Download Festival 2011 – The Ultimate Review

Download Festival is over for another year, and with all the beer, wine, sun, rain, wind, warmth and cold comes a mammoth review of what the Daily Dischord team witnessed at Donington over the sacred weekend. With three days of rocks most eclectic bunch of acts, Download was always going to get pretty crazy and if that’s what you are expecting to read about, you may have just come to the right place. Reviewing the festival for Daily Dischord is head honcho Liam Spencer (LS), our most experienced festival team member Sean Spencer (SS), and the odd cameo from Colin Mitchell (CM). For those who don’t know our usual format, all ratings for the bands are out of 10.

To read about the day or band that interests you, just click on the day or the name of that band. It’s really that easy! If you want to read the whole lot, just scroll down.

FRIDAY

13.00-13.25 – As the arena gates open the vast majority of the crowd flock to the Main Stage, leaving a very sparse crowd to take in Evaline (7), kicking off their UK and European tour. The Californian six piece cement their comparisons to Radiohead with an ending to their set which rewards those who chose to watch, and we’re left wanting more after half an hour of their dramatic, edgy music. (SS)

13.00-13.30 - With the musical festivities kicking off in the early afternoon on Friday, Pennsylvania’s alt metal veterans CKY (7) take to the main stage, aiming to shake off the hangovers of the Donington faithful the night before. They do a relatively good job of shaking off the shackles with their dense, guitar heavy metal but the songs start to blend together pretty quickly. Guitarist Chad Ginsburg does his very best to get the crowd going and by the time the band leave the stage, you must say he succeeded. (LS)

13.50-14.20 – With the sun beating down on Donington and burning the masses who have either neglected to bring sun cream, or have consumed too much alcohol to remember to apply some, this was the perfect time for Puddle of Mudd (8) to take to the Main Stage. With their followers enjoying ice cold alcohol, they lap up a half hour set crammed full of anthemic post-grunge, including favourite ‘She Hates Me’ closing out a very tight set that had people singing along and female fans getting their bare chests out for Download’s Boob Cam! This will never fail to please… (SS)

13.45-14.10 – Hitting the Second Stage with the sun baring down on Donington are Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (8), a band who have garnered quite a lot of excitement in the UK over the past year. That excitement is justified with confidence and aplomb as the band take to the stage and deliver a set which is rich in equal doses of expertise and freshness. It’s a performance that could only be attributed to a band with vast amounts of experience, particularly in guitarist Matt Good (From First To Last) and the ever present Craig Owens (Chiodos). The frontman has confidence by the bucket load and it helps the band pull through on the big stage, where they may have been more suited to a tent environment. Consider me converted. (LS)

14.30-15.00 – Young Guns (6) are our first British offering of the weekend on the Second Stage and perhaps take a position on the festival’s bill that they aren’t quite ready for yet. The band, one album into their career, quite simply don’t have the songs to be placed in such a high slot on the bill and whilst there is the odd glimpse of brilliance, it’s not enough to tease in those who are just passing by. When Young Guns do hit the target, they hit it hard, and this point is proven as the group finish their set with a very strong rendition of ‘Weight Of The World’. It’s a respectable performance from the young lads, and in time, you’d like to think they will be blowing much bigger crowds away on stages of this magnitude in the future. (LS)

14.40-15.10 – The organisers have scored a huge success through perfect scheduling, with Puddle of Mudd and Duff McKagan’s Loaded (7) back to back in the scorching sun. Back after a memorable performance in 2009, Duff McKagan certainly loads his 35 minute set with non-stop rock music. Managing to shoehorn 10 songs into this set is no mean feat! The fans are hot with anticipation for some Guns & Roses magic, so when Loaded finished with ‘It’s So Easy’ even those who are passing the stage have to stop and take in this magical moment. ‘Sleaze Factory’ and ‘Indian Summer’ sandwiched in the middle of the set make sure our minds don’t wander and we’re blown away! (SS)

