Bloodstock add another name to their line-up and reveal hotly-tipped newbies Internal Conflict as winners of their unsigned competition!

The Bloodstock team are delighted to announce that British Metal newcomers BEHOLDER have been added to the main stage bill for Bloodstock Open Air 2009.

Taking their cue from the new album title (‘The Awakening’), Beholder has finally broken the shackles of the tribute tag and will be releasing their debut album on the weekend of Bloodstock.  With their live shows being hailed as a metal bombardment, but with its influences drenched in classic rock, the album has taken these elements and twisted them into the unique Beholder sound.

First and foremost Beholder are a live band who play with a hunger and ferocity at every show and this has seen its individual members in support of acts such as BLS, Wildhearts, UFO and The Scorpions.  Yet the new harder edged material is a clear indication of the bands commitment to delivering a full on metal assault.

After a number of high profile Shows, and a run of club dates at the end of 2008, the band was signed to Lime Records before they had even finished writing the album in its entirety.  Such was the conviction of the band, and the belief of the record company that the album will be released worldwide offering a new standard in True British Heavy Metal.  Thus the decision was made to move the band to the main stage.

With Beholders all too obvious connections to Bloodstock, having played previously in 2007, the ties have been strengthened with them commissioning the album artwork from Paul Gregory.  Guitarist Martryn Blackwell said “Having your debut album artwork associated with some of the most iconic covers in Rock & Metal is a true honour”.

Beholder will also be releasing a download single “Never Take Us Down” taken from the 2008 (‘Unleash The Hell EP’) which was written following the horrific murder of Sophie Lancaster in 2007.  Vocalist Simon Hall commented “Whether you’re a Goth, Punk or Metalhead, the lyrics and song itself, speaks volumes for the beliefs of so many who live their lives in an alternative culture”.  The single will be released on May 11th with all proceeds going to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

With their fingers on the pulse of modern metal, but with their boots firmly embedded in the foundations of rock, Beholder will bring the power and offer a full on addition to Bloodstock 2009.

The first of the ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ Acts confirmed for the Bloodstock Unsigned Stage.

Bloodstock are also pleased to announce the winner of the Leicester based Metal 2 The Masses finals.  Fighting off stiff competition from acts such as 1000 Scars, Glass Artery and The Cosmic Vortex of Doom, INTERNAL CONFLICT were crowned victorious and offer up a fierce, yet melodic, bombardment of sounds. A big thanks to The Retribution Club and all those people that came to support the first M2TM’s finals which was a resounding success – to check’em out go to:  www.myspace.com/internalconflictband.