Formed in 1995, Orange Goblin built their reputation on a foundation of no-nonsense, hard-hitting heavy metal, blending elements of stoner rock, doom, and classic rock ‘n’ roll. Over the years, they have released ten studio albums, from their debut ‘Frequencies From Planet Ten’ (1997) to their latest and arguably most accomplished work, ‘Science, Not Fiction’ (2024). Throughout their career, they have been a staple in the metal community, earning respect for their relentless touring schedule and unwavering commitment to their craft.

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In a heartfelt statement, frontman Ben Ward reflected on the band’s journey, saying, “We feel that now is the right time to step away. We have always given our all to the fans, and we want to go out on a high note.” The reason for the split? The band’s instagram cited perhaps the most important reason of all: family. “It’s not been an easy decision for any of us, we have all given 30 years of our lives to this incredible band, but we feel that now is the right time for us to focus our attention on our families and other interests outside the band.” Despite their decision to part ways, Orange Goblin assured fans that they will fulfil all scheduled commitments, including appearances at major festivals such as Bloodstock and Hellfest. 

The departure of long-time bassist Martyn Millard in 2020 marked a significant turning point for the band. His replacement, Harry Armstrong, brought fresh energy and contributed to the songwriting process on ‘Science, Not Fiction,’ which many fans and critics consider a fitting swansong for the band. Orange Goblin’s music has always resonated with themes of perseverance, rebellion, and camaraderie, values they have embodied both on and off the stage. Their live performances, characterised by raw power and unrelenting energy, have been a testament to their passion and dedication. “We’ve always been an honest band,” Ward remarked. “We know what we are, and we’ve never tried to be anything else.”

Not a chance they call it a day imo,too much a fantastic band will definitely get the odd tour and special show to celebrate album anniversary’s.

If they are the last shows then it’s been a fantastic journey and they have made brilliant music along the way.

— mark skelton (@Skelly2505) January 22, 2025

While this chapter of Orange Goblin’s story is coming to a close, the band has not ruled out future one-off appearances or special projects. “Who knows what the future holds?” Ward teased, leaving a glimmer of hope for fans.

As they prepare to take their final bow, Orange Goblin’s legacy is secure. They will be remembered as one of the most steadfast and genuine acts in British heavy metal, leaving behind a catalog of music that will continue to inspire generations to come.

The festival promises to be an electrifying celebration of heavy metal’s diverse sounds and community spirit. Held at Catton Hall, Derbyshire, the lineup is headlined by three titans of the genre: Trivium, Machine Head, and Gojira. Each will dominate the Ronnie James Dio stage on successive nights, with Gojira’s Sunday performance following their acclaimed appearance at the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony.

Fans can expect a broad spectrum of metal excellence. The Ronnie James Dio stage features acts like black metal pioneers Emperor, gothic stalwarts Lacuna Coil, and melodic death metal legends The Black Dahlia Murder. Meanwhile, the Sophie Lancaster stage includes a mix of styles with Me and That Man, Static-X, and death metal icons Obituary as headliners​. 

Adding to the experience is a heartfelt tribute to Lemmy Kilmister, with a replica of the late Motörhead frontman’s tour dressing room and a bust containing his ashes at the bar — a poignant homage to a rock icon​.

For those attending Bloodstock 2025, the festival’s big headliners will undoubtedly draw the masses, but the true fans of heavy metal know that the magic often lies in the lesser known. Below the marquee names, hidden treasures can be found, and it’s in these shadowy corners of the lineup that the discerning ear can find revelation.

Consider Emperor, who will perform under Trivium on Friday. This Norwegian black metal legend rarely graces stages, and their set is poised to deliver a spine-chilling blend of brutality and artistry. The tantalising possibility of a live collaboration with Trivium’s Matt Heafy—through his connection to Emperor’s Ihsahn—could make this one of the weekend’s most electrifying moments​. 

Saturday brings the theatrical flare of Creeper, whose punk-horror aesthetic is a rare sight on Bloodstock’s traditionally metal-heavy stages. Expect soaring melodies and dark narratives to infuse the Ronnie James Dio stage with a welcome dose of gothic drama​. 

On the Sophie Lancaster stage, the lineup becomes delightfully eclectic. Me and That Man, the dark Americana project of Behemoth’s Nergal, headlines Thursday night with a brooding set of bluesy laments that contrast sharply with his black-metal roots.

