Bloodstock are VERY pleased to confirm Norways Black Metal Giants ‘ DIMMU BORGIR’ for an EXCLUSIVE UK show for 2008 at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR !!. The band will grace the main stage next August at Bloodstock, and this will be their ONLY UK show for 2008 ……….

DIMMU BORGIR, strike back with their eighth opus “In Sorte Diaboli”, and it is their most elaborate and thrilling effort so far! Again produced by Swedish mastermind Fredrik Nordström, the nine new DIMMU BORGIR tracks are a true lesson in fierce yet melodic Northern blackness...
In 1994, the band recorded their now-classic debut full-length, “For All Tid”, followed two years later by one of the most important albums in Black Metal history, “Stormblåst”. Album number two instantly turned DIMMU BORGIR into the hottest Black Metal Underground act with its mature songwriting, tempo variances, strong classical influences and overall unique sound.

The “Devil’s Path” MCD was next, before the recording sessions for a true and immortal melodic Black Metal masterpiece commenced. “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant” was produced by Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy) and released in 1997. The bands Nuclear Blast debut marked their big international breakthrough achieving chart entries all over the world and playing the huge European music festivals such as Dynamo Open Air and Wacken Open Air.

Shortly following their world tour for “Enthroned Darkness Triumphant”, DIMMU BORGIR recorded the “Godless Savage Garden” MCD to hold fans over while waiting for the next full-length, “Spiritual Black Dimensions”. This one was unleashed in March 1999, taking record stores by storm and proving yet again that DIMMU BORGIR are the kings of the dark throne.

With a new-formed line-up, consisting of Shagrath (vocals), Silenoz (guitar), Vortex (bass & vocals), Galder (guitar), Mustis (keyboard) and Nick Barker (drums), Dimmu Borgir entered Sweden’s Fredman Studio in Fall 2000 to record their highly anticipated album “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia”. Once again the band created a masterpiece in aggressive music with outstanding atmosphere and audibly evil songs. 2003`s “Death Cult Armageddon” even outdid that high level. This opus set a new standard for Black Metal with its complexity, brutality and catchy feel. The majestic orchestral parts on the record remain unchallenged in Black Metal history to this very day.
In 2005, the band decided to fully re-record the classic “Stormblåst”, since this fan favourite lacked appropriate sound and arrangements in the eyes of the DIMMU BORGIR guys. Living legend Hellhammer (MAYHEM) joined them on drums for this occasion – and he is also part of “In Sorte Diaboli”.

Combining all DIMMU BORGIR trademarks such as brutal highspeed parts, catchy hooks, ethereal melodies and complex song arrangements, “In Sorte Diaboli” certainly was worth the wait. Recorded in the famous Fredman Studios, this album will certainly see the band grow larger than life and definitely larger than Black Metal itself!

See the band Exclusively in the UK in 2008 at Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival !!

Click Here to view Dimmu Borgir Bloodstock Festival Band Profile page .

Bloodstock are very pleased to announce Finnish Death metallers SWALLOW THE SUN have been confirmed as the second band for the 2008 BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR UK METAL FESTIVAL !!!!

The bands latest album has had huge acclaim In Europe and the band are planning to bring their fantastic show to UK shores in 2008 at Bloodstock.

The most luminous death/doom-metal act of Finland, Swallow the Sun, got started in the turn of the millennium when the guitarist Juha Raivio collected a group of friends around him.

The first recording was well prepared during few years and now a rare collectors item, "Out of This Gloomy Light" was recorded in January 2003. This demo brought the first record deal with Firebox Records. Debut album, "The Morning Never Came" was released in November 2003 and brought Swallow the Sun to the knowledge of metal world. Inferno-magazine chose the band as the newcomer of the year and Kerrang! gave full 5 K's to the album and quoted it as "One of the doom metals finest moments to date!".

Swallow the Sun took hold of the live scene by touring clubs and festivals in Finland and abroad. Even though they spent many hours on the road, the work for next album was already on its way and the recordings for "Ghosts of Loss" started in February 2005. First single of the album, "Forgive Her...", went to Finnish Official Album Charts, positioning on fourth place and stayed there for six weeks. And more success came in following August when the album climbed to position eight and stayed weeks on the charts. Both these rare occasions in Finnish metal scene made the ground even firmer under Swallow the Sun's rocketing success, in the rain of overwhelming reviews.

Once again, after touring Finland and other countries, the band closed itself in September 2006 to an island next to Helsinki to record their coming album "Hope". "Atmosphere on the island truly gave change to focus deeply on the work and of course a nice place to host our guests", says Juha Raivio.

