THE ULTIMATE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Ready to get down and dirty at Download, or perhaps you’d rather see some metal in the Med? Wherever you wanna go, we’ve got you covered.
AS DOWNLOAD MARKS ANOTHER YEAR OF HEAVY, WE CHOOSE OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEKEND
SyStem Of A DOwn return
Donington hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for SOAD in the past. They were upstaged by Slipknot in 2005 and put on a flabby and disinterested reunion show in 2011, so we’re hoping for third time lucky this year. The omens couldn’t be better; news of a new album incoming surely means that they’re back as a full-time concern, and their Wembley headline show in 2015 showed them approaching peak powers as a live band again. They’ve got the tunes and goodwill behind them, plus they kind of owe us one. Let’s hope they deliver.
PrOPhetS Of rAge bite bAck
There are undoubtedly politically aware bands on the bill at Download every year, but has there ever been one that was formed solely because of their disgust with the system? That’s exactly what Prophets Of Rage did, and while there will be thousands of people turning up to their Friday sub-headline slot to hear the songs that made the members of the original bands, Rage Against The Machine, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy, global musical icons, it would be churlish not to expect
Tom Morello and Chuck D to spend a good portion of the set venting their disgust at Trump, Brexit, Syria and whatever other topics are the focus of their ire.
five finger DeAth Punch cOme Out Swinging
Modern metal needs 5FDP – the one band of the decade who truly look like they could become legitimate festival headliners. But the last 12 months has seen their momentum stall. Rumours about the gulf between frontman Ivan Moody and his bandmates have increased since they left him onstage alone during a gig in Memphis in 2015, and whispers about him leaving recently surfaced again (though were swiftly denied). But if we’ve learned anything about 5FDP over the years, it’s that they work best with their backs up against the wall, so we fully expect them to come roaring back at Download.
metAL mADneSS hitS the mAin StAge
As much as we always love seeing the big guns come out in force at Donington, this year sees some of the hottest young acts of our world making their Main Stage debut. It’s a big deal for Creeper (left), Hacktivist, Sabaton, Northlane and Motionless In White – expect them all to grab their opportunity with both hands.
cODe OrAnge SteP uP
January’s mindblowing Forever is still being lauded by fans and critics alike. And after coming within a whisker of toppling a band as mighty as Gojira on their recent European tour, you can expect them to produce one of the weekend’s most ferocious sets.
SteeL PAnther PArty fucking hArD
You can always rely on Steel Panther to bring the biggest party atmosphere, but have they reached their ceiling when it comes to how high they can scale the Download bill? It’s another third-from-the-top appearance for the glam metal titans – another home run is needed to put them on the list of potential headliners.
SuiciDe SiLence PrOve themSeLveS
The backlash to Suicide Silence’s self-titled album has been brutal, but there may be redemption on the horizon. The deathcore legends have never backed down from a fight, and at Donington they will come face to face with the haters, determined to make the new songs work. It could be one of the weekend’s most memorable sets.
DiLLinger wAve gOODbye
And so the end is here. One of the most brilliant, unique and important bands of the 21st century will bow out at Donington, and, just like every time The Dillinger Escape Plan step onstage, we still have no idea what to expect. One thing is for sure: we’ll be there to celebrate their legacy.