Next year will mark 20 years since Bloodstock first opened out into the fields of Derbyshire, officially becoming "Bloodstock Open Air" and giving metalheads a dedicated mecca each summer for the best and brightest from across the world of metal. The festival might have evolved and grown in that time - its trad metal roots still strong even if the likes of Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive and Lamb Of God have helped modernise the festival's image in recent years - but Bloodstock is still a vital part of the UK metal ecosystem.
But while Architects headlining their first UK festival feels like big news, they certainly weren't the only band making waves at Catton Park this year. That in mind, we've assembled a definitive list of the 10 bands who best defined Bloodstock 2024, from black metal mayhem in the Sophie Lancaster tent on Thursday to triumphant, career-best performances from the likes of Malevolence and Hatebreed. See you in the field again next year for Bloodstock's massive 2025 line-up!
