Heavy Metal Meltdown: Bloodstock Winter Gathering 2025 at KK’s steel Mill

The Mecca of heavy metal festivals in the UK launched its own “Winter Gathering“ day festival this year at former Judas Priest guitarist’s venue, “KK’s Steel Mill.” The venue became a metal sanctuary for the Bloodstock crowd—tightly packed with a mad but crowd-pleasing amalgamation of heavy genres: Candlemass, Venom Inc, Red Method, Devastator, Tortured Demon, Raised by Owls, King Kraken, and much more.

The day consisted of two stages: The main stage in KK’s, with a capacity of up to a whopping 2,000, and the smaller, more intimate, chaotic stage located in KK’s steel lounge with around 200 capacity.

King Kraken

Kicking off the day are King Kraken, a fusion of old-school heavy metal and groovy, doom/stoner riffs that would please any Bloodstock attendee across the board . The four-piece waste no time taking to the stage and setting the bar. Lead singer Mark Donoghue emerges on stage last to a rapturous uproar of delight from the crowd, like a conductor to a heavy metal symphony. Soaring guitar solos, low-end grit, and utter showmanship from the frontman pour out from the stage, rousing the crowd.

King Kraken rose to the occasion, getting bodies moving and heads banging to the opening ceremony of the first heavy metal Winter Gathering. Although a four-piece, this didn’t detract from the mighty sonic power of the group and set the bar quite high for the following acts of the day at the main stage.

Tortured Demon

Next up on the main stage were Tortured Demon, pure oldschool thrash that would make Mustaine and Hetfield take notice. They may be bringing a classic thrash sound, but this Manchester-based outfit proves that it’s only getting started, thundering through its set with breakneck riffs, thundering drums, and low – end growls. Waves of crowdsurfers surge towards the stage, and mosh pits galore break out in pockets throughout the crowd.

Devastator

Due to logistical issues and a critical van breakdown last minute, Hellripper had to unfortunately pull out from their slot at the festival. Luckily, Devastator stepped up to the plate to deliver a 45 minute set of blistering and brutal black metal-tinged thrash. Peppered throughout their set were some much-needed moments of self-deprecating humour, to distract from some minor technical issues, the singer quipped, “Does anyone know any jokes apart from this fucking band?” before continuing their relentless aural voyage of chaos. The Derbyshire four-piece fuelled the crowd with energy, and their full-tilt, no holds barred thrash sound saved the day. Their appearance felt less like a replacement and more like a band right at home on the main stage of Bloodstock’s Winter Gathering.

Raised By Owls

Known for their online comedy sketches across social media platforms, Raised by Owls take the stage next. Only this band could have their walk on stage song be Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’, introduce Mr. Blobby on stage dual wielding dildos as Satan himself, and engage the audience with a mid set grindcore game show. Lead singer Sam Strachan admits to the audience: “We’re a grindcore band, how else are we going to pad out a 45 minute set?” Raised by Owls bring much-needed humour and absurdity to the day. The band cements itself as a fan favourite and a much-needed booking for any heavy festival to bring pure, unadulterated fun to the day.

Red Method

Throughout the day, bands rotated throughout both stages, the main stage and the much more intimate 200 capacity KK’s Lounge. Before Red Method, the lounge felt like an absolute pressure cooker, wall to wall with bodies of eager fans awaiting the groovy metalcore outfit about to headline. Red Method took to the stage with immense showmanship, beckoning the crowd to join in on the madness. Guitars chug, and in response, the crowd swells, bodies slamming into each other and the concrete restraints of the room. Red Method brought the core side of metal to Bloodstock’s Winter Gathering and caused absolute scenes for the smaller stage, giving the main stage acts a run for their money.

Venom Inc

The mood changed drastically at the main stage. The lights dimmed, and two fire breathers emerge from the shadows on stage, performing a bow to each other on stage, almost performing an ancient incantation, think Mad Max Road Warrior meets The Wicker Man. Leather bound, Venom Inc took to the stage, not performing a show but almost an ancient ritual of raw, pure heavy metal. In between the ballistic heavy sound of the band, the fire breathers spew flames across the air above the crowd, theatrics in full swing. Venom Inc. brought a visceral physicality to accompany their sound on stage and proved to the masses (not that they have to) their position in heavy metal lore.

Candlemass

Headliners Candlemass didn’t need huge stage theatricals or quippy, snappy stage banter; they emerged onto the stage to much fanfare. In 2025, Candlemass celebrates 40 years together as an outfit, and it truly showed throughout their set with their own flavor of heavy, slow, doom-laden tracks of metal. The majority of their set contained selections from their earlier works of albums, leaning particularly heavily on Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.

The Swedish group swallowed up the entire crowd with their own brand of doom metal, relishing in it themselves. Singer Johan Längqvist gazed into the crowd and beckoned the audience, whereas bassist Leif Eidling brandished his instrumental weapon of tone to the heavens in between delivering the dirtiest, slowest, and heaviest basslines.

Candlemass finished their set with a trio of tracks for an encore, leaving the crowd with ‘Solitude’ as the closing track, rounding out an hour of masterful lessons in doom metal.