The Metal/Punk/Rock Thread

[Ironic Indie Lad]

Megadeth just announced a UK  and European run for next spring with Black Label Society and Testament in support.

Quite ambitious run as it includes stops in Belfast, London, Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham and Leeds. Big buildings too!

Will probably go to this as its a good line up. I havent seen Megadave since the tour for the (terrible!) Super Collider album. There's no mention on the poster of this being a farewell which I thought Megadeth were doing at the moment. 

Edited August 3 by Ironic Indie Lad

[WyattSheepMask]

2 hours ago, Ironic Indie Lad said:

There's no mention on the poster of this being a farewell which I thought Megadeth were doing at the moment. 

Possible appearance at either Download or Bloodstock in 2027 for “the final UK show”. Download can obviously offer more money, but they’ll get the headline slot at Bloodstock.

Im tempted by the tour but can’t say I’m enthused about Black Label Society being the bill

[Ironic Indie Lad]

2 minutes ago, WyattSheepMask said:

Im tempted by the tour but can’t say I’m enthused about Black Label Society being the bill

They dont particularly fit but Mustaine, Wylde and Skolnick is probably great value for guitar nerds. 

[WyattSheepMask]

Went to Bloodstock for the Friday and had a really good day.

The main stage from mid afternoon onwards was absolutely stacked, with Fit For An Autopsy, Biohazard, Municipal Waste, Sepultura and Lamb of God one after another. Got on the barrier from Biohazard onwards too so aside from the obscene number of crowd surfers that MW got, had pretty much a clear view for everything.

While Biohazard are out touring the album they put out last year, they are still very sticking to the heyday of the first 4 albums, which is fine.

Sepultura played really well as they always do, but it seemed to take a while for the crowd to get into it, which seemed pretty odd, especially with this being the final UK show. They played 3 out of 4 songs from the recent (and excellent) EP and two Derrick-era songs (one from Quadra, one from Kairos), and everything else was from Chaos AD, Roots and Arise. 
Derrick seemed tearful at the conclusion due to it being the last time they’ll play the UK (the final European show is in Dublin tonight), and I’ll always have time for him and this era of the band.

They also announced 27 bands for next year, including the headliners.

 

I recorded the announcement and sent it it to mate, and like Ralph Wiggum at the Krusty Anniversary Show, he said you could pinpoint the exact moment where my heart broke in half. 
Acid Bath subbing for Mercyful Fate and Gaerea headlining the Sophie Stage might get me a Day Ticket, but there’s a lot there that, much like Download, shows the festival moving in a different direction that doesn’t appeal to me so much. 

Edited August 9 by WyattSheepMask

[d-d-d-dAz]

I think there's a lot of (right) calling out of people for gatekeeping metal by being so critical of that announcement. I think that is definitely happening, and it's always a bit gross but... yeah... that lineup isn't for me.

They've got to do what pays the bills, though.

Some decent stuff further down the list but the headliners are a bit iffy.

[WyattSheepMask]

You’ve got to go with what’s over and what people want and the reaction to Electric Callboy and Motionless In White were both big so clearly people want to see them, I’m just not one of those people, and I apologise if I came across as gatekeeping, that’s wasn’t my intention at all.

We’ve been saying for years now that festivals need to elevate new acts into the top spots, and that’s exactly what Bloodstock have done. Your Ghosts, your Sleep Tokens, your Gojiras, your Bring Me The Horizons….thats what’s over right now and you’ve got to give the people what they want, and whilst I don’t want Electric Callboy or MIW, I’m clearly in the minority.

I did read a very bizarre comment by someone moaning that the festival “just wants to sell out as quickly as possible”. Like, yeah, that’s kind of the aim of the game bud.

Edited August 9 by WyattSheepMask

[d-d-d-dAz]

10 minutes ago, WyattSheepMask said:

You’ve got to go with what’s over and what people want and the reaction to Electric Callboy and Motionless In White were both big so clearly people want to see them, I’m just not one of those people, and I apologise if I came across as gatekeeping, that’s wasn’t my intention at all.

