It’s that time of year again where thousands descend on the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, ready for another weekend (or longer for many) of drinking, singing, moshing and more recently, a lot of us even end up watching wrestling. It’s many a metalhead’s favourite time of year so without wasting anytime, let’s get to the bands…
Friday
It’s down to Blackpool’s Boston Manor (6) to get us started this year with their enjoyable pop punk melodies before the party properly starts when Avatar (9) show up. Bringing a stage show many headliners would be proud of as well as songs as heavy as they are catchy, they definitely succeed in beings the weekends first success story and would have left with a good few more fans than when they came in. Following this is Dragonforce (5) who fail to live up to Avatar’s antics with technical issues dominating their short set.
There is no such worries for Bingley’s Marmozets (7) making their main stage debut and doing all they can to ensure that they make some friends. Whether that be by talking about their history of camping at the festival or commenting on the smell of weed in the crown they are doing all they can to get everyone onside. However, it is the songs that end up pulling people in and songs from this years Knowing What You Know Now as well as older numbers all sound great. Speaking of sounding great, somebody should have told Volbeat (8) that they weren’t headliners as the Dane’s bring a party fitting of their status around the rest of the continent. There’s pits, sing alongs and laughs as the UK shows that they are finally realising why everyone else seems to think so highly of the band. Do not be surprised to see them headline in the future after performances like this.
Speaking of potential headliners, no band has been subject to more speculation on that front than Bullet For My Valentine (8) in recent years. With new album Gravity on the horizon the welsh boys are making another push for that coveted spot at the top of the bill and performances and stage shows such as this will do nothing to harm their cause. New songs sound great but it’s on classics such as You’re Betrayal and 4 Words where both crowd and band really come alive, showing that despite their fall from grace in recent years, there is still love for BFMV yet and when they close with the anthem that is Tears Don’t Fall into Waking The Demon, many rekindle their love with a band they fell out of love with.
After their performance in 2014 at the top of the bill, many were somewhat doubtful of Avenged Sevenfold’s (9) ability to pull it off this year, luckily those doubters were wrong as A7X put on a show that showed not only that they belong here, also that they are here to stay. With a stage show that wasn’t topped all weekend featuring a giant skeleton king, a Jimmy ‘The Rev” Sullivan Tribute and a giant astronaut. It wasn’t just the stage show that was memorable though, with the songs also sounding better then ever be it anthems (Hail To The King, Nightmare), deep cuts (Eternal Rest, M.I.A) or slower numbers (So Far Away, Wish You Were Here), A7X show that musicianship is not outdated. By the time the brilliant A Little Piece Of Heaven and Unholy Confessions close the show and the fireworks are going off(even if some where seemingly delayed), you just have to wonder how high Avenged Sevenfold can truly go. Based on this performance, the sky is the limit.
Saturday
Although this day to most is for one reason alone (we’ll get to that later) that does not mean there wasn’t a great deal of brilliant modern music for people to get their teeth into and one of the bands supplying that was Bury Tomorrow (8). The boys from Southampton won’t be playing slots this low down for long based on the reaction to their 30 minute long set, however, as Donington collectively loses it’s mind to BT’s brilliantly written modern metalcore sound. Take a look Download, these guys belong higher up the bill. Bury Tomorrow’s placement seems even more bizarre when followed by L7 (4) who bring with them very little fanfare or enthusiasm. Even with big hit Pretend That We’re Dead being aired, they are lost in the shuffle.
Luckily enough, Asking Alexandria (7) bring with them a lot more fanfare than L7 did and also a lot more quality, with Danny’s voice sounding greater and greater every day, even if he is falling over before their first song even started. The big problem here comes in the fact that their first 2 records are almost completely ignored. Yes, the last 2 (not including The Black) are musically much better records but in a festival environment, it wouldn’t have hurt to throw some of the hits out there and leave the punters a little happier. Following them onstage are bizarre Japanese group Babymetal (8) and judging by the sheer size of the crowd, this has more than passed the fad stage. I will be the first to admit I just don’t get what Babymetal do but the stage show and presence they have is breathtaking. Get used to them people, they are here to stay.
Closing the second stage on this sunny Saturday are a band that have been the subject of a lot of hype since the release of their most recent record Reverence earlier this year and a band that have been on an upward trajectory any band would be jealous of; ladies and gentlemen: Parkway Drive (10). Why so much hype I hear you ask? This is why. Parkway are breathtaking from the moment they come on stage to the moment they leave. They have always been once of the best live bands in the business but when you add the new anthem such as The Void and Prey to the mix it just adds a different string to their bow. Add to that the stage show they bring (think spinning drum kits on fire) and the intensity that is carried through their performance and you have potentially the best band in metal on their best form. Truly inspirational performance from a very special band.
Although many may have seen Parkway as their headliner that day, they finished at 7 o’clock. The reason for that is that in case you somehow missed it, Guns’n’Roses (7) reformed and they’re coming to Download in 2018. Playing to one of the biggest crowds you will ever see, G’n’R play a show as slick as it is long (three hours…) with the crowd eating out the palm of their hands from first song (It’s So Easy) to last (Paradise City). Now I know that Slash could have maybe played a little less solos and Axl has sounded better in the past but who cares? This is one of the best bands ever to do it doing it on the most legendary stage of them all, appreciate that.
Sunday
Download’s Sunday is a strange one, mostly because the sun isn’t just shining, it is beating down hard, so much so that it is not uncommon to see people lying sleeping the field working on that tan. The sun does make Cradle Of Filth’s (6) goth tinged metal quite strange, although they pull through with some of frontman Dani Filth’s class on show. Hatebreed (8), though, really bring the party on their first Download appearance in 9 years, with the smile never leaving Jamey Jasta’s face as they race through a number of their signature metallic hardcore tracks, leaving a lasting and surprising impression on their return to Donington.
Black Veil Brides (6) are up next with the download audience seemingly softening it’s bottling stance on the band that have done their fare share of growing up since their last main stage appearance in 2012. The band are clearly happy to be there too, with more pyro being brought along than most headliners would bring. The only problem comes in the form of Andy Biersack’s mic technique as it seems to block out a big chunk of his vocals. Aside from that problem though, the LA rockers sound great, just work on that mic work, Andy. Over on the second stage, legendary tech metallers Meshuggah (8) are showing why they are so highly regarded by their waves of fans as they speed though their 50 minute set. Even with the sun rendering their complex light show obsolete and missing fan favourite track Bleed, the Swede’s still handle Download with consummate ease and professionalism, a testament to their talent.
Following that is no easy feat, however Alexisonfire (8) take that challenge right in their stride and provide their loyal fans with a set full of nostalgic anthems. Young Cardinals and This Could Be Anywhere In The World are screamed back at the band, who are making their first ever download appearance, with enthusiasm that only grows when you realise how little Alexis tour nowadays. The sheer happiness on the faces of the band and the enthusiasm in the crowd should hopefully ensure they come back a little quicker next time though.
That leaves just one band to close the weekend for me this year then and that band are called Rise Against (9). The Chicago natives are no strangers to headlining this stage having done it previously in 2012 and they bring the curtain down for many with genuine ease. Playing a setlist spanning almost their entire career, Tim McIlrath looks delighted as Donington eat up everything he throws at them, whether it be brand new material (The Violence, Welcome To The Breakdown) or material from their earliest days (Like An Angel, Blood Red, White and Blue), the audience love every second. A brilliant and good natured way to end one hell of weekend.
All in all, this was possibly the best download I have ever been too. The music was brilliant but the the big thing is that the community this year was great. All of those who go to download will understand why we all call it home and this year it felt even more that way. Never change Downloaders.