FOUR hopefuls, four bands that left everything on stage, four bands determined to give it their best shot at reaching Bloodstock 2016.

The Metal2TheMasses contest got underway in Belfast's Limelight2 on February 6th, with its usual format of voting: 50% an audience vote, 50% from the judges. My fellow judge and colleague Mark Ashby were faced with a difficult task. After all, the audience can be as partisan as they like, but passing judgement had to be impartial and considered.<br