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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! Bristol’s Host Body erupts in a storm of blackened mathcore, Scotland’s Beneath A Steel Sky drape post-metal in soaring crescendos, and London collective IAN pulp sludge, drone, and doom into a full metal platter FFO: Isis, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Emma Ruth Rundle, Cult of Luna. Host Body, Beneath a Steel Sky, Ian, Big Shipping at Exchange.

Two-man Satanic doom rituals that’ve got the Stourbridge PTA and CID task force real worried. Seance samples swirl around the most sluggish and evil fuzz bass and drums dirges this side of the Styx; Tumanduumband are an occult horror exercise in the purest sonic degradation. Unmissable filth FFO: Sunn O ))), Bell Witch, Noothgrush, Khanate, Grief. Tumanduumband, Thrakian & Gnasch at The Gryphon.

Free entry! Imploding destructo-rock double billing from two treasured local underground units. Riley/Radley take a desert-frazzled Sun City Girls-style detour into primitive guitar twang and impressionistic drums, while Carnivorous Plants marry found radio sound smudges with melodic dronegaze delight. A basement treasure FFO: Bill Orcutt, Dirty Three, Flying Saucer Attack, Manuel Mota. RILEY/RADLEY + CARNIVOROUS PLANTS at Cafe Kino.

Mad promising Church Road-endorsed blistering beatdown, Calcine are a gnarly knockout combo of sheet metal thrash stylings and righteous rage from the police-riddled Parisian streets. Another pit-mongering Croft Blowout FFO: Candy, Hatebreed, Rough Ground, Walls of Jericho, GEL, Sepultura. Calcine at The Croft.

What our editors say

“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

“Australian progressive virtuoso, Plini, heads to Electric in 2026. The Sydney guitarist and composer has gained international attention for their intricate guitar work, blending jazz, fusion and metal. Praised for their sophistication and emotional depth, Plini has earned recognition from icons like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and John Petrucci. Set to release their third full-length album in early 2026, don’t miss this night of technical mastery and expressive storytelling from a global guitar icon.”
From: PLINI

“Four piece band with a dynamic stage show. From industrial metal anthems, synth wave stompers and glam rock floor fillers one thing is for sure – each song delivers emotion, vitriol and theatrics which are all part of the ongoing semi-autobiographical multi album concept continuing with the bands imminent third release following - 2018s Suicide, Rock & Rock and 2022s Subliminal Messages/Beneath the Limen”
From: Elkapath

“Phoenix Lake is a four-piece melodic metal band from Nottingham, UK, formed in 2018. The band consists of vocalist Lana Phillis, guitarists Ash Wilson and Zak Smith, and drummer Joe Synnott. Known for their blend of melodic metal and metalcore, they gained recognition after winning a competition to open the Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock Festival 2023.”
From: Phoenix Lake

“Todd Day Wait is one of the last real American Workhorse, pedal to the metal, Troubadours by way of Missouri, to California, to New Orleans and now Nashville. The original material of Todd Day Wait, is highly influenced by early American folk, country and blues music from the 1920's through the 1960's, embodying the spirit and authenticity of traditional American music.”
From: Todd Day Wait