2. Grand Magus - Ronnie James DIo Stage - Friday, August 9th 2024 - 1.45 pm

The UK might well have invented heavy metal and the states may well have popularised it, but it is our brethren in the frozen North of Scandinavia that have done most to keep it alive over the preceding decades. Metal has become an absolute essential part of Scandinavian culture as there are more metal bands per head in Sweden and Norway than any other country. Whilst black metal specifically maybe Norway seventh biggest export, Sweden has done more than enough to keep up with their noisy neighbours. They have given us melodic death metal, Ghost, Candlemass, Friday night headliners Opeth and this lot, Grand Magus, a rumbling northern juggernaut that expertly balances the glacial malevolence of Doom with the pounding ferocity of classic metal.

Grand Magus are a band that just does it without much fuss or fanfare. For 23 years they have been churning out excellent record after excellent record. They may have never broken out of the underground, but they'll always been there toiling away producing metal that stays true to its original vision but also manages to explore interesting new territories. They are a cult band for those who aren't particularly into bells and whistles and prefer their metal grounded and organic. 

There are Catton Hall on the cusp of releasing their 10th record, their first in five years. Its recording and the preceding Covid buggerations means that they have been off the road for quite a while and having last visited these fair Isles in march 2020, this Bloodstock return will be a stupendous welcome back for a band that sits at the very foundations of music. So grab a horn from wherever you can and get ready to raise it for the momentous return of Grand Magus.