As far as the UK metal community goes, you’ll not find a bigger or more concentrated celebration of heavy metal than at Bloodstock, the festival having gone from strength to strength since its first outdoor events way back in 2005. Over the years legends and newcomers alike have graced its stages, some even going on to headline in their own right as a show that the festival is not concerned with just rotating the same old faces when it can promote new talent to higher positions than ever before. Gojira, Opeth, Mastodon, Ghost, Amon Amarth – all have headlined this decade, each holding a special place of reverence in the hearts of those who caught their sets. Yet, Bloodstock 2019 looks to have its most ‘controversial’ booking yet in the form of Australian metalcore mob Parkway Drive, this year’s Saturday night headliners who take a decidedly different position to the traditional heavy metal cultural norms. Never mind that they’ve one of the best stage shows in the business, nor that the band have produced some titanium-plated anthems in their career thus far; it turns out that sometimes people will only be happy if you toe the line and stay in your box. But then, that was never Bloodstock’s way, was it?
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