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  Doll

• Date: 07/02/2026

Poster by Two Face Promotion

This Metal 2 the Masses heat wasn’t just another night at the Jericho Tavern, it was the first step in the battle for a slot at Bloodstock Open Air 2026, and every single band came in swinging for their chance to claim it. There were people coming to the door hours before opening just wanting to hear the sound check! With two bands advancing from each heat, one chosen by the crowd and one by the judges, every performance mattered. No half-assing here!

This show also marked the official launch of the brand‑new press partnership between Two Face Promotion and Chaos Under No Ties, and I want to give a massive thank‑you to the entire team for trusting us with this opportunity. A collaboration that’s been brewing behind the scenes and finally burst into the spotlight tonight.

To keep things fair, the running order was decided the old‑school way: names on paper, drawn by the bands themselves. Barbed Wire stepped up first, pulled a name… and immediately drew Barbed Wire. Openers secured. White Noise Machine went next and revealed Nvmeral, which left Nvmeral to confirm that White Noise Machine would close out the night. No politics, no backstage deals! Just pure chance and a lineup that set the tone for a killer event.

Barber Wire: 

Reading based Hardcore band Barbed Wire opened up the stage for Oxford’s Metal To The Masses 2025 and they came out brutal. Immediate breakdowns. Immediate harsh vocals. The crowd lit up fast and ready. From the first hit, they ripped through a tight 17‑minute set that felt less like a performance and more like getting blindsided by a freight train made of breakdowns. “Disgusting” was a word I heard thrown around more than once – and in the hardcore world, that’s about as high as praise gets! Their frontman absolutely owned the stage, barking orders (that the crowd obeyed without hesitation by the way) that instantly turned the crowd into a whirlpool of circle pits, walls of death, and relentless two‑stepping. It was pure, unrivalled chaos – the exact flavour of mayhem you want from a young hardcore band hungry for their shot at Bloodstock. Despite the short runtime, the impact was massive. Barbed Wire didn’t just open the night, they detonated it and left the room buzzing for the rest of the event. Even after the band had left the stage I could still feel my heart beating out of rhythm thanks to the incredibly powerful drums!

Nvmeral: 

Oxford based progressive Post-Hardcore band Nvmeral hit the stage running as expected from our first returning band of 2025, and they wasted zero time reminding everyone why they made such an impact in previous years. Their singer spent the majority of the set in the crowd, shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the audience, turning the room into an extension of the stage. Leaving the rest of the five‑piece to dominate the stage with a confidence that made the space feel even smaller. The dynamic sharpened even more when the guitarist stepped in with clean vocals, layering over the singer’s harsher delivery. The contrast hit well, giving the set a sense of depth and emotional lift that contrasted the night’s heavier act. The two bounced off each other effortlessly. Between the dramatic delivery, the bursts of raw emotion, and the wild mic‑swing tricks (some elegant, some definitely dent‑inducing) he kept the room locked in from start to finish. Add in the band’s tight musicianship, their polished stagecraft, and the clear chemistry between members, and Nvmeral delivered a performance that felt bigger than the room they were in. It was the kind of set that shows exactly why they’re back for another run at Bloodstock.

White Noise Machine: 

Power house heavy melodic rock trio White Noise Machine wrapped up the night with the kind of polish that makes other bands stop mid‑unpack just to comment on how good their soundcheck sounded. As the second returning act in this year’s Metal to the Masses, they walked on with a quiet confidence that only comes from experience and then delivered a set that proved exactly why they are back. Their beautifully clean vocals cut straight through the room, soaring over tight instrumentals that blended weight, melody, and atmosphere with ease. Even with some new faces in the lineup, the chemistry was undeniable. This is a band that wants that spot. Their stage presence had a calm, commanding quality that drew the crowd in rather than overwhelming them, creating a final set that felt immersive rather than explosive. As a closing act, they were everything you want: professional, captivating, and memorable. They didn’t just end Heat 1 – they elevated it. The bar has been set early, and the following heats have a lot to live up to.

Outcome: 

The part you’ve all been waiting for! And trust me, the tension in the room was unreal. According to our beloved announcer Jay, this was one of the tightest votings they’ve ever had! So close they counted the votes not once, not twice, but three times just to be absolutely certain!! That’s how fierce the competition was in Heat 1. Every band left everything on that stage, and the results reflected it.

In the end, Nvmeral clinched the crowd vote with a performance that clearly resonated with the room, while Barbed Wire secured the judges’ pick after delivering one of the most explosive opening sets we’ve seen in a long time. Both bands earned their spots with grit, energy, and undeniable presence. A massive congratulations to them! We’ll be seeing them tear it up again in the quarter‑finals, and if tonight was anything to go by, they’re coming in hungry.

And with that, we have to bid a heartfelt farewell to White Noise Machine. Watching this band grow, evolve, and refine their sound over the years has been genuinely inspiring. They’ve consistently brought professionalism, passion, and a level of polish that elevates every lineup they’re part of. Their journey through Metal to the Masses has been a joy to witness, and whatever comes next for them, new music, new stages, new horizons, they’ve more than earned the support behind them. Good luck to you all; we’ll be cheering you on from the pit.