Swallow the Sun had the privilege to have Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) and Tomi Joutsen (Amorphis) to appear as guest vocal on the album. The album has received high praises in all medias around the world and on 7th of February 2007 "Hope" was released and it jumped directly to position 3 on official Finnish album charts. In year 2007 Swallow the sun plays about 100 shows, including appearances on major metal festivals, three European tours and one in USA.

The band have now been confirmed for to play the Uks No 1 Metal Festival BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR in 2008 and are pleased to now be playing to their ever strong & growing UK fanbase, another UK coup for Bloodstock !!


Click Here To View Their Bloodstock Band Line Up Page

Bloodstock are very pleased to confirm the FIRST band to announced for next years BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR, finnish Metallers MOONSORROW !

Moonsorrow have been a band continually requested by the fans and the band are very excited about their ONLY UK festival appearance of 2008 !

Formed in 1995 Moonsorrow's sound has always drawn influences from different styles such as folk and progressive music. This mixed with extreme metal with the lyrics in their native tongue Finnish and the band's ability to have every instrument to serve the arrangements is exceptional. Besides their records their live performance has got great commendation.

The music's heroic atmosphere with historical citations is in the first class of metal genre. The debut album "Suden Uni" ("A Wolf's Dream"), released in 2000 convinced people and the Helsinki-based quintet got signed to the leading metal label in Finland, Spinefarm Records. The next couple of albums "Voimasta ja Kunniasta" ("Of Strength and Honour") 2001 and "Kivenkantaja" ("Stonebearer") 2003 have sold copies internationally over ten thousands each. Because of huge demand the debut "Suden Uni" was re-released in 2004 with bonus track, bonus DVD and new cover artwork.
"Verisäkeet" ("Blood Verses") released in 2005 collected a great number of good reviews from all over the world with its longer songs and more down-to-earth sound. Moonsorrow promoted the album heavily besides in their home country, on many European metal festivals and they did a tour in Russia.

In 2006 Moonsorrow toured in Europe together with Ireland's Primordial.
"Heathen Crusade" named tour first started in Minneapolis USA where Moonsorrow headlined with Primordial and Thyrfing. On the same trip Moonsorrow visited Montreal in Canada and headlined a show there and the doors opened for them in Northern America. In 2008 they will make a very demanded UK appearance at the BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL that will be held on 15th, 16th & 17th August 2008.

Bloodstock will be confirming bands for 2008 in the coming weeks, we are negotiating as we speak with some incredible bands for next year and we will ensure we bring bands to the UK that rarely play as well as bands that are highly requested by the metal masses !

Keep watching the news section & forums for more announcements soon ………….

Greetings fellow metalheads. This year we mean to be ahead of the game starting with next year’s artwork for Bloodstock Open Air 2008. For those of you unfamiliar with the original artwork concept for the festival, when it started and why this particular imagery has been so important to the roots of the festival Click Here to find out more .

I felt with the cancelling of the indoor going back to our roots was vital and like I’ve already said once we have the open air where it needs to be the indoor will be revisited.

We’ve had a lot of drama this year as most of you have seen and I’m sure we’ll have similar challenges in the future, but that’s the nature of the beast. Our challenge for the coming festival is to make it the best it can be and with that in mind we had started work on next year’s before this year’s had started. We’ll keep you all posted on developments much more in future, we’re conscious that many of you have felt out of the loop, and this will change as we develop our team.


If you’re not living on the edge you’re taking up to much room.

Cheers

Paul

Bloodstock have officially launched the 2008 Bloodstock Open Air tickets for sale, as of this week and are offering fans for a limited time period the opportunity to make a HUGE saving on next years tickets if you buy early !

The tickets this year come with the biggest saving incentive any festival has offered, and we know this will be a big pre Christmas seller ! We will be selling next years tickets at this years price of just £ 60 right up until 15th December 2007, tickets purchased after this date will be priced at £ 85, this is saving early bird ticket buyers a massive £ 25 ! !!

We have a very loyal , dedicated and growing fan base, and we are always striving to offer our fans as much as possible, bringing them in return a TRUE Metal Festival with some of the biggest names in the industry and many bands that have never before or rarely played the UK.

The tickets will also make great Christmas presents for loved ones, friends or family so take advantage of getting next years ultimate 3 day UK Metal Festival for just £ 60 !!!

THIS OFFER WILL END 15TH DECEMBER 2007

What are you Waiting for Click Here to Buy your Bloodstock Tickets NOW !!