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​.

Guitarist Phil Demmel and longtime drummer Dave McClain were confirmed to be quitting by band frontman and leader Robb Flynn in an emotional Facebook Live video, which you can see below.

In the video Flynn confirms the departure of the two band members, saying “I’ll get right to it […] Wednesday night, Phil Demmel quit Machine Head. Yesterday afternoon, Dave McClain quit Machine Head. And Jared kinda quit but didn’t know if he was quitting for sure.”

Since the video went live, the band have issued a more formal statement on Demmel and McClain’s departures, making clear that their upcoming tour will be ‘a celebration’ of this iteration of the band, rather than the end of the band completely.

The statement reads: “After 23 years with Dave McClain pounding the skins at the drum throne, and 15 years with Phil Demmel shredding the guitar on stage right, both members have decided to move on from Machine Head and open a new chapter in their lives.⠀

“The upcoming Freaks and Zeroes tour of North America (that starts this Thursday in Sacramento, CA) is still happening, and will be a celebration of the music that the line-up have created throughout the years. The split is amicable, and the guys are looking forward to playing these very special shows for the Head Cases of North America and ending this era on a positive and classy note.⠀

To clarify: this is the Farewell Tour of this line-up of Machine Head, not the Farewell Tour of Machine Head, as has been reported in the media. ⠀
⠀
Machine Head wish to thank Phil and Dave for their significant contributions to the band, both musically and lyrically, as well for the spirit, genuine passion they infused into the music, and legendary live performances brought along the way.

Machine Head ask that you, the Head Cases, the Freaks & Zeroes, the Lion Hearts of America, come down and have a drink (or 5), a joint (or 3), rage at the shows, let your freak-flag-fly, and celebrate this unique moment in time with us.”

Despite the positive spin the band want for this US tour, Flynn was honest in blaming himself for the departures of Demmel and McClain, saying in the initial Facebook broadcast: “We have grown apart as people,” he began. “Musically, we have grown apart. I have held on too tight to the reins of this band and I have suffocated those guys.

“I’ve got some rough edges – I’m kind of a barnacle. Those rough edges have given us the success we have, but they’ve also hurt the people around me. I’ve got a lot of drive but I’ve got a lot of anger and rage. That drive of mine has alienated folks in the band.”

Flynn’s remorse for his conduct, and the admission that he needed to “do a little bit of soul-searching in my life and take a long hard look at myself.”

Flynn was insistent that the band would continue, and despite his remorse, he was keen to see his bandmates off in style. “We’re gonna end it on a positive note,” he promised. “And we’re gonna end it on a classy note. So come out and have a drink with us. Maybe not too classy – like white trash classy, like hammered and stoned at a metal show classy. It’s the end of an era. I did a lot of crying yesterday. I felt like I got ran over by a truck.”

Fans seem to have accepted that the band will continue, but many have still expressed sadness that two long-standing members of the near-iconic band will be departing.

Phil Demmel leaving #MachineHead is devastating. He and Flynn are like Bert and Ernie. They can’t just break up.

— Jason (@ItMeJason) September 28, 2018

Absolutely broken-hearted over the news about @MfnH This band literally changed my life! I may be a little dramatic right now, but god damn this sucks! Best of luck to the guys in their future endeavors! #machinehead

— JenniSixx (@JenniSixx) September 28, 2018