As music festivals like Bloodstock and Download become multistage, multimedia events with cinemas and fairground rides, I can’t help feeling that they’ve lost something of intrinsic value. Stonedead is a timely reminder of how great a rock festival can be; one stage held over one day means there’s no clashes or fear of missing out to contend with, whilst the single stage set up means that everyone’s focus is turned in the same direction, which makes for a more shared experience. Of course, it helps that Stonedead is a well run event and this year the organisers have put together a selection of the biggest names and best new talent for what promises to be one hell of a rock show.

It’s exciting times for East Anglian crew Aethoria. Having won their place on today’s bill and with a brand new album dropping (Fool’s Gold), this band are very much on an upward curve. Playing like a band who know they are onto a good thing, they lock in tightly to create a groove laden sound that swings with wrecking ball force. Existing somewhere betwixt Alter Bridge and Evanescence, they’re a group that’s been built for the biggest stages and they look right at home rocking Stonedead. Spearheaded by charismatic vocalist Mecia-Jade Holden, it doesn’t take the crowd long to warm to Aethoria’s charms and today’s set is a sure step towards global stardom.

Stonedead feels like the natural successor to the annual Monsters Of Rock knees-up and one thing that has carried over from that era is the weather. Steady rain starts to fall and will continue all day, yet it’ll take more than a torrential downpour to halt Asomvel. In front of a teetering wall of Marshall stacks, the band are an unstoppable force and tear around the stage with reckless abandon and foot hard on the accelerator. Their no-holds-barred attack make Motörhead a good comparison, but make no mistake, Asomvel definitely have their own thing going on, song titles such as ‘Louder & Louder’ should tell you all you need to know. The new track debuted (titled ‘Rock N’ Roll In The Blood’, I believe) is certified fresh and signposts a bright future.

To say that Crobot are a force of nature would be something of an understatement. Hitting the stage with the same kind of frenetic energy that’s characterised their entire career, this Pennsylvanian quartet haven’t come to take prisoners. Vocalist Brandon Yeagley is particularly animated; like one of those rubber toy men you could bend into impossible poses, he’s seemingly made of plasticine and grooves around the stage like a shapeshifting alien. With a new rhythm section providing beats that are just as fluid as Brandon’s stagecraft, there’s a sense that the band are reenergised and that makes tracks such as ‘Girl From Another World’ and ‘Gasoline’ incendiary. Crobot came, they saw, and they conquered.

If you are a regular gig goer there’s a chance you’ve stumbled across The Damn Truth. Having supported the likes of Alice Cooper, The Cult and ZZ Top, the band have also gained a formidable reputation as headliners, a status that has been forged through relentless touring and that means that when they hit the stage today, they’re pretty much oven ready. Using Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’ as an intro tape gets the crowd in a good groove, and feels as if we’ve stepped through a door to another dimension, but then a few gremlins make an appearance at the start of their set, but they’re no match for these Canadian rockers, the band ploughing on stoically, their bluesy brand of rock being perfect antidote to the rain, vocalist Lee-La Baum wailing like the reincarnation of Janis Joplin and backed by a band who look (and sound) like they’re fresh from Woodstock, 1969. With their latest, self-titled, record out in the world (and produced by Bob Rock, no less) and doing brisk business, it feels as if the band are standing on the cusp of greatness, and judging by their set today, they’re going to get their soon.

Armored Saint aren’t the type of band to mess around; there’s no time wasted on fancy introductions and they get straight down to business with opening track ‘Close To The Bone’, a track from latest album Emotion Factory Reset. It’s a low key arrival, but no less powerful for it, and is indicative of the band’s no nonsense approach; with gems such as ‘March Of The Saint’ and ‘Long Before I Die’ in their arsenal and aired today the band are happy to let their songs do the talking. It’s so often the case that pioneers get overlooked by those who follow and refine their modus operandi for mass consumption, but you can hear Armored Saint’s DNA in thrash and power metal, and pretty much every subgenre that came to prominence in the ‘80s. It’s evident in ‘Can U Deliver’; the blistering twin guitar attack, the bruising rhythm section and John Bush’s operatic vocals. Closing couplet ‘Reign Of Fire’ and ‘Mad House’ find the band departing as they arrived, ensuring that if you weren’t a fan at the start of their set, you will be at the end.

If ever a band was aptly-titled then it’s surely Finland’s Battle Beast. Power metal in its purest definition (i.e., powerful), they’ve a sound that brings to mind a fleet of Viking longboats appearing on the horizon or a mediaeval battlefield with swords and shields held on high. It’s rabble rousing stuff that never fails to get the blood rushing and they immediately win over the crowd with opening shot ‘Straight To The Heart’, as fists pump the air in affirmation. With new vocalist Marina La Torraca at the helm, Battle Beast have the wind in their sails delivering a heavy, but melodic, sound that makes a beeline to your memory bank. Like the very best songwriters (think Iron Maiden) this Finnish sextet have the uncanny ability to compose songs that place the listener in the heart of the action. As such, if you were ever called on an epic quest to save the universe then songs like ‘Eye Of The Storm’ and ‘Steelbound’ would make the perfect soundtrack. With an effortless crossover appeal, Battle Beast have united the whole crowd; young and old, thrashers and glam metallers in a celebration of heavy metal. It is with ‘King For A Day’ that their set comes to a thunderous conclusion and finds Battle Beast winning another fight.

