Bloodstock 2026 Band Feature: IMBRIUM
Where does the time go!? Once again, Bloodstock is right around the corner, and once again, it is shaping up to be one the best festivals of the year. Not just because there are a variety of bands spread across its main two stages, not just because it is packed with fun things to do, great food and drink to enjoy, and tons of likeminded people to experience it all with, but because it champions the future of the scene with its New Blood and EMP stages. Where unsigned bands, some handpicked, but most coming through the Metal 2 the Masses events, get to play the festival.
It can be an absolute gamechanger for a band to play the New Blood or EMP stages and plenty have gone on to bigger and brighter things. We know, we’ve been paying a lot of attention to that side of things for a long time now, and every year, tried to feature as many bands playing as we could. While we can’t promise that we will see all these bands at the festival, we can promise that you will find a wealth of talent should you wander over to either.
Who knows, you may even end up finding your new favourite band.
It’s almost time for BOA 2026, so it’s time to get to know some of bands who will be playing the New Blood Stage or the EMP stage. This is IMBRIUM!
First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself. How and when did you get started?
Well, we first launched the band in August 2025 with the release of our first single and music video for ‘Ghosts’ which then became a part of the full length EP out today, ‘Singularity’, and the how, well the more interesting part.
Luke, our vocalist had been pressuring me [Alex – Keyboards] to start up a new musical project for a long time, since we’d worked in bands together before, but one day it was the right day and I realised Luke was right. Following this we brought on Ben our guitarist and entered a period of intense writing where the songs you know today came to be.
Everything was put together very quickly to fit with our plan that from day one after launching the band we would have everything ready to look like the full package straight away.
Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
Well, to keep things simple we could say ‘Heavy Progressive Metal’ even though for now we’re not pushing the boat out ‘prog’ wise too hard but we’re definitely working on that for the next record. For now the title ‘progressive’ leaves the door open for us to write without too many boundaries on ourselves creatively.
How has playing Bloodstock 2026 come about?
We were lucky enough to come in through alternative means [other than the M2TM competition] to get our slot at this year’s Bloodstock Open Air, something we’re all extremely proud and grateful for!
What does it mean for you to play the festival this year?
When we started IMBRIUM it was always our first goal. Think of it like our initial marker of success. We said to ourselves ‘if we can accomplish all the things that we’ve planned out, and time them right, we’re in with a good chance of getting a slot on the Bloodstock New Blood Stage, and if we do, we must be doing something right’. That seemed to have happened so we guess we’re doing something right!
Alongside this, BOA has been a part of all our personal histories, a lot us were at the 2nd ever Bloodstock Open Air. The fest has always championed grassroots and underground metal so we’re honoured to be a part of that.
What’s the setlist looking like and can we expect any surprises?
For those of you and your readers who know of our debut EP ‘Singularity’, the setlist is a special front-to-back live run through of the EP as you would hear it playing the record. We’re all quite proud of the flow of the record and we’re excited to bring that into a live context!
Who are you looking forward to seeing, provided they don’t clash with your set?
First of all, we’re stoked that there’s several of our good friends playing the festival as well, and we’re looking forward seeing and supporting them. To name a few; our previous-gig-mates and cinematic djent masters Vanitas. Then a good personal friend of ours plays bass in Imperial Age so it’s going be great to see Dan hit the BOA mainstage, plus with a few of us being northerners we’re going to be stoked to see Manchester lads Technologist.
Plus, generally sticking around the New Blood and EMP stages to catch all the other great upcoming rising metal bands!
Then when it comes to the bigger bands there’s a lot of varied music taste between our members but we’re definitely going to be sticking around for Leprous, Nevermore, Orbit Culture, Trivax and of course how could we not pay our respects to Rob Halford and Judas Priest to wrap the whole thing up!
Ignoring the obvious (tent, sleeping bag, toilet roll, etc.) what’s one thing you should always take with you to a festival and why?
Well, whilst we can neither confirm nor deny that tents will be involved in our time at Bloodstock, what’s something we always bring? Spare wireless system batteries are going to be essential this year, along with enough saved up money to purchase all of the Sunday roast wraps from the food carts!
It’s post-set, you’re packed away and your press is all done. It’s finally time to kick back and relax, what are you drinking and what are you eating?
Similar to music taste, there’s a wide variety of alcohol preference in IMBRIUM but without speaking to everyone, we can still make a pretty good guess that the immediate-post-set pourings of drink will look like the below:
Anthony [Bass] and James [Drums] will immediately be on the cask ale, think whatever medieval knights and squires would be drinking, likely in the Hobgoblin tent!
Myself [Alex -Keys] and Luke [Vocals] will be cracking open a bottle of dark spiced rum, Kraken or the classic Captain Morgans
Ben [Guitars] – Continuing into his 24-pack-crate of Pepsi Max
IMBRIUM play the New Blood stage on the Saturday of the festival. Limited Bloodstock tickets are on sale now and you pick them up here.
IMBRIUM Links
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
