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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

One of the undeniable pioneers of brutal death metal comes to town in a whirlwind of demonic growls, filthy slamming breakdowns, and sledgehammer grooves. Featuring packed support from Wales’ downright savage Sodomized Cadaver and the proggy BDM bludgeon of Kakothanasy. Unrelenting torture FFO: Internal Bleeding, Suffocation, Defeated Sanity, Deeds of Flesh, Devourment. PYREXIA + SODOMIZED CADAVER + VICARAGE at Exchange.

Instrumental prog rock/jazz runaway-train act Z Machine bring their chunky jams to the Old E with loose, snakish saxophone coiling round acrobatic guitar scrawl; Inscape offer a grand tour through a disparate forest of modern rock styles and Cities conjure tranquil ambient post-rock vistas. Big FFO: Mahavishnu Orchestra, the midpoint between Of Montreal and Tool, Ex-Easter Island Head. Z Machine w/ Inscape & Cities at The Old England Pub.

The most deranged, ecstatic, snare drum solo of all time rolls back into town. This time the cult of Kiyasu has its own mini-festival with 9 hours of grinding electronic weirdness ft. Genderisthebastard’s wanton peddle abuse, pagan noise-hopera phenomenon Isn'tses + a whole host of Eggy Tapes-adjascent niceness/nastiness. God bless Sharp Noodle. KIYASU FEST at The Thunderbolt.

Unmissable all-day misrule and crust/hxc/street punk pit heaven at the metal-working anarchist oasis aka Rockaway Park. 14 bands across 2 stages including Barcelona’s Riot City pogo punks Lux and the righteous return of blistering buzzsaw upstarts the Flex + shuttle bus from BRS, vegan cafe, info stalls, crowd-surfing kiddies. Bliss and leather! UNREST 2025 at Rockaway Park.

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