Goodness, time is certainly flying this year. It hardly seems that long ago that I was braving the elements to head off for the opening round of this year’s Oxford Metal to the Masses tournament, and yet here we are onto Heat Five already—with only three more heats left before we hit the quarter-final stages.
The competition has been progressing very nicely this year, and ten bands have now secured their places in the next round, moving one step closer to playing what is shaping up to be the best Bloodstock Festival ever.
The evening of Saturday, 22nd March, was dry and mild—a lovely improvement over the Baltic temperatures of Heat 1. I had spent the entire day fighting unwanted plant life in my garden, and after many hours of horticultural wrestling, I was exhausted but victorious. It was time to celebrate my triumph with three fantastic bands.
Back in December, when the heats were announced, this particular round had stood out to me and my band, Stone Soup, as a really exciting one. For the first time, all three bands in the heat were groups we had shared a stage with before—some as part of our own M2TM journey, others from various gigs across the South of England. This put me in a position I hadn’t been in before because, quite simply, I didn’t want any of them to leave the competition yet.
I already knew all three bands were about to deliver incredible performances, and the choice facing the crowd and judges would be one of the hardest in recent years—especially for a first-round heat. Even though I tend to write positive reviews of every band I see, you may find this one even more complimentary than usual. If you’re looking for harsh criticisms or nitpicks of grassroots bands like these three, I’m not your man. But if you’d like to share the joy and excitement I feel from local live music, then let me tell you all about the evening!
I arrived at The Jericho Tavern about 15 minutes before doors and went straight through to the beer garden. There, spread over a couple of benches, were of all three bands—just hanging out, chilling, chatting, and enjoying a pint or a vape, whatever their pre-gig ritual entailed.
“How awesome is that?” I thought. These bands were about to compete directly against each other, and with only minutes to go, they were all smiles, , and good friendly vibes. There just doesn’t seem to be any animosity in the Oxford contest—I know for a fact that not all areas are as lucky.
We all chatted for about 10 minutes before I went upstairs to claim a good spot, grab a pint, and say hi to the organisers. Time for things to begin properly!
If you like what we do, consider ing us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
First up was Phantom Droid, Swindon/Bristol/Wales-based psychedelic sludge/doom rockers who, for the first time since forming a few years ago, would be performing as a three-piece—down a member from their usual four.
I’d learned about their reduced lineup by talking to them earlier in the evening, and I must it, I was a bit nervous for them. They seemed a little wary too. Phantom Droid had played with Stone Soup in Swindon in 2024, where I’d been super impressed by the heaviness of their sound, their songwriting, and their skilled musicianship. I was curious to see how well this would translate as a trio.
With only one guitar on stage, the sound was split between two cabs, clever pedal arrangements allowing for separate bass and guitar tones to be sent to each. (I’m seeing this technique used more and more, with varying results, by other bands.)
Their set started with soft, ambient music—vocals uttered gently into the mic, tension rising—before they launched full-on into the hefty doom universe they occupy so well. Within minutes, I’d discarded all concerns about their smaller lineup. There was absolutely no sign of a “hole” in their sound. Guitar and drums were locked in tightly, with effects pedals boosting elements of each song, both on guitar and vocals.
Playing material from their ever-growing repertoire, the band ploughed through tracks from their various EPs, such as Purgatorium and Everworm. What particularly impressed me was their ability to play at a slow tempo—drumming is notoriously hard to get right when the BPM is in double digits rather than triple, and it can really spoil a song’s flow if not done well. Seeing Robbie (the drummer) wearing a “Sleep” t-shirt was a clear sign this was familiar territory for him, and he played at a level worthy of such an affiliation.
For a three-piece, they were incredibly engaging on stage. Drums and guitar fed off each other while frontman James threw himself fully into his performance—bare-chested and made up with corpse paint, ensuring that even when the music was slow and ponderous, the crowd remained fixated on the ion being poured into every note.
