“I’m so nervous,” admits Alex, letting the badass facade slip a moment. “My English is so fucking suck. Two years ago we were playing Download. Tonight we’re headlining Bloodstock. Sometimes I feel like I’m living in The Matrix, but thank you guys so much for your energy, your hospitality and your support. I appreciate it so fucking much. Without you guys, we are fucking nothing. I am speechless.”
Repeatedly blowing the front rows away with his bear-like bellow (though sadly there’s no massive bear onstage here), he’s not. But so legitimately fierce is the effort put into a climactic run taking in Kid Of Darkness, Behelit and Conflict that no number of aesthetic distractions like skintight muscle-shirts, ludicrously big chrome gauntlets, or furry headpieces can undermine the elemental force billowing from the speakers. “If you really want to change something in this world, you need to start with yourself,” reflects Alex on how he’s transformed from fringe lunatic to mainstream metal bannerman over the past half-decade. “I hope we didn’t disappoint you with this show!” As even flames erupt, ticker-tape rains down and orchestral flourishes ramp up the grandiosity, no one is complaining
Indeed, it’s hard to deny after this landmark showing that STP have shouldered their way in, ready to take a place at metal’s top table. Consider Bloodstock well and truly slaughtered. (SL)