Sin’, so if you want to hear some classic cuts from the likes of ‘Legion’ and ‘Once Upon The Cross’, head over to the RJD stage on Saturday, August 10^th for a primal DM crucifixion.

7: UNLEASH THE ARCHERS

One of the most artful and forward-thinking power metal bands of the modern era, Canada’s Unleash The Archers keep going from strength to strength, with new album ‘Phantoma’ being their catchiest yet. If you love wailing vocals, tons of double bass abuse, and a fuck ton of melodic harmonized riffs, get your ass over to the RJD Stage on Saturday. Thank us later.

8: SYLOSIS

Reading’s Sylosis never got the credit they deserved, especially as their patented mix of metalcore, melo-death, and groovy thrash was practically unheard of when they formed in 2000. With Josh Middleton becoming a celebrity due to his time in Architects, now is the perfect time to discover his first love, who rip up the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Saturday.

9: SATYRICON

There’s only one band to have laid down seminal works of second wave black metal and then tried their hand at Sabbath worship, and that’s Oslo’s Satyricon. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Sunday, we’ll hopefully get a bit of both! Razor wire riffs and croaky vocals are the order of the day here.

10: CARCASS

Innovators of grindcore and melo-death, the Liverpool marvels lay waste to the RJD Stage on Sunday. Since reforming, they haven’t put a foot wrong, and the always pull out a surprising setlist without forgetting our favourites from ‘Heartwork’ and ‘Necroticism’. Miss them on pain of torture!

Crowd Pic: Chris Bethell

Bloodstock Open Air, Catton Park, runs from August 8^th to 11^th.