Beyond the music, the band demonstrated key elements crucial to this competition. The judges look for more than just good songs—they want well-developed bands who can display competence in all aspects of performance. James struck a nice balance between talking to the audience and letting the music speak for itself. I particularly enjoyed his comment: “If you buy a T-shirt, then you don’t have to vote for us.” It was great to see humour alongside their talent.
At one point, the kick drum started creeping forward. Robbie pulled it back between songs, only for it to drift again mid-track. Luke (guitarist) anticipated a fast drumming section and seamlessly stuck his foot in front of the kick to stop it moving. This kind of calm, collected problem-solving is exactly what shows a band can handle themselves under pressure. After the song, they wedged a stage speaker in front of the drum, solving the issue for the rest of the set. Well handled, lads.
As they ended their final song, the applause wasn’t just polite clapping—there was a real sense in the room that we’d witnessed something impressive, especially those of us who’d seen their four-piece lineup before. The bar for Heat Five was now set, and it was as high as I’d anticipated.
For the first eight heats of this year’s Oxford contest, there are only three bands per night, allowing for a 30-minute changeover. That’s all well and good, but I spoke to Burd (artist liaison of the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock) after the gig, and she raised a valid point: bands at Bloodstock must cope with a 15-minute changeover under far more pressure. Once we reach the quarter-finals in Oxford, we’ll see if this becomes a factor—but for now, it was nice to have time to reset between bands.
Second band? Second Hour! A nice bit of nominative determinism there. The Oxford-based five-piece hard rockers returned for their third year, having reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals in the last two. Awkwardly, both times, they were knocked out by Stone Soup securing a place instead. Fortunately, without us involved this year, Second Hour could shake that monkey off their back and set their sights on the final!
The band took to the stage, and for the second time that evening, a background track with a voiceover played, drawing the audience in. The Oxford crowd (myself included) are big fans of Second Hour, so expectations were high—and I’d say they were met within the first 30 seconds of their opening track, “My Brain”.
I must give the usual shout-out to Mikey behind the sound desk for doing an excellent job as always, but wow—I don’t think I’ve heard such a mighty wall of noise from these guys before. The song itself was a high-energy, fast-tempo piece that really got the crowd engaged.
I’d describe their music as “super heavy rock”—definitely in metal’s wheelhouse, but singer Steve has such a commanding clean voice (which he easily pushes into gravelly growls when needed) that their tracks have a more traditional, anthemic feel, closer to classic Iron Maiden than contemporary metal. That’s my kind of jam!
I’m familiar with their repertoire, and I absolutely love singing along. Their setlist included many of my favourite tracks, like “Brian” (named simply because the song needed a title, and “Brian” is as good as any!), and “Seven Deadly Sins”, which got a fantastic reaction as we all pumped our fists shouting “Sin! Sin! Sin!” along with the band. Mosh pits sporadically formed, and even a wall of death was attempted.
Before their last song, Steve took a moment to acknowledge the crowd. Some of us already knew that, for various reasons, Second Hour hadn’t been able to practice or gig much recently, making this return to The Jericho quite meaningful. We all chanted their name in solidarity—the whole room was feeling the love for these guys, who’ve worked so hard over the years and deserve every success.
They closed with “Kaleidoscope”, my absolute favourite track of theirs, and received an incredible ovation. I must tip my hat to them for this performance—they pulled their set together brilliantly, worked the crowd perfectly, and showed humility and gratitude while playing at a level that improves year after year.
Did I mention Steve was wearing his Stone Soup t-shirt throughout the set? Well, no, because it had nothing to do with their performance—but I hope it shows the great camaraderie between grassroots bands. As I mentioned in my Heat 1 review, I have no influence on results beyond my voting slip, so appealing to my ego won’t help bands officially—but if you’re wearing one of my band’s shirts, know that I love you. Steve, thanks—you weren’t there when I finally repaid the favour and got my hands on a Second Hour shirt!
And dearest reader, please buy band merchandise. It’ll brighten their day immeasurably and help fund the music they bring to your ears.
