Norwegian black metal kings 1349 are never happier than when spraying a Satanic surge of evil across the pit. Paul Castles caught up with the Bergen darklords’ singer Rvn after their bible-bashing set on the Ronnie James Dio stage at Bloodstock.

Among the Midlands acts performing at Bloodstock were Left For Red. To say they were excited about playing the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage was an understatement. The Stourbridge outfit features a schoolteacher who on hearing news of their Catton Hall booking launched into an impromptu one-man circle pit around the classroom. Paul Castles set off in hot pursuit.