With just 22 days to go until the most metal event of the summer, BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR announces it’s final act for the RONNIE JAMES DIO main stage will be Britain’s own MALEFICE.

'We're really proud to be called up for Bloodstock duty this year, and even more proud to be opening up the main stage for the festival.’ Says frontman Dale Butler. ‘Everyone who's seen us live before knows we like to tear it up, so make sure you get up early and join us to kick off one of the biggest weekends of the Metal calendar in style! '

Offering up a boundary crossing blend of thrash death and power groove metal, the Reading mob are no strangers to the big stage, having slayed both Download and Sonisphere festivals in previous years. With years of touring with some of metals biggest names under their belt, MALEFICE are the perfect band to cut the ribbon on the main stage, and their set Friday morning will kick things off in suitably ferocious glory.

With the main stage now full and the other stages filling fast, the line up forBLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 is nearly complete, but there is one more fantastic announcement to come in the shape of the Jagermeister acoustic stage, details of which will be revealed next week.

Don’t forget you can still vote for five songs from BURN MY EYES for Saturday headliners MACHINE HEAD’s set – go to http://www.facebook.com/Bloodstock to cast yours now.

Tickets available from here