What an evening so far! As I said, my expectations were high for these bands, and they were being well and truly exceeded. Another leisurely break between sets gave me time to befriend an unbelievably cute dog in the beer garden—hell yes, another success to add to the evening.
Adorable as it was, I didn’t want to miss the final set because, like the others, I’d been anticipating this one since the heat was announced.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
The third and final band were Halfway Home, returning to the contest after competing in 2024. Their performance last year was their debut as a band, and they carried that momentum straight into RabidFest and other festivals. The Buckinghamshire-based five-piece describe their sound as “post-hardcore,” but as regular readers know, I struggle with neat genre boxes.
Suffice to say, their sound blends intricate solos, melodic yet brutal vocals (clean and screamed), and an overall vibe of energy and enjoyment. I’d shared the stage with them last year, both in the heats and at Mortal Metal Festival, where they played just before Stone Soup and delivered an incredible set.
What interested me this year was their newly released second EP, Winter (available on all the usual platforms). Releasing music while competing is a smart move for publicity and showcasing material live. Those of us who’d already heard the EP were eager to experience the tracks in person—though not necessarily for the first time!
They exploded into their set with ion. I welcomed the return of seven-string guitars and sub-drops, which usually oversaturate gigs these days—but in contrast to the previous two bands, it suited the evening’s flow. Rather than dissect their set song by song, I’ll talk about their performance as a whole because, to me, they delivered a 30-minute set where every track complemented the others, sharing the elements I love.
ion is their strong point. Singer Addy pours heart and soul into his vocals, and lyrically, the band taps into deep emotions, reflected on stage. But it’s not just him—every member felt the music, nobody was just going through the motions. That’s what appeals to me as an audience member.
Simply put, a band who don’t seem to care beyond just playing will always look bored on stage. A band like Halfway Home, who let their emotions loose and show their dedication, will always win me over—because that’s what music is about.
They interacted well with the crowd and each other. During one song, the stage-left guitarist (sorry, I’ll learn names this year!) nailed a solo so perfectly that even as the crowd focused on Addy’s antics, I was entranced. Every note landed flawlessly, and as the solo ended, he looked up, locking eyes with me as I threw the horns in appreciation. His grin said it all—that’s the kind of moment you only get at smaller gigs.
Even if some songs weren’t entirely my taste, I loved watching them. Again, the recurring theme of Oxford M2TM shone through: bands having a blast on stage.
All three bands had now played, leaving only the night’s toughest task—deciding which two would advance. By now, you’ve probably grasped my dilemma: how could I choose? I ran through scenarios, agonising over how I’d feel if any of them didn’t progress. Phantom Droid impressed me with their adaptability, Second Hour blew me away with their power and crowd love, and Halfway Home reminded me why I adore live music.
I hesitated, overthought, and overanalysed before casting my vote. What a tough decision—I’m so glad I’m not a judge.
Minutes later, it was decision time. Moshville’s Jay was hosting, and before announcing the winners, we got a special teaser about this year’s Rabidfest (check their socials for updates). We also got to hear Jay heckled by an impatient crowd (“Get on with it!”), so with minimal further ado, the results came in…
The audience vote went to Second Hour, and the judges chose Phantom Droid. Massive congratulations to both—and to Halfway Home, my commiserations. But I’m confident their early exit won’t hinder their 2025 success, especially with their new EP out. I look forward to sharing a stage with them again soon. (And , wild card slots may yet bring eliminated bands back!)
If you’d like to hear the winning bands’ thoughts, head to Moshville Radio’s homepage, click “Listen Again”, and find the “Manic Monday” show from 24/03/25. We chatted with of both bands and even got hints about their quarter-final plans—you won’t want to miss it!
The heats continue on 29/03/2025 at The Jericho Tavern, Oxford, with only three rounds left before the quarter-finals. Bloodstock looms closer, and this year’s competition is fiercer than ever—I can’t wait to see what happens next!
