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Bristol's Metal Scene

The wealth of metal events in Bristol is drawn from a rich metal heritage in the city, classic local bands include: Onslaught, Gonga, Jaguar and Evita. A lot of the best events are in underground pubs like the Gryphon and Mother's Ruin where you can hear big riffs and roared vocals most nights of the week - with strong support from the metal scene elsewhere in the West of England.

As well as older cover-style bands at German boozer Bierkeller, you can see larger international acts at Bristol's bigger venues like O2 Academy and Colston Hall. The city's Old Market area is full of old biker-gang hangouts like the Packhorse - with various shops selling metal memorabilia and records - perfect for the morning after a big gig.

Buy tickets for metal events in Bristol

Our recent metal recommendations

Sell out warning! Colossal quadruple bill of frenzied technical death metal and obscene goregrind-splattered aesthetics. Witness the brutal truth of Stabbing’s meteoric scene ascension alongside revitalised 90s NYC heroes Immortal Suffering. Only for the sick and depraved fans of: Suffocation, Putrid Pile, Disgorge, Devourment, Atrocious Abnormality. STABBING & Guests at Exchange.

Mexican post-hardcore band Joliette come hurtling through Bristol with furious emotional intensity and a jagged cacophony of caustic screaming and groove punches. Essential for connoisseurs of unpredictable time signatures and relentlessly inventive rhythms, Touche Amore, Glassjaw, and being “post-everything”. Joliette at Exchange.

Basement 45 gets sucked through the hellgate of Bristol Metal Quarter, hosting a whole weekend of blister-bursting trash and death deviance + many merch stalls and 2am headbanging by the decks. Top of the bill so far: goat-worshipping blackened thrashers Devastator and Belfast’s technical ‘war-jazz’ brutalists Acid Age. Best free up some real estate on the battle jacket then ….. ThrashZone at Basement 45.

Leaders of the new wave of Brummie heavy ‘stadium doom’ born under the diabolical sign of Sabbath and Maiden. Margarita Witch Cult rip through the 70s proto-metal blues riff rulebook with galloping future-classic choruses destined to lodge themselves eternally in your willing mind. This is a shockingly fresh and vital metal force FFO: Green Lung, Uncle Acid, Truckfighters, Orange Goblin, Sleep. Margarita Witch Cult / Longheads /Choir of the sun at The Louisiana.

What our editors say

“Symphonic metal pioneers Epica and modern metal powerhouse Amaranthe unite for the Arcane Dimensions Tour, with rotating co-headline slots, hitting Bristol Beacon in early 2026.”
From: Arcane Dimensions Tour 2026

“KATATONIA released their triumphant Napalm Records debut, Sky Void of Stars, in 2023 to the enthrallment of critics and fans alike. The album showcases their brilliant, genre-defying fusion of melodic death metal and atmospheric post rock. Following its release, the band jumped on a massive headline tour across Europe and the UK alongside Sólstafir and SOM.”
From: Katatonia

“Saxon’s groundbreaking album Wheels of Steel has been heavily cited by numerous journalists as one of those classic albums that every metal fan should own. Jam-packed with seminal songs and chunky riffs from the opening high octane belting riff of “Motorcycle Man”, Wheels of Steel packs a punch from start to finish. From the infectious and arguably the biggest riff of hit single “747 (Strangers in the Night)” through to the more stripped-down crunchy tour de force of title track “Wheels of Steel”. This is a one-off not to be missed opportunity to see one of metal’s best albums played from start to finish in all its glory for the very last time.”
From: Saxon - Hell, Fire And Steel Tour

“They mix between electronica and metal, as well as many other music styles, with blasphemy on top! They definitely stand out from everything else and you're never quite sure what to label PA although they often say "A dark, heavy Satan-Rave in hell!"”
From: Pretty Addicted

“With a background in contemporary, classical, metal and avant-garde Jo’s music appeals to a truly broad audience, evidenced in her ground breaking concerts at esteemed venues and festivals worldwide, including Hellfest (FR), the Melbourne Recital Centre (AUS) and the Royal Festival Hall (UK). As an invited artist Jo has collaborated with acts as diverse as Caspian, Damo Suzuki, Enslaved, Emma Ruth Rundle, FM Einheit, God Is An Astronaut, MONO, My Dying Bride, Myrkur, and Poppy Ackroyd, as well as touring with many of these artists and others including Amenra, Boris, Heilung and Wardruna.”
From: Jo Quail