Metal to the Masses being held at Brickmakers pub in Norwich

Musicians will be rocking out at The Brickmakers as they compete for a place among the country’s top heavy metal bands.

The Norwich qualifiers for the Metal to the Masses competition start on April 4 and continue every second Thursday until the semi-final on May 16.

Heats are also held in Ipswich and Cambridge ahead of the regional final being held at The Brickmakers on Saturday, June 8 - with a place at the Bloodstock Festival up for grabs.

The festival, held at Catton Park in Derbyshire in August, has Architects, Opeth and Amon Amarth among its headliners this year.

Claire Brooks, who runs the Brickmakers with her husband Dale, said: “It is shaping up to be more successful than last year.

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“Lots of the bands who have entered play here regularly, Hedra played here recently."

Claire Brooks, left, landlady at The Brickmakers (Image: Supplied)

Running for 10 years, originally at The Waterfront, the competition offers a place on the New Blood Stage at the festival, with previous winners including Uirdium, Collapse the Sky and Alpha Omega.

One of the Norwich organisers, Rory Petts, said: "The metal community in Norwich is one of the strongest in the UK with a variation of massive sell-out shows from world class artists and well attended smaller capacity shows run by local promoters with lesser known bands with just as much talent as the headliners.

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"The smaller capacity local shows are attended by what can only be described as a massive family of alternative fans, diverse in age, race, gender, sexuality and the most welcoming to newcomers.

The Brickmakers pub, in Sprowston Road, Norwich (Image: Archant)

"Metal to the Masses allows for those curious about the metal scene to be introduced to new bands and meet new friends."

A panel of judges, including festival organizer Simon Hall, will decide the winners.