When it comes to music, Birmingham is undoubtedly a magical place, birthing an amazing array of bands, yet none are more spellbinding than Magnum. Whilst they might not have hit the commercial heights of their peers, the band have never lost their knack of writing a cracking tune, and today they serve up a selection of delectable delights that can’t fail to please the crowd. After the untimely death of founding member Tony Clarkin, there’s a feeling that many have come to pay tribute to a fallen comrade, but rather than being a maudlin affair, vocalist Bob Catley and band turn this into a celebratory event. Opening track ‘Days Of No Trust’ sets the bar incredibly high, but it’s a standard Magnum have no trouble maintaining as they take us on a deep dive and unearth a selection of classics from their very own Pandora’s Box. Bob’s voice has lost none of its warmth and breathes life into songs such as ‘Soldier Of The Line’ and ‘On A Storyteller’s Night’. With bassist Dennis Ward and Lee Morris combining to create a solid rhythm section and Rick Benton adding ethereal keys on top, the band create a full, lustrous sound that’s threaded together by guitarist Brendon Riley. Tony Clarkin’s former tech, Brendon hasn’t tried to fill Tony’s boots and has brought his own flavour to proceedings, whilst staying faithful to the original songs. The band take us back to 1982 for final song ‘Sacred Hour’ and in doing so suggest they have a bright future.

There’s something so very special about an outdoor festival as darkness descends and the stage lights come into full effect and illuminate the night, and when Accept are due on stage, well, life doesn’t get much better. However, the technical issues that have popped up sporadically (the backstage crew have done a great job in keeping the show on the road) mean that Accept’s appearance is delayed by about ten minutes, which only serves to increase the sense of anticipation that hangs heavy in the air as the band’s stage set is prepared with drum riser and what looks to be an impressive light show. It means that when the band finally arrive the crowd are primed and ready for action, and feels as if a huge safety valve has been released and waves of affection radiate towards the stage. With a set list that reads like a “greatest hits”, only with the added oomph of being played live, Accept unleash fan favourites like ‘Metal Heart’ and ‘Breaker’, with each subsequent track raising the temperature exponentially, and a medley of classic tunes threatens to take things off the scale. Armored Saint’s John Bush makes a welcome return to the stage to guest on ‘Up To The Limit’ (a re-recorded cut they collaborated together on forthcoming album Teutonic Titans 1976-2026) whilst someone in the crowd unleashes an inflatable shark during (what else?) ‘Fast As A Shark’. The stage’s electricity supply cuts out temporarily during ‘Balls To The Wall’, but the crowd are more than happy to sing the words in lieu of the music and from that adversity creates a special moment in a way that only live music can. A masterclass in metal, Accept have set an impossibly high standard for tonight’s headliners.

Coming to prominence in the mid-1980’s meant that Europe got lumped in with that whole hair metal movement. Whilst it’s undeniable that they could effortlessly write tunes that crossed over into the mainstream, they had a depth and intelligence to their songwriting that hinted they would stick around for the long haul, and while much music from the 1980’s sounds dated and very much from that era, Europe wrote cuts like ‘Let The Good Times Rock’ and ‘Ready Or Not’ that have a timeless quality and are as fresh as the day they were written. It means that Europe are well equipped to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Accept and they hit the ground running with ‘On Broken Wings’. Far too good to be tucked away on a b-side, it now takes its rightful place as set opener, and it’s a soaring rendition that finds the band firmly in their groove. With the stage bathed in blue and yellow light, Joey Tempest prowls the stage, constantly flipping his microphone, whilst John Norum casually pulls some complex chords from his six strings. Plucked from their 1986 breakout album ‘Rock The Night’ follows and is coupled with ‘Walk The Earth’ (from the 2017 album of the same name) and despite the decades that separate these songs, they make for easy bedfellows. Europe take us on a tour de force through their discography with a tempestuous ‘Stormwind’ kicking up dust before the band apply the brakes with an acoustic rendition of ‘Open Your Heart’. With such a deep well of songs from which to draw, someone is always going to be disappointed with the song selection (my personal bugbear is the absence of ‘In The Future To Come’), but when we are treated to ‘Ready Or Not’ and ‘Superstitious’, few can have any complaints. Europe opened the set with the b-side of ‘The Final Countdown’ and, bringing things full circle, they close the set with the a-side. Replicating the sound of the Space Shuttle taking off, ‘The Final Countdown’ turns every pair of eyes (and ears) towards the stage and transports us to curfew in style.

Europe bring down the curtain on another successful Stonedead and such a good experience was had that our thoughts are already turning towards next year’s event.

Europe Set List:

1. On Broken Wings
2. Rock The Night
3. Walk The Earth
4. Scream Of Anger
5. Sign Of The Times
6. One On One
7. The Cult Of Ignorance
8. Carrie
9. War Of Kings
10. Stormwind
11. Open Your Heart
12. More Than Meets The Eye
13. Last Look At Eden
14. Ready Or Not
15. Superstitious
16. Cherokee
17. The Final Countdown