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Bristol's Metal Scene

The wealth of metal events in Bristol is drawn from a rich metal heritage in the city, classic local bands include: Onslaught, Gonga, Jaguar and Evita. A lot of the best events are in underground pubs like the Gryphon and Mother's Ruin where you can hear big riffs and roared vocals most nights of the week - with strong support from the metal scene elsewhere in the West of England.

As well as older cover-style bands at German boozer Bierkeller, you can see larger international acts at Bristol's bigger venues like O2 Academy and Colston Hall. The city's Old Market area is full of old biker-gang hangouts like the Packhorse - with various shops selling metal memorabilia and records - perfect for the morning after a big gig.

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Our recent metal recommendations

Bacchus be praised for this triple-headed onslaught of diabolic death metal. Infested Angel’s unstoppable onslaught of blackened ferocity and passages of symphonic despair are truly nourishment for the Devil himself. Unbeatable Gryphon blastbeat action FFO: Immolation, Grave Miasma, Dead Congregation, Incantation. Infested Angel, Desecrator & Oskaria at The Gryphon.

The ugliest weekend of the year or your ears back. Monochrome rises from the human cesspit, dragging 18 acts to shore for the freak metal cyberdance cvlt. Dare you miss the first visitation in 7 years from transcendent DMT death juggernauts Grave Miasma + Maurice de Jong donning industrial keller synth AND devotional dark ambient masks ++ Nerve Peel’s deadly digital hardcore x Darkthrone fusion? Nope. Monochrome Festival of Ugly Music at The Cube.

Face-ripping black metal punk overlords Final Dose secured our allegiance at The Dame with their dungeon descent into D-beat degradation. While the small cap mayhem was more than delicious, the full cvlt must march on Exchange's main stage in an unmissable goblin pile-up FFO: Darkthrone, Bone Awl, Devil Master, Martyrdöd, Okkultokrati. Final Dose at Exchange.

A chugging post-metal stoner doombeast approaches from the deserts of … Cambridge! The Grey have attained a cinematic Mad Max worthy peak with their epic riffing atmospherics, all mashed together with Row of Ashes’ post-sludge punishment and Ogives Big Band’s proggy post-everything propulsion. Proper head-banger FFO: Kyuss, Pelican, Bossk, Will Haven, Unsane, Conjurer. The Grey + Row of Ashes + Ogives Big Band+System Degenerate at The Golden Lion.

What our editors say

“An influential New Orleans sludge metal outfit, Eyehategod emerged in the early 1990s with an ugly and uncompromising blend of doomy, bluesy punk, and misanthropic metal that quickly pushed them to the fore of the fertile NOLA metal scene. Since debuting in 1990 with In the Name of Suffering, the band have amassed a loyal following with potent and disorienting efforts like Take as Needed for Pain (1993), Confederacy of Ruined Lives (2000), and A History of Nomadic Behavior (2021).”
From: Eyehategod + Rwake + Intercourse

“Downloaded are a high-energy tribute band celebrating Download Festival, with a setlist packed full of crowd favourite songs from the festival’s biggest acts. Downloaded cover everything from pop punk to nu-metal, from Green Day to Slipknot, and everything in between. Experience the rush of Download Festival without the tent and muddy fields Exchange has a small ramp entrance from the street.”
From: Downloaded - Download Festival Tribute

“Albion return once again to Exchange on July 4th with their unique brand of folk, rock and metal, with support from Welsh metallers Adfeilion. Along with tracks from their EP and debut album, the set will feature plenty of new material ahead of the release of their new album.”
From: Albion

“Three Ripcord Records artists join forces for an instrumental rock triple-header. Bristol math-rock collective Maebe will be showcasing tracks from their third album, Brain Paint, for the first time, ahead of their performance at Radar Festival this summer. They are joined by post-metal heavyweights Solars and In a House of Heartbeats.”
From: Maebe

“THRAKIAN (UK / Post-Metal) Cardiff-based Thrakian unleash an explosive fusion of post-metal intensity and sludge-laden atmosphere, rooted in ancient philosophy and mythology. Thrakian have been steadily carving out a name in the UK underground with their compelling sonic narratives and electrifying live presence.”
From: THRAKIAN / VÁTHOS / ÆL-FIERLEN