Ten Bands You Should Check Out At Bloodstock 2026 – Sophie Lancaster Stage

Where does the time go!? Once again, Bloodstock is right around the corner, and once again, it is shaping up to be one the best festivals of the year. Yes, we know we say that every year, but this year really does feel like it. It’s going to be an immense weekend of head banging, circle pitting, two stepping, and singing and shouting our hearts out. Will you be there with us?

We hope so, and while (as always) we hope to see every band on the bill, we all know that simply isn’t possible, but we’re going to try, especially as there are so many great bands. How about you though? Who are you going to be checking out? Do you need a little guidance? Some bands, that maybe you’re not sure about, that we could recommend for you? Perhaps per stage?

Guess what!? We got you. Here are ten bands (five chosen by Carl, five chosen by Brendan) we think you should check out on the Sophie Lancaster Stage.

Carl – The Hell (Thursday)

We’re all going to f**king die! Stay out of the pit unless you’re looking to get hurt. The Hell is going to be insane, delivering hardcore intensity that has blood-pumping anthemic qualities, and I can’t wait to see it. From a distance, mind you. I don’t want to start my weekend with a bloody nose.

Brendan – Cryptopsy (Thursday)

It feels a bit like Cryptopsy have been around forever and they have been a real influence on so many bands on the extreme side of metal. They are very consistent on record delivering plenty of technical prowess and brutal intensity. As well as all of that, in modern times they also inject plenty of groove and even a touch of melody making them the whole package. Whenever I have seen these guys live, I always leave more impressed than I expect to be. I expect them to e good, but they always surpass that expectation with ease, and I expect them to be no different here and be the real highlight of Thursday night.

Carl – Gurt (Friday)

I can’t think of many bands that are worth getting out of bed early to see, but Gurt are one that you should make the effort for. The sludgy metal band are brilliant live and with an exceptionally strong back catalogue. There’s going to be something so fun about dancing to their cover of No Limit before midday, if they play it.

Brendan – Excrementory Grindfuckers (Friday)

That’s certainly a name that sticks out – Excrementory Grindfuckers – and I won’t pretend that I knew much about this band prior to seeing them announced for Bloodstock and me adding some songs to a playlist to check out. Those songs made me add more, and more and I pretty much have their entire catalogue now I think. The self-described “grindcore fools” from Hannover are as brutal as they are fun. In line with the comedic approach we see from bands like Putrid Defecation, these guys are all about excess and bad taste, making light of the seriousness of our music while putting on a show and having a blast. I think this is going to be great fun.

Carl – Hammer (Friday)

The Scottish heavy hitters did great when they played the festival in 2024 on the New Blood stage, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this Sophie set will be even bigger and even bolder. On a day filled with banging bands, they stand out, and I reckon I’ll be coming away from them with some serious neck ache.

Brendan – Imperium (Saturday)

Imperium are another band we have followed and supported for a long time now and it’s truly heartening to see their rise. The London based band, local for us, always deliver uncompromising and energetic sets whenever I have had the pleasure of seeing them and their growth has been earned through hard work and dedication. They brings riffs upon riffs with plenty of intensity and tons of groove and will play Bloodstock having dropped their excellent debut full length, Exodus Unknown, just a couple weeks before they take to the stage. The rise continues – this should be awesome.

Carl – Froglord (Saturday)

Another day, another reason to get your ass over to the Sophie stage nice and early. It’s Froglord and things are going to get weird. This is a chance for me see them finally, and I’m really looking forward to being submerged in a psychedelic doom-infused, sludge-tinged wetland.

Brendan – Thrown into Exile (Sunday)

LA based Thrown into Exile are a superb band delivering intense heavy metal with melodeath influences which obviously would make them of instant interest to me if I wasn’t already a fan anyway. They are experienced, having toured with the likes of Orbit Culture, At The Gates, Fear Factory and more, and have a strong catalogue of music behind them. I expect them to just hit us with a no frills 30/40 minutes blast of fast-moving aggression. Sounds good to me.

Carl – Alunah (Sunday)

Last time I saw Alunah, they blew me away, and I’m really excited to see them perform on a stage the size of the Sophie one. Their groovy stoner metal sound is so appealing and I think they’ll go down really well for those looking for some energy early afternoon on Sunday.

Brendan – Mushroomhead (Sunday)

Mushroom Head are a band I really enjoy and they are great live. There is a bit of spectacle with them, with the masks obviously adding to the visuals. I do get they are a bit of a marmite band to many due to lineup changes, and style changes, over the years. Plenty of us though, me included, really enjoy modern era Mushroom Head as much as past versions so I am definitely excited to see them perform. They are also another band that my wife and daughter both really enjoy so this will be a nice family affair where we all get to be excited for a band together.