Bloodstock gets in a Fury on Sunday

Bloodstock Open Air 2013

Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th August 2013
Catton Hall, Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, DE12 8LN, England MAP
£125 weekend incl camping

Daily capacity: 12,000

The only thing that caused me any fury about this band was that more people didn't get to see them (and that I didn't know all the words).

A fairly packed out New Blood tent greeted Fury as they took to the stage on Sunday afternoon and proceeded to blow the roof off, opening with the fast and furious 'In to the Dark'. In fact the 30 minute set was packed with Fury's own brand of proper British thrash. From the anthemic Dawn of Survival to personal favourite and atmospheric masterpiece 'Warrior's Prayer', the metal gluttony continued. Batman fans were given a nod during 'Dangerous World' (written about the comic book legend) when frontman Julian Jenkins appeared in a Scarecrow hood and rather admirably I thought, performed the whole 6 and a half minute song wearing it! The over-way-too-soon set was wrapped up with a rousing 'Burn the Earth' and everyone's favourite drinking singalong 'Drunken Sailor'.

The music is unapologetically indulgent, crammed with impressive guitar solos from axeman Jake Beesley and relentless riffs that will have you headbanging until your neck begs for mercy. Frontman Julian Jenkins' vocals are clean but powerful – he has a tone all of his own and it's as impossible to describe as dragon's ear wax.

This is a band who love their music...you could tell from the smirks and grins on their faces that they were having the best time; but then I bet they're like that at every gig. They give their best on every level and are entertaining to watch as well as to listen to. Fury are all hair (well except one...) and all thrash, leaping and crab-walking around the stage, hell-bent on putting on an epic show. Which they did. I actually missed another band I wanted to see because their set was so good.

I'm no 'expert', but I love my thrash and Fury are an exciting British thrash band who deserve to make it all the way. I hope Bloodstock leads to better things for them, but they will always be one of my top 3 from BOA 2013.

review by: Laura Sanders

photos by: Will Tudor