Phil Pountney, Author at Backseat Mafia

News: Bloodstock 2026 announce their first ‘Metal To The Masses’ winners along with a line up change.

The first group of ‘Metal To The Masses’ winners landing slots on the Stowford Press New Blood Stage can now be revealed. Friday Saturday Sunday Lots more bands to be…

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Live Review

Live Review: Fortress Festival, Scarborough Spa, Day Two. 31/05/2026

The second and final day of Fortress Festival arrived carrying a noticeably different atmosphere from Saturday. While anticipation had fuelled much of the opening day, Sunday felt like the culmination…

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News: Black Metal Royalty Emperor To Headline Fortress Festival 2027

Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor have been confirmed as the first headlining act for the fifth anniversary of Fortress Festival set to take place on 29-30 May 2027 at the…

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Live Review

Live Review: Fortress Festival, Scarborough Spa, Day One. 30/05/2026

There are few sights quite as incongruous, and ultimately as heartwarming, as a British seaside town embracing a Black Metal invasion. From early morning, Scarborough welcomed Fortress Festival once again.…

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News: Bloodstock Open Air Festival Preview, Ten Titans Not To Be Missed. The Core Edition.

With just over nine weeks until Bloodstock Open Air it was time to throw the spotlight on some of the ‘Core’ bands which will be pounding us over the weekend.…

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News: Bloodstock Open Air Festival Preview, Ten Titans Not To Be Missed. Thrash, Death and Black Metal Edition.

With just 12 weeks to go until the gates open at Catton Park, Bloodstock Open Air 2026 is sharpening the blades for what looks set to be one of the…

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Live Review: Incineration Festival, Camden, London 02/05/2026

Incineration Festival has, over a relatively short span of years, evolved from a standout date on the calendar into something far more personal—a fixed point, an annual return that feels…

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News: Huge Bloodstock Open Air Festival News

First off, a quick band update! Purely due to some unavoidable logistical issues, there’s been a little switch around on Saturday’s line-up. In an update to the line-up, due to…

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News: Bloodstock Festival announce another huge batch of bands for 2026

BLOODSTOCK ANNOUNCEMENT, 24 bands revealed across the Stowford Press New Blood and EMP UK stages! While you’re waiting for those M2TM finals to get underway BLOODSTOCK HQ has chosen a…

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Live Review: Blackbraid, Winterfylleth, Noctem. Rebellion, Manchester 10/04/2026

The Black Metal triple bill of Blackbraid, Winterfylleth and Noctem at Rebellion in Manchester felt less like a standard gig and more like a deliberately structured descent through different interpretations…

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