15.20-15.50 – If you needed further proof that Young Guns weren’t ready for their position on the big stage, Anti-Flag (9) arrived immediately after them on the Second Stage to show exactly how to wow a festival on your debut appearance. With only a half hour set, it was important that the band kept their political nattering to a minimum and they get the balance just right, quickly dedicating ‘Die For Your Government’ to the “murderers” Tony Blair and George Bush and continuously blasting out songs as if Donington was sitting on top of a volcano that was just about to erupt. With a pacey, fist pumping rendition of The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’ leading in to the closing ‘Cities Burn’, you get the feeling that Download will be welcoming more bands of Anti-Flag’s ilk in the near future because this set was an absolute blinder. (LS)

15.25-15.55 – With our first outing to the Pepsi Max Tent comes our first glimpse of a band from our shores! With (rather sexist) wolf whistles ringing around the tent as Romily takes to the stage with Japanese Voyeurs (8) they rock straight into ‘You’re So Cool’. With the tent pretty much full to capacity the band play with the attitude that has been associated with their raw punk music. What makes this particular set so special in comparison to their previous tour is the genuine excitement and delight that’s written across Romily’s face as she belts out ‘Dumb’ and ‘Milk Teeth’ and the crowd shows their appreciation for one of the UK’s up and coming punk bands. (SS)

16.15-16.45 – Hertfordshire’s Lower Than Atlantis (6) follow JV on the Pepsi Max Stage and the band’s frequent appearances on BBC Radio 1 seem to have paid off because the tent is absolutely rammed. Filling their half hour slot with as many songs from their two albums as possible was probably a good idea to please fans old and new, but it doesn’t allow the set to settle down for longer than a few minutes. It quickly becomes apparent that the band are best leaving the days of Far-Q behind, because on this performance, the vast difference between album one and album two is hurting the consistency of the band’s set. The band’s frontman Mike Duce tells the crowd to sit down and threatens to call out any of those who remain standing, but the results are very much the same as this set as a whole – it’s all promise without the knockout punch. When expectations are high, especially on the festival circuit, they really do need to be met. This isn’t the case for Lower Than Atlantis today. (LS)

16.50-17.35 – If you haven’t heard of Thin Lizzy (8) then step away from the review and NEVER come back. While, obviously, not consisting of the complete original line up, they still know how to put on a show and play to the maximum of their abilities. I have always loved listening to Thin Lizzy records so the opportunity to see them on the Main Stage at Donington could not be passed up. When the band blast out ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ I, amongst others, am like a big kid stood in the crowd just watching in awe as the song is so perfect for a festival environment with the audience singing back twice as loud. ‘Black Rose’ finishing the set is a slight disappointment, but I am willing to overlook this. It’s Thin Lizzy after all. (SS)

17.15-17.55 – Children Of Bodom (7) hit up the Second Stage as the evening begins, and with the sun still shining, deliver a set full to bursting point with their trademark melodic metal. The Finnish band clearly have a decent sized following as we see the stage’s first big crowd of the day, and an audience of all ages shows just how much crossover appeal these guys have to metal fans old and new. The tracks maybe blend together at some point in towards the end of the set but for the most part, Children Of Bodom stay on top form and there’s absolutely no denying how technically wonderful this band are. Riff after riff incites mosh pit carnage near the front of the crowd, and by the time the set ends, there’s some sweaty, sunburnt bodies leaving the golden circle. (LS)

17.55-18.25 – Hidden away in the middle of the pack in the Pepsi Max Tent is Hyro Da Hero (9) who is a surprise addition for many who don’t believe the hype, but turns out to be the highlight of my Friday. Playing to a packed tent, Hyro turns the air blue and raises the roof. Screaming out his rock-n-roll fused rap, music he makes you feel like you could be listening to Rage Against The Machine. Beginning the set with ‘I’m Black Y’All’ and closing with the huge ‘Ghetto Ambiance’, Hyro doesn’t let off even for a second as he bounces around the stage with endless amounts of energy, making sure the crowd are giving their all in return. I leave the Pepsi Max Tent promising to myself I will make sure to check him out in the future and I’m looking forward to hearing more from the LA based MC. (SS)