Then there’s Breed 77, whose flamenco-metal fusion on Saturday promises to be as hypnotic as it is heavy. Sunday closes with a rare appearance by the resurrected 3 Inches of Blood, a Canadian band whose galloping riffs and NWOBHM influences have reached near-mythical status​.

Don’t overlook the rising force of All For Metal on Thursday. With their Norse-inspired theatrics and epic anthems, they could well become the surprise darlings of the festival​. 

From the mosh pits to the campsite camaraderie, this isn’t just a festival—it’s a pilgrimage for the heavy music faithful.

Tickets are already on sale, with early bird packages offering fans the best deal for this epic gathering​.

Ahead of the event in August, the Hopical Storm New Blood Stage has unveiled a number of rising bands you can catch at Catton Park in August: Disposable, Final Coil, She Burns Red, Biomechanimal, Praetorian, Lost To Light, Straight For The Sun, Akkadian and Sathamel.

Last year’s Metal 2 The Masses winners Acid Age have also been announced for Bloodstock – joining the Sophie Stage for 2024. “We love everything about M2TM,” they enthuse. “The exposure, photography, stage, lights and friends we made was more than satisfactory, but then we won and got to both attend and play Bloodstock 2023! We couldn’t believe it, Bloodstock is heavy metal Mecca. It’s where everyone comes together with a common goal, heavy fucking metal! The sense of community at the festival is undeniable. Now that we have a chance to return and play the Sophie stage, we aim to show everyone why we are the best war-jazz band in the world and we will do it for Sophie. See you in August.”

To top it off, Bloodstock have also announced the details of their Metal 2 The Masses initiative for new bands. It kicks off on May the 10th and runs all the way through to the 13th of July.

Check out the details below:

Bloodstock have also announced the final headliners for the show following August’s announcement that Architects and Amon Amarth will be headlining Bloodstock 2024, the festival have just confirmed their final headliner, and announced several more bands.

Opeth are set to top the bill on the Friday of the heavy metal bash, with a special fan-chosen set marking their only UK gig next year. “So…” begins frontman Mikael Akerfeldt. “Back to Bloodstock 2024 for us, it appears! I don’t remember how many times we’ve played the festival, but we do have fond memories from there. ‘Filling in’ for Heaven & Hell when RJD had passed is one. Fuck! Can’t remember a more emotional event onstage for us, to be honest.

“Anyhoooo, we’ll be there ‘rocking’ and ‘rolling’ in our own way, playing songs that you’ve chosen (apparently). Please be gentle. Right now I feel pretty far from being a rocker, as I’m writing this sat in my (favourite) greasy sweatpants, and my hair is greasier than ever. I’m working, you see. But I promise I’ll have a look in the mirror before we hit the stage. The band will be tight (that’s also a promise). I’ll sing OK (semi-promise). You’ll recognise the songs (I really have no idea, but you picked them!) and, we’ll be IN. THE. ZONE! All in all, providing the weather’s nice and the beer is cold, the possibilities for a magical night are rather decent. Wouldn’t you say? Hope to see (and hear) you there.”

Hatebreed will be celebrating their 30th anniversary on Friday on the main stage.  Enslaved will be there on the Sunday. On top of that, Nervosa, Crypta, Beast In Black and Forbidden have also been added to the line-up.

Bloodstock takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire, on August 8 – 11.

You can get tickets here.

Announcements were unveiled through Youtube and Twitter. Skindred, responsible for hits including ‘Nobody’ and ‘Kill the Power’, were amongst the line up at Download 2019 back in June. In a review of the festival, the article offered this to say about the band’s frontman Benji Webbe, “Webbe is arguably one of the best frontmen out there, and it does feel like, today, that’s been recognised.”

Tickets are available through Bloodstock’s official website. Last weekend, Bloodstock 2019 took place. The Catton Hall festival included performances from bands Children of Bodom, Scorpions and Parkway Drive.

This year’s Bloodstock was however plagued by weather problems, which saw Anthrax playing a shorter than desired set, with worse still, Cradle of Filth’s set being pulled altogether. Parkway Drive did finally take to the stage, reportedly around thirty minutes after initially scheduled.

Back in April, Skindred released the lyric video for the single ‘Loud and Clear’, lifted from their seventh album, ‘Big Tings’. The release of the album coincided with an April tour with Disturbed. Skindred drummer Arya Goggins said. “Finally, to round off the year, we are taking the That’s My Jam tour to Europe with Blood Command as our special guest, which finishes in late December. So, in short, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a year!”

The ‘That’s My Jam’ European tour begins on November 29 in Amsterdam and ends in Lille on December 19.