Bloodstock 25! The Sunday Review!

Written by Louise Phillips on August 30, 2025

Gojira Close Bloodstock 25 With A Ferocious Tidal Wave of Sound That Shook Catton Park To Its Core!

As Sunday night fell, Gojira rose to the challenge of closing Bloodstock 2025 with a performance that was equal parts precision, power, and pure spectacle. From the crushing opener Only Pain, the French heavyweights unleashed a tidal wave of sound that shook Catton Park to its core.

Every element felt monumental towering riffs, thunderous drums, and an immaculate production bolstered by pyrotechnics, smoke, and dazzling light displays. Tracks like Flying Whales, Silvera, and L’Enfant Sauvage didn’t just land, they consumed the field in a haze of fire and fury, while the band’s flawless musicianship bound the chaos together.

What stood out most was how effortless it seemed. Gojira didn’t just headline, they transformed the stage into their own dominion, balancing ferocity with atmosphere and making every moment feel vital. As the final notes faded into the night sky, there was no doubt: this was not just another closing set, but a landmark in Bloodstock history.

Mastodon

Sunday evening saw Mastodon stride onto the Ronnie James Dio Stage with something to prove, and by the end of their set, they’d more than silenced any doubters. With the late Brent Hinds no longer in the lineup, the addition of Canadian shredder Nick Johnston alongside Bill Kelliher brought a new edge that slotted into the band’s sound effortlessly.

They opened with the soaring drama of Tread Lightly, immediately pulling the crowd into Mastodon’s vast, riff-laden world. From there, it was a masterclass in controlled chaos: Black Tongue hit like a hammer, Megalodon turned the pit into a frenzy, and The Motherload showcased Brann Dailor’s melodic vocals cutting clean through the thunder of Troy Sanders’s roar.

What set the performance apart wasn’t just the sheer weight of the music, but the chemistry on display. There was a looseness, a joy even a tongue in-cheek rock, paper, scissors duel between the guitarists mid song that made the set feel alive. And when the unmistakable opening of Blood and Thunder crashed down, the field erupted into a final, cathartic storm.

This wasn’t simply Mastodon carrying on, it was Mastodon revitalised, reminding Bloodstock why they remain one of modern metal’s most vital forces.

Lord of the Lost

As Sunday evening settled in, the Ronnie James Dio Stage was taken over by the flamboyant force of Lord of the Lost. Striding out in dazzling costumes and ghostly paint, the Hamburg collective wasted no time in wrapping Bloodstock in their darkly theatrical embrace.

Launching with heavy cuts like Moonstruck and I Will Die In It, their mix of industrial punch and gothic melody had even the most hardened metalheads nodding along. Frontman Chris Harms blurred the line between stage and crowd, climbing barriers, starting impromptu pits, and pausing mid-set to thank fans for giving the band “the best job in the world.”

A faithful cover of Smalltown Boy became a surprise festival highlight, with thousands singing back every word, before Blood & Glitter closed the show in a blaze of anthemic energy. What began as curiosity from the crowd ended in triumph. For their first ever Bloodstock appearance, Lord of the Lost made sure it wouldn’t be their last!

The Black Dahlia Murder

A decade since their last appearance at Catton Hall, The Black Dahlia Murder made their long awaited return to the Ronnie James Dio Stage, and it was nothing short of explosive. Opening with a barrage of razor sharp riffs and breakneck drumming, the band proved immediately that their fire hasn’t dimmed.

Frontman Brian Eschbach, now firmly established as vocalist, balanced guttural ferocity with moments of levity, joking with the crowd while commanding circle pits that churned like whirlpools. Newer cuts like Cursed Creator sat seamlessly alongside fan favourites such as Warborn and Everything Went Black, reminding everyone that this is a band moving forward without losing touch with its roots.

Even a few on stage hiccups couldn’t blunt the impact. Every breakdown hit with punishing weight, every solo cut through like a blade, and by the time their set was forced to wrap earlier than planned, the audience was left baying for more.

This wasn’t just a return, it was a reaffirmation that The Black Dahlia Murder remain one of death metal’s most vital forces.

Feuerschwanz

Making their long-awaited UK festival debut, Feuerschwanz stormed onto the Ronnie James Dio Stage on Sunday armed with lutes, fiddles, and a hurdy gurdy in tow. From the very first note, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a typical Bloodstock set. Their unique brand of medieval power metal mixed bombast with tongue-in-cheek humour, instantly winning over the curious crowd.

Songs like Berzerkermode and SGFRD Dragonslayer turned the field into a battlefield of laughter and chaos, complete with sing along chants and one of the most good natured walls of death the festival has ever seen. Frontman Hauptmann Feuerschwanz commanded the stage like a knight at a drunken banquet, keeping the energy high and the smiles constant.

By the time they closed with their absurd yet glorious take on Gangnam Style, any doubts had vanished with the band had cemented themselves as one of the weekend’s most unexpectedly joyous highlights. Feuerschwanz may have come dressed for battle, but they conquered Bloodstock with sheer fun.