Here's what Jason Ritchie from www.getreadytorock.com thought of Friday night
After a 'lovely' five hour drive up from Farnham it was into the
metal zone! First time at Bloodstock, now into its third year and
what a great atmposphere! Lots of CD stalls (including RPM, Earache,
Now & Then etc), cheap drinks (well compared to London) and err
average food
A near sell out (2,000 capacity I believe) and a good
mix of ages from 10/11 year olds right up to the more 'mature'
rocker.
Star studded crowd included Magnum's Bob Catley, Jess Cox (Tygers
of Pan Tang/Noise Records), the legendary Batttttty (all round UFO
fanatic), a smattering of Total Rock people plus journos from Power
Play and Fireworks. But most importantly it was full of metal fans
from classic metal to prog metal to death metal.
But onto the music! Power Quest were simply superb. A tight set
with their vocalist getting very much into the music and creating a
stage presence for himself (very Danny Vaughn at times!). Same set as
London on Monday including 'Wings Of Forever' and the classic 'Far
Away'. Their new album will be crucial to their next step up and
judging by the audience reaction they are building a good fanbase.
Now Blaze...after hearing him murder Led Zep's 'Dazed and
Confuesed' I am afraid it was time for a 'Diet Coke break' as they
say on the television. He puts his all into each show but it just
don't grab me at all and sadly I can never see him getting better...
Solid backing band but I've yet to be convinced.
Saxon were again on fine form and for sheer classic metal you
can't beat them at the moment (until Judas Priest come along next
year!). Plenty of new era material ('Solid Ball Or Rock') mixed with
classics like '747(Strangers in the Night)', 'Wheels of
Steel', 'Crusader' and 'Denim & Leather'. Sheer class with Biff
Byford on fine vocal form and the twin guitar assault working well.
Long may they continue...
Great night of metal and here's to next year
After a 'lovely' five hour drive up from Farnham it was into the
metal zone! First time at Bloodstock, now into its third year and
what a great atmposphere! Lots of CD stalls (including RPM, Earache,
Now & Then etc), cheap drinks (well compared to London) and err
average food
A near sell out (2,000 capacity I believe) and a goodmix of ages from 10/11 year olds right up to the more 'mature'
rocker.
Star studded crowd included Magnum's Bob Catley, Jess Cox (Tygers
of Pan Tang/Noise Records), the legendary Batttttty (all round UFO
fanatic), a smattering of Total Rock people plus journos from Power
Play and Fireworks. But most importantly it was full of metal fans
from classic metal to prog metal to death metal.
But onto the music! Power Quest were simply superb. A tight set
with their vocalist getting very much into the music and creating a
stage presence for himself (very Danny Vaughn at times!). Same set as
London on Monday including 'Wings Of Forever' and the classic 'Far
Away'. Their new album will be crucial to their next step up and
judging by the audience reaction they are building a good fanbase.
Now Blaze...after hearing him murder Led Zep's 'Dazed and
Confuesed' I am afraid it was time for a 'Diet Coke break' as they
say on the television. He puts his all into each show but it just
don't grab me at all and sadly I can never see him getting better...
Solid backing band but I've yet to be convinced.
Saxon were again on fine form and for sheer classic metal you
can't beat them at the moment (until Judas Priest come along next
year!). Plenty of new era material ('Solid Ball Or Rock') mixed with
classics like '747(Strangers in the Night)', 'Wheels of
Steel', 'Crusader' and 'Denim & Leather'. Sheer class with Biff
Byford on fine vocal form and the twin guitar assault working well.
Long may they continue...
Great night of metal and here's to next year
