Our regular run-down of as many of the Bloodstock bands as we can get to talk to us! HEADPRESS play the New Blood stage on the Friday…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Hi we’re HEADPRESS from Stoke-on-Trent.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
HEADPRESS has been a band for over 20 years in some form or another, but the current line-up has been stable for around 6 years.
Where does the name of the band come from?
Our old vocalist used to buy Headpress magazine. He suggested it as a band name and it stuck.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We kind of fall on the hardcore/death metal spectrum, without sound like either genre really. Like if Hatebreed listened to too much Cannibal Corpse and early Entombed. I don’t think we’re re-inventing the wheel in what we do, but the wheel is fucking heavy. Haha!
What’s your live show like? Why are people going to watch you instead of another band?
We’re far from a theatrical band as you could possibly get. But we think we get the blood and adrenaline pumping. Music to pit to.
Have you been to Bloodstock before? What did you think?
We’ve been going every year since 2007. It’s our home from home. It’s comfortably the best UK festival.
If you like what we do, consider ing us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Which M2tM region did you win, or did you come through other channels?
We won the 2022 Stoke M2TM, but a family emergency meant we had to pull out 2 days before we were heading out. Simon Hall has been an absolute legend and offered us a slot this year. He’s been amazing and keeping in touch to see how things are getting on.
Can you put into 10 words or fewer how it felt when you realised you were heading to Bloodstock?
10 words? Shocked! Pumped! Amazed! There’s 3! When Simon called our name out last year, we were a bit shocked. The line-up for our final was strong. 2 other cracking bands grabbed slots that night as well – Hellfekted and Warlock.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
We’ve got to keep it short and sweet. They run a tight ship on the New Blood Stage and aren’t afraid to cut you off if you run over, so the set is gonna be intense.
Which other bands do you most hope you’re not squished up next to so you can see them play?
Out of the Friday bands we’re definitely gonna watch our mates in Black Coast who are on the S.O.P.H.I.E stage, then we’ll stick around to check the bands out on the New Blood Stage so we won’t be clashing with anyone there. The UK scene is thriving with so many talented bands. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch Heaven Shall Burn and In Flames – because of the layout of the festival no band is ever more than 10 mins walk away.
What are you working on at the moment?
We’re forever writing and scrapping songs which don’t make the cut. We released a video and single last year. Our planned releases last year got put on hold. We’ve got a few recordings ready for release at the right time.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Whenever we watch Footprints in the Custard, they always crack me up. Hump of Death at Bloodstock a few years ago springs to mind. The rowing-pit for Amon Amarth was started at Bloodstock, which is now done everywhere and they’ve even written a song for it. Bloodstockers are nuts!
What drink do you throw back to get yourself fired up before going on stage?
Couple of cans before. Nothing crazy. Gotta focus. After is a different story, Kraken, Jager anything really. We’ll end up a mess at the end of the festival no doubt!
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HEADPRESS: facebook | spotify | youtube