18.20-19.10 – There are some albums that divide opinion so fearsomely, that it often clouds a persons ability to judge that band any future records from the same act. I firmly believe that Sheffield’s Bring Me The Horizon (9) fall into this category, because it doesn’t really matter what you thought of the bands debut effort Count Your Blessings, you should make your judgement on the here and now. In the here and now, this band are a fucking juggernaut. There’s absolutely no denying, as the band thrash out tracks from their latest two records, that Bring Me The Horizon are one of the UK’s most exciting prospects today. Each song is belted out with pinpoint precision, which is something you very rarely see from a band with so much energy. Oli Sykes has grown into his position as a talisman for the band and the way he commands the crowd from start to finish is very rarely matched throughout the whole weekend, even from bands who have been doing this long before Sykes was a twinkle in his Father’s eye. From the fast and frantic ‘Fuck’, to the anthemic ‘Chelsea Smile’ (sang with a fan dressed as Pikachu who crowd surfed his way to the stage), Bring Me The Horizon completely destroyed Donington. You wouldn’t bet against the band headlining this stage in the next couple of years. (LS)

19.20-20.20 – Brit-rockers The Darkness (8) return to the festival scene after splitting up in 2006 and they haven’t given up on their huge sound and even bigger stage show as the crowd are kept warm by flames the height of the stage. Hawkins has returned with one of the most amazing moustaches in rock and when you look at him you just can’t imagine the high-pitched, ear-popping sounds that could come from this man. He hits all the high notes perfectly from the band’s most popular hits ‘Growing On Me’ and ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’. Justin Hawkins dedicates my personal favourite ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’ to the men who are here with the women flashing their bosoms for their rock heroes! Quality stuff. (SS)

19.40-20.50 – Compared to the young band that played before them, Korn (7) were always going to struggle to bring a fresh set to the Donington crowd, but what the Download veterans lack in exuberance they make up for in experience, and with hits like the opening ‘Blind’ followed shortly by ‘Freak On A Leash’, it wasn’t going to be long before the baying crowd were whipped up in a nostalgic frenzy. Throwing in a few surprises, such as covers of Metallica’s ‘One’ and Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’, as well as a recently famed dubstep track produced by DJ Skrillex, you would be a fool to write the band off as has-beens based on this performance. (LS)

21.35-22.50 – There’s no doubt been many of the Download faithful who have turned his/her nose up to the fact a “dance” band are headlining a stage here at Donington, and you have to at least appreciate where those voices of dissent are coming from, considering a festival favourite like Korn have appeared before them. All doubts of whether Pendulum (8) are stage headlining material are left smashed to smithereens in the arena after the Aussie band rip Download a new one. The band enter the gauntlet to a thunderous rendition of ‘Salt In The Wounds’ and ‘The Vulture’, smashing most expectations (including my own) that the band would lean heavily on their most “rock like” tracks. Andy Copping (promoter) had made the statement in the festival programme that Pendulum had spent every penny they were paid on their light show, and the result of such expenditure was truly electrifying. With a huge digital screen showing the band’s trademark video footage as a backdrop, armed with strobe lighting and many, many more props, the 75 minute long set was a masterclass in how to bring such a genre of music to life. Ben Mount is a suitable figurehead for the band. Despite his presence not often felt on record, live, Pendulum would be a very dull entity without him. The man doesn’t give the crowd a second to rest, even when the band stumble upon some technical problems before ‘Witchcraft’, and when the anthemic ‘Watercolour’ closes out an awesome set, a huge quantity of tired legs make their way back to camp for some late night boozing. (LS)

SATURDAY

12.30-12.55 – There’s an extra “something” in London metalcore band Rise To Remain’s (7) performance on the Second Stage. You can’t quite put your finger on exactly what it is, but their youthful exuberance just seems to emanate through the gathering audience here on a sunny Saturday afternoon. And it’s this youthfulness which helps them power through a short set that lacks any sort of variation. The band’s sound really is just metalcore by numbers, and whilst the front row is going suitably ape-shit, it’s something that clearly isn’t lost on those who leave the stage before the performance comes to an end. Austin Dickinson does a brilliant job in keeping the golden circle feeling part of this defining moment in the band’s career, and judging by the reaction when a new song is played, next time Rise To Remain come to Donington, you will no doubt see them higher up on this bill. There’s nothing new here, but the kids love it. (LS)