Oh no, not you. Your response is reasonable. To my tastes this isn't great either, it's the people raging in the comments that I don't want to agree with.

[SuperBacon]

Looks like there will be an Ozzfest at Villa Park next year.

[Bruce85]

On 8/9/2026 at 2:54 PM, WyattSheepMask said:

You’ve got to go with what’s over and what people want and the reaction to Electric Callboy and Motionless In White were both big so clearly people want to see them, I’m just not one of those people, and I apologise if I came across as gatekeeping, that’s wasn’t my intention at all.

We’ve been saying for years now that festivals need to elevate new acts into the top spots, and that’s exactly what Bloodstock have done. Your Ghosts, your Sleep Tokens, your Gojiras, your Bring Me The Horizons….thats what’s over right now and you’ve got to give the people what they want, and whilst I don’t want Electric Callboy or MIW, I’m clearly in the minority.

I did read a very bizarre comment by someone moaning that the festival “just wants to sell out as quickly as possible”. Like, yeah, that’s kind of the aim of the game bud.

I’ve been going to download since it started and I’ve always fancied bloodstock but never been. After seeing that lineup I ended up buying an early bird weekend ticket, haven’t got anyone to go with yet but I’ll worry about that later haha. The headliners are definitely a bit different from the normal bloodstock ones but I love eletric callboy (got tickets so see them in Prague next year too) and MIW. 

[WyattSheepMask]

54 minutes ago, Bruce85 said:

I’ve been going to download since it started and I’ve always fancied bloodstock but never been. After seeing that lineup I ended up buying an early bird weekend ticket, haven’t got anyone to go with yet but I’ll worry about that later haha. The headliners are definitely a bit different from the normal bloodstock ones but I love eletric callboy (got tickets so see them in Prague next year too) and MIW. 

Don’t think for a moment that I’m bad mouthing the festival itself. I’ve been going on and off since 2003 when it used to be an indoor festival that drew 2,000 people and was predominantly Power Metal acts. 
I’ve seen it go through stylistic changes in that time, it’s just that what the have booked for 2027 isn’t for me and might be indicative of what direction they’re going in which might still not be for me, and that’s totally fine.

I will say that you’ll go and have a great time. Having been to Download but not Bloodstock before, it’ll probably be a pleasant surprise to you how much smaller scale everything is compared to Download. You can get from the far end of the campsite to a decent spot on the main stage within about 10 minutes, rather than the trek that you have to undertake at Download

[Egg Shen]

On 8/9/2026 at 1:36 PM, d-d-d-dAz said:

I think there's a lot of (right) calling out of people for gatekeeping metal by being so critical of that announcement. I think that is definitely happening, and it's always a bit gross but... yeah... that lineup isn't for me.

They've got to do what pays the bills, though.

Some decent stuff further down the list but the headliners are a bit iffy.

Wasn't overjoyed with the headlinder announcement either, I do love the live announcement in the field though. I'll still be going and i'll have a very nice time. This year was excellent.

[wordsfromlee]

I think I'd have gone to see this if it wasn't just in London and the week before Christmas.

Edited August 29 by wordsfromlee

[WyattSheepMask]

New Mastodon album came out yesterday and it’s absolutely spectacular, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. This is right up there with the first four albums for me. 
 

 

Edited August 29 by WyattSheepMask

[Egg Shen]

On 8/29/2026 at 5:35 PM, wordsfromlee said:

I think I'd have gone to see this if it wasn't just in London and the week before Christmas.

One of the albums that defined that youth that, but they couldn't have picked two worse dates for them shows for me. Hoping they announce a tour next year.

[wordsfromlee]

The Gallows Instagram page have posted about their last ever show 15 years ago. Adding to the rumblings of a reunion that started earlier in the summer.