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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.

Buy tickets for metal events in Bristol

Our recent metal recommendations

Sell out warning! Halloween 2025: the release of the Observance LP has opened a death-doom-sludge door into unforeseen astral planes of next-level heaviness, where only the primordial noise of Primitive Man could be heard. Our Lord Cthulhu has complete control of this vessel, and is broadcasting messages of savage bleakness across geological time FFO: Thou, Body Void, Hell, Corrupted, Knoll, Indian. Strange Bruise pres. Primitive Man + Kollaps + Sea Bastard at Strange Brew.

A stack of local live talent lights up Loco Klub to round off Trans Pride 2026. Fuzz pedal four-piece Desperate sling scrappy country-grunge-pop bangers (and stage props) alongside fresh soul-heavy alt-rockers Princess Boyfriend and Florence Welch/Sigrid-channeling indie prodigies Kodachrome. Pure queer joy! Trans Pride Bristol 2026 - gig at Loco Klub.

Sell out warning! Double-headliner of undersung 21st century Britdeath icons incoming! It’s the first Bristol visitation for cosmic colosseum world-builders Mithras, combined with the schizophrenic hyper-technical batshittery of Damim (fka Dam). Rejoice in the 280bpm+ brutality, all ye disciples of: Morbid Angel, Blood Incantation, Timeghoul, Bal-Sagoth, Gojira, Akercocke. Mithras, Damim, Unburier & Deliberate Miscarriage at The Croft.

Fishlock's 15-band / 2-stage smash-and-grab annual gathering – surely you know the drill by now? Amps and cider kegs running red hot on scuzzy DIY power with Redeemon’s singular ska-metal supergroup antics, Monolithian’s crushing two-man doom, caustic post-hardcore electrolysis from Masquerader + loads loads more. Fishstock 2026 at Exchange.

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

“One of the biggest names in black metal will play Bristol for the first time ever on Friday 7th August 2026. Having graced the stages of the world’s heaviest festivals, the Canadian group will bring their raw and diabolical sound to Strange Brew for their only show in the South of England.”
From: Spectral Wound

“HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN Atmospheric post-metal HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN have been a staple of the UK’s underground heavy music scene for almost a decade, delivering a heavy, atmospheric blend of post-metal, sludge, and doom. “Their music is characterised by slow, crushing riffs, thunderous drumming, and haunting, emotionally charged vocals. HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN creates a sense of desolation and intensity through their expansive soundscapes, drawing listeners into a world of heaviness and introspection. Their compositions often shift between moments of brooding calm and explosive sonic outbursts, evoking themes of loss, despair, and human vulnerability.” – ArcTanGent”
From: Urzah

“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