12.35-13.00 – Saturday kicks off for us with Essex based foursome The Morning After (6), and is our first venture to the small and intimate Red Bull Tent. Sam Ryder screams out his usually immensely powerful vocals to a packed tent. The crowd is already bouncing prior to Ryder deciding he has a duty to join in on the crowd surfing. Even though Ryder is, as ever, impressive and the crowd gets into the set, I can’t help but feel they don’t bring anything new from when I last witnessed them live. Their parting shot is to invite everybody to the Jager Stage (where acts are performing to much smaller crowds acoustic style) where they promise to bring along some crackers. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to draw me in. (SS)

13.00-13.30 – Despite my strong disliking for everything Escape The Fate (3) have done (most notably their new record), I felt the Las Vegas quartet deserved to be witnessed in the flesh. This quite quickly turned in to a bad idea, as it appears the band are just as bland live as on record. It wasn’t long before the bar was hit up in an effort to drown our sorrows. How a band of this quality end up on the main stage is an absolute mystery to me. (LS)

13.15-13.40 – Bosshoss (7) has a very short but sweet set. Only managing to get four songs out for the healthy crowd is a tad disappointing but with the limited time they have on stage, this makes it hard to fit much more in. I suppose I ‘m disappointed because I could listen to another 4 four songs as I sit in the sweltering heat enjoying a cider. There’s just something about their country-punk rock and bluesy sounds as they start with ‘Rodeo Radio’ and close with ‘Last Day (Do or Die)’ which makes sure I will be checking more of the band out and catching them when they play their next headline tour. (SS)

13.25-13.50 – Rather than watch Escape The Fate peddle the same old rubbish for any longer, we ventured to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam tent for the first time of the weekend, and arrived just on time for the RBBJ wildcard The Ocean Between Us’ (7) set. If you’re a fan of bands of the same ilk as Bring Me The Horizon, then TOBU is definitely your cup of tea. The quintet take more than a few leaves out of the aforementioned band’s book, but it’s far from plagiarism; there’s more than enough here that allows The Ocean Between Us to give off a far different aura. In a live environment, the group’s hardcore influences shine through and as they move from song to song, they still manage to keep their faithful in attendance happy by dedicating a song to those who took the time to support them. While ‘Nice One Kid, You Just Took A Knife To A Gunfight’ dips in quality on record, it’s a killer tune to be played onstage and pretty much wraps up what these lads are about. They’re far from the finished article, but to see a band enjoy themselves and be so relaxed on such a high pedestal, it’s certainly good viewing. (LS)

14.00-14.40 – I’m not going to lie to you; I had no idea what I was going to be in for when I plodded over to the Main Stage mid-afternoon to check out the Welsh outfit. Let’s throw in a bit of punk rock, a smidgeon of metal, some reggae and electronic music and this band is enough to blow your fucking brains out! Having watched a lot of the bands on the Main Stage over the weekend, no band has got the crowd bouncing as much as Skindred (9) have today. Asking if they should mix things up a bit they do so with ‘Selector’, sampling Tinie Tempah’s ‘Pass Out’ brilliantly. The attitude that comes along with the superb mish-mash of genres is encapsulated in the final song of the set, ‘Warning’, with Benji Webbe (who is decked out in full, glittering, Union Jack regalia) demanding that everybody take off an item of clothing and swing it around their heads. I have a perfect view of this happening as I exit the stage left to find a (clean) portaloo. If it isn’t for the band that follows (letlive.), and in a way it’s the perfect preparation, Skindred would be my act of the day. (SS)

14.15-14.40 – Next up in the Red Bull tent is a band who have been involved with the competition in earlier years, Crewe’s very own Blitz Kids (5). The quintet have been gathering critical acclaim for quite some time now, but what the masses have been raving about is certainly not on display here today. Despite the tent being absolutely rammed, there’s just something lacking from the band’s performance. The songs are played with precision and enthusiasm, but they just don’t incite any sort of reaction from the audience. There’s a complete lack of punch in the performance, and when compared to those who performed before them, there’s a gulf in excitement and poise. It never takes off, and before the last song’s final note is played, we join many amongst us in taking a beer break. (LS)

