Bloodstock's Future, Metal's Headliner Crisis & Why Adam Gregory Hates AI Bands | ITN EP322

This week on Into The Necrosphere, I'm joined by Adam Gregory, Festival Director of Bloodstock Open Air, for an in-depth conversation about the past, present and future of the UK's biggest independent metal festival.

We discuss the challenge of finding the next generation of festival headliners, Bloodstock's remarkable growth, booking philosophy, the changing landscape of heavy music, and why Adam believes AI-generated bands have no place in metal. We also dive into fan expectations, social media criticism, the realities of running a major festival, and what it takes to keep Bloodstock thriving in an increasingly competitive market.

Then it's time for another edition of The Weekly News Rant, with the Reverend Karl Hikara returning to the co-host's chair. This week we round up the latest singles from Psycroptic, Fuming Mouth, Green Carnation, Abyssal Rift, Heretic Cult Redeemer and more for judgement, get our first horrifying taste of rent-a-slattern metallers Dogma, put simp culture in heavy metal firmly on blast, and reward made-up complaints about the YouTube algorithm with the Swirly of the Week.

PLUS: Northumberland black metallers Unto Thee joins the pantheon of legends featured on the Unsanctioned Filth segment of the podcast, with their latest track, “We Were Fire.”

Featured Bands

Trivax: https://trivax.bandcamp.com/

Unto Thee: https://untothee.bandcamp.com/

W.A.S.P.: https://www.waspnation.com/

Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.