upcoming gig

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! You’ve lost years of your life as Doomguy, saving the world repeatedly from Cyber Demons with absolutely no thanks from anyone. Now relive the trauma IRL with the UK’s only Doom tribute act playing those loading screen classics amid other franchise-friendly metal bands + gorey visuals and playable OG Doom machines. Video Game Tribute Band at Exchange.

Urzah’s post-metal punishment has reached such epic proportions that we’re now just going to call them Bristol’s Neurosis. Get ye to the crypt on time for Gnasch’s piledriving sludge/noise brutalism + can someone just sign Necronomicunt already? Whopper FFO: Conjurer, Minsk, Mastodon, Khanate, Eyehategod, Indian. URZAH, GNASCH + NECRONOMICUNT at The Mount Without.

Medieval chamber-prog meets indie-metal in a bizzaro mashup of seriously accomplished modern sludge liturgies. Like Dirty Projectors covering Hildegard von Bingen in an Evil Dead 3 scenario; Extra Life have stumbled upon something unclassifiable and out of time, that somehow makes complete sense. A total revelation FFO: Zs, Horse Lords, Liturgy, These New Puritans, Kayo Dot, Lingua Ignota. Extra Life at The Cube.

Sell out warning! Trad-drone-metal mesmerism from the Lankum fold! One Leg One Eye are to the uilleann pipes what Sunn O))) are to guitars - rewriting the history of the instrument in expansive, infinite landscapes of heaviness. Nightmares await FFO: Hilary Woods, Swans, Quade, Keeley Forsyth, Phurpa. One Leg One Eye at The Cube.

What our editors say

“Symphonic metal pioneers Epica and modern metal powerhouse Amaranthe unite for the Arcane Dimensions Tour, with rotating co-headline slots, hitting Bristol Beacon in early 2026.”
From: Arcane Dimensions Tour 2026

“FURY are challenging the barriers of hard rock and metal genres once again with their exciting new album “Interceptor”. From the reassuringly old-school fast riffing and anthemic vocals the long lasting fans know from Fury, to the carefully composed, introspective auditory treats that might surprise listeners who expect metal bands to sit neatly in their box.”
From: Fury

“KATATONIA released their triumphant Napalm Records debut, Sky Void of Stars, in 2023 to the enthrallment of critics and fans alike. The album showcases their brilliant, genre-defying fusion of melodic death metal and atmospheric post rock. Following its release, the band jumped on a massive headline tour across Europe and the UK alongside Sólstafir and SOM.”
From: Katatonia

“Páthos (2022, Nuclear Blast) is not an album for the half-hearted or faint-hearted. Elements of Sumac, Gojira, old Mastodon, and Oathbreaker, their last record is a multi-layered beast – sludge, death, doom, black metal, and hardcore influences clash and collide throughout, all masterfully finished by Will Putney’s exquisite mix and master.”
From: CONJURER + Pijn + Death Goals

“Saxon’s groundbreaking album Wheels of Steel has been heavily cited by numerous journalists as one of those classic albums that every metal fan should own. Jam-packed with seminal songs and chunky riffs from the opening high octane belting riff of “Motorcycle Man”, Wheels of Steel packs a punch from start to finish. From the infectious and arguably the biggest riff of hit single “747 (Strangers in the Night)” through to the more stripped-down crunchy tour de force of title track “Wheels of Steel”. This is a one-off not to be missed opportunity to see one of metal’s best albums played from start to finish in all its glory for the very last time.”
From: Saxon - Hell, Fire And Steel Tour