Bloodstock 2014 Review: Part 2

I was up and about early on Saturday morning as I wanted to catch Evil Scarecrow (10) opening on the main stage. I have missed them playing on the smaller stages before, so this time I was determined to see what all the fuss was about. As it turns out I wasn't the only one. Expecting a relatively moderate turnout of 5000 or so, I was pleasantly surprised to be met by a huge crowd which was easily equal to that of Friday night headliners, Down. These people had clearly seen the band before or, like me, had heard about their apparently all-conquering show at Bloodstock 2013. Either way, the show was without a doubt the single best festival performance I have ever seen. I mean, any band that can get an early morning crowd of hungover metalheads scuttling back and forth like crabs has definitely got something special going for them. Even charismatic frontman, Dr. Hell was a little overwhelmed by the frankly massive crowd that has turned out to greet his unsigned band. Think about that for a moment. An unsigned band that can pull a headliner-worthy crowd. If you see the name Evil Scarecrow on a bill in the future, do whatever is necessary to go and see them.

Saturday was shaping up to be the strongest day of the festival and it was already off to a fine start. After that, it was up to Norway's Shining (6) to carry the torch, and despite putting on a respectable performance, the band's saxophone-fueled Industrial Metal fell a little flat after Evil Scarecrow. I'm sure that, in a dark club somewhere, Shining would go down a storm, but here on a sunny Saturday morning, it just wasn't their time. Time to amble over to the second stage now for the UK's own folklore-obsessed Black Metal masters, Old Corpse Road (8). Far from being a generic example of the genre, they  enraptured the medium-sized crowd with a unique performance where all 6 people members of the band took it in turns to deliver shrieks, rasps and growls. After a brief wander over to the main stage to watch Decapitated play a single song, it was back to the S.O.P.H.I.E. stage for up and coming British Grunge-infused Hard Rockers, The Mercy House (8) and despite a disappointingly sparse crowd, the band played their hearts out - their 90's stylings and posturing going down well with those who had turned up to see them. Think Alice In Chains meets Skid Row with elements of The Almighty and you will be somewhere close to the band's nigglingly familiar yet oddly distinctive sound.

Israel's Orphaned Land (7) put on an impassioned performance next on the main stage, with their uniquely eastern take on Symphonic Metal being bolstered by some System Of A Down-esque quirkiness. They might not be the most interesting band on record, but they come alive on stage. Time for a short beer break before allowing myself to succumb to the crushing heaviness of Crowbar (7). Although similar in sound to the previous night's headliners, Down (frontman Kirk was in Down for a time), they are an infinitely more interesting live prospect. Sadly, the show fails to really get going as the band's Sludge Metal is more suited to a sweaty indoor venue than it is to broad daylight in the middle of the afternoon. That said, it was an enjoyable 40 minutes of heavyweight riffs and very manly beards. Italy's Goth Metal veterans Lacuna Coil (5) on the other hand, fall completely flat. For a band with a near-20 year history and a back catalogue filled with exactly the sort of songs that should go down well with a festival audience, they spectacularly fail to get the crowd on their side. It didn't help that the sound was feeble and the entire performance seemed somewhat forced. Christina's annoying faux-American accent didn't help things either. Shame.

With Children Of Bodom (Boredom as Aaron would say) up next on the main stage, it was time to take a walk over to the S.O.P.H.I.E. stage for the next two bands. Both bands delivered the goods to respectable crowds, although the relentless Thrash / Death Metal brutality of Norway's, Blood Red Throne (7) couldn't have been more at odds with the quaint old school NWOBHM of Sunderland's, Battleaxe (5). Thankfully, after a hard day of standing in a field drinking beer and watching bands, I now had a 90 minute gap in the itinerary to get a short rest before the mighty Carcass (9) hit the main stage. The reformed and reignited Grind / Death Metal maestros delivered a superb set made up of both old and new material - although such is the strength of the new songs, you would be hard pressed to tell them apart from the classic early 90's period masterworks. The set was only marred by the collapse of a fan in the crowd which caused the band to stop playing until the situation was resolved. Jeff was on typically dry-humoured form too, keeping the crowd entertained between songs. Not that there was a chance of anyone losing interest in a set like this.

Of course, nothing could compare to the buzz that was building for headliners, Emperor (10). Recently reformed (again) for a short run of festival shows to promote / celebrate the 20th anniversary of the greatest Black Metal album ever released, In The Nightside Eclipse, this show was a near-religious experience for this field of rabid, and now slightly damp, Metalheads. This was a faultless and truly life-affiriming performance which not only ended the day on the same high as which it started, but also emphasised the timelessness of the band's first couple of albums (and the essential demos). Truly stunning.