15.05-15.30 – In what is clearly an up-and-down day for the Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage, what follows is a Download Festival triumph that, quite rightly so, was witnessed by many. Hartfordshire’s Heights (9) have been going from strength to strength since signing for Mediaskare Records, and this absolute blinder of a twenty five minute set is the climax of what has been a great few months for the quintet. The sound emanating from the tent is huge, and with vocalist Thom Debaere spending the best part of the band’s slot in the faces of the crowd, you’re never left with a second to breath. ‘Eye For An Eye’ incites mass chants from the crowd and the faithful are rewarded with an utterly flawless rendition of ‘Empires’, which for the most part is performed either in amongst the crowd, or with guitars wielded in the faces of the front row. It’s absolutely mind blowing stuff, and the only idle body participating in this set is that of the guitarist who is performing with a broken leg. If you are yet to witness Heights, you would be a fool to miss them in their upcoming tour with Feed The Rhino. (LS)

15.35-16.05 – There’s times when you witness a band at a festival and by the time you leave that band’s set, you just know that they’re going to blow up. California’s letlive. (10) have been threatening to do that for quite some time now since they first arrived on the UK scene with a re-release of their record Fake History, but nobody could quite call just how triumphant this set is. With the band onstage lacking Jason Butler, the vocalist appears on top of the audience crowd surfing to the stage but security on foot fail to realise he is a band member, which results in a brawl with security. The man eventually reaches his mic (not before kicking another member of security off the stage), and with the sheer volume of adrenaline garnered beforehand bursts into ‘Renegade 86′, sending the audience into rapture. It’s hard to put into words how much emotion pours out of the band’s performance, in particular during ‘Muther’ where Butler goes off on a self deprecating tangent, screaming down his mic words towards his mother that could only mean something to him, yet you can’t help but feel restless and completely absorbed by such an event. It’s at this defining moment you realise that letlive. are without a shadow of a doubt the real deal. Believe the hype. Based on this performance, you really don’t have a choice.(LS)

16.25-16.55 – Anyone suffering from fatigue after letlive.’s performance quietly hoping for some rest were instead given a reprise when Your Demise (9) took to the Pepsi Max Stage. Tearing in to a set full to the brim with tracks taken from the band’s latest album The Kids We Used To Be, it wasn’t long before the full tent was yet again going completely mental. Just one glimpse at the side of the stage for the St. Albans hardcore band’s set confirms how hugely respected the group are amongst the hardcore faithful, but they spend the entire set proving exactly why that respect shouldn’t falter. The more the set goes on, the more the performance feels like a massive bro-down as several guests appear onstage to help Your Demise out, most notably in the band’s two vital tracks ‘The Kids We Used To Be’ and ‘Burnt Tongues’. The five piece were never going to match the intensity that letlive. exerted before them, but they more than made up for this with a performance that almost felt like a homecoming. It would be interesting to see how such a band who thrive on intimacy last on a bigger stage. If there’s one band of this ilk that could rise to the challenge, it would be Your Demise. (LS)

17.15-17.45 – Bringing a suitably chaotic ending to the Pepsi Max Stage’s hardcore triple threat are none other than Trash Talk (10). Those well educated in the hardcore genre needn’t read this review, because you no doubt already have a pretty good picture of what happened at Donington. Lee Spielman (vocalist) spends the entire set in amongst the front row of the audience despite security’s objections, constantly moaning about how the festival security restrictions suck in between barking out constant bouts of hardcore battery. The whole half hour set is a constant battle for the festival security, with the thunderous volume of every song thrashing through the tent. To say the music matches the overall attitude pouring out of the band would be an understatement. Trash Talk are a band who are clearly at one with their music, and it’s absolutely impossible to predict what is about to happen next. Following a barrel of noise otherwise known as ‘Explode’, the band, after climbing off of the amps (once again monitored by security), leave the stage proclaiming they wont be back. The security take a sigh of relief while we pick our jaws up off of the floor and head to the bar. (LS)

