Down The Barrel Photography © 2020
If ever there was an incentive to look forward to next years event, then here it is…
Mercyful Fate will be closing the mainstage on Saturday 14th August 2021 and will be bringing a full production that will no doubt be fucking mind-blowing, to say the least!
Frontman King Diamond revealed the bands return via his Instagram account causing gasps of disbelief from the global metal community.
The lineup from 1999 album ‘9’ will reunite for the summer jaunt, which features King Diamond on vocals, Hank Shermann and Mike Wead on guitar and Bjarne T Holm on drums. Armored Saint’s Joey Vera will fill in on bass.
“We asked Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning) to fill in because he has a very unique style and sounds playing with his fingers, much like that of Timi Hansen,” says King Diamond.
“This is very important since the setlist will only consist of songs from the very first ‘mini-LP’, the ‘Melissa’ album, and the ‘Don’t Break The Oath’ album, plus some brand new songs that were written specifically in that very same style.
On performing at Bloodstock, Mr Diamond commented; “It is with sinister pleasure MERCYFUL FATE will finally bring the Devil himself to Bloodstock Summer ‘21. We cannot wait and neither can he. It’s gonna be dark as Hell.”
Joining them on the mainstage is none other than Norwegian symphonic black metal crew, Dimmu Borgir.
Having to sadly pull out of last years event due to unforeseeable circumstances, the Black Metal titans are back and will be unleashing all kinds of HELL with plenty of pyros and a setlist that will delve deep into the bands rich back catalogue including their latest offering ‘Eonian‘.
The band have been busy writing new material for their new album and according to guitarist Silenoz, Dimmu Borgir has plenty of material left over from Eonian writing sessions. He commented on the material saying: “hopefully it won’t take as long to release a new album this time” in reference to the eight-year gap between Eonian and 2010’s Abrahadabra.
The remaining line up for Bloodstock 2021 is shaping up as follows; Friday headliner Devin Townsend performing a setlist by request. This will be his only UK show for 2021 so that alone is worth the ticket price. Sunday headliners, Judas Priest will be celebrating their 50th anniversary [technically, it will be 51 years] and will arguably be one of the metal highlights of the year.
The festival will be running for an extra day next year to make up for this years’ unfortunate turn of events.
The festival will be 5 days and start from Wednesday, as opposed to Thursday; the dates for 2021’s event will be 11th – 15th August. This will be at no extra cost to those who have already purchased weekend tickets for 2020 and wish to roll them over.
Headliners for Thursday are yet to be announced. The festival also features sets from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, SKINDRED, PARADISE LOST, LIFE OF AGONY, BURY TOMORROW, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DIAMOND HEAD, JINJER, VIO-LENCE, SACRED REICH, GLORYHAMMER, DARK TRANQUILLITY, BUTCHER BABIES, CATTLE DECAPITATION, BLOODYWOOD, MEMORIAM, RAMAGE INC, GREEN LUNG, CONJURER, ORANGE GOBLIN, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, SAXON, SYLOSIS, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, WINTERFYLLETH, NEKROGOBLIKON, THE CRAWLING, RAISED BY OWLS, ANAKIM, ACID REIGN, SVALBARD, SOEN, DOG TIRED, BAILER, BLASPHEMER, BLACK TONGUE, LIBERTY LIES, PIST, & SHARKS IN YOUR MOUTH so far. Many more bands performing across the weekend are still to be announced.
Besides standard weekend tickets, child tickets and parking tickets for 2021’s event are also available now at the ticket store.
A limited number of day tickets will go on sale on September 1st – sign up for a free reminder here. VIP and campervan tickets for 2021 are already sold out.
BLOODSTOCK 2021 takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire from 11th-15th August 2021. For more info, click here for access.
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2020