17.40-18.40 – Following the triple header of insane hardcore band’s in the Pepsi Max Tent, Skunk Anansie (8) takes to the Main Stage. I missed them when they played at T in the Park last year so made it my mission to catch them this year at Download. Skin leaps on to the stage in her typical frog-like fashion and immediately tears into ‘Yes It’s Fucking Political’. She’s wearing some freaky feathered outfit which garners a lot of perplexed looks, but starting as she does leaves the crowd begging for more. Perfect start, then. It’s just a shame, from a selfish point of view, that the rest of the set goes on to include a lot of the newer material rather than the classic, older songs. This is a minor, selfish point seeing as the new songs are performed exquisitely. At one point, Skin decides to WALK on top of the people at the front of the stage before breaking into a slightly more traditional crowd surf! ‘Little Baby Swastika’ is the perfect ending to a varied, but tight set and more than satisfies my curiosity. (SS)

18.05-18.35 – There was absolutely no way Huddersfield’s Evile (6) could top the past couple of hours the Pepsi Max tent had just witnessed, but with a completely different set of Downloader’s heading to the tent in place of those on the way out, it’s clear that the metal outfit have generated quite a lot of excitement. That excitement must be generated from the quite obvious similarities to Metallica. The guitar riffs could be easily lifted from Master Of Puppets, and you could even go as far as saying that vocalist Matt Drake takes more than one leaf out of James Hetfield’s book. When the band decide to play a new song taken from their upcoming album Five Serpent’s Teeth, you still fail to peel this song away from the band’s older tracks, and in terms of originality, well, it isn’t there. That’s not to say Evile are a redundant band. They do their thing with a powerful conviction that gets the tent rocking, and there’s quite clearly an audience in front of the band that are enjoying every riff and every solo being blasted out from the Drake brethren. The group enjoy their set, and the feeling is mutual when you look at the majority of faces leaving the tent afterwards, so I think we can call this a success.(LS)

18.45-19.15 – The Red Bull Bedroom Jam tent is just about to close for the evening, and before it shuts up shop, we manage to catch the set of Kill 21 (5), a band who opt to rock the traditional guitar music style. The music on display here is, for lack of a better word; safe. There’s nothing much in terms of energy and excitement here, and the whole bands set just seems to pander on without ever really igniting. The simple fact is that nothing is going to ignite without a spark, and there’s nothing on display here that could be used as an outlet for anything more than middle of the road rock music. Very, very disappointing stuff, and when you consider the bands playing before them who have been awarded a slot on this stage, it is really hard to understand how Kill 21 have been included on this line up. There’s a lot of work to be done here. (LS)

19.15-20.30 – Judging by the vast numbers of people that are sporting Avenged Sevenfold (8) memorabilia across the arena and campsite, the American heavy metal foursome are always going to pull in a HUGE crowd and boy, they certainly do just that. With their performance hugely anticipated since the sad passing of The Rev (drummer), black flags sporting the band’s logo were being distributed prior to them taking to the Main Stage. M Shadows dedicates ‘Afterlife’ to The Rev, a very emotional moment and was in complete contrast to the mosh pits and mammoth circle pits that ensued. The pyrotechnics and lighting show throughout are massive and the fireworks at the end almost make you feel as if this would be the perfect time to pack up for the weekend and head home. (SS)

19.40-20.35 – There’s been quite a few names on this Download bill that would get the collective blood pumping of those in attendance who are just that bit older than the average attendee’s age. The Second Stage is the host to some such bands tonight and first up are American hard rockers Twisted Sister (8), a group who are old enough to be grandfather of the thousands watching Avenged Sevenfold around the corner. Those who opted for the old rockers were not left disappointed, as Dee Snider makes absolutely certain that everyone in the crowd gets involved in one way or another (most notably asking everyone to sing along to ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ so A7X can hear it from the Main Stage). The frontman is a livewire, despite the age of 56, and spends just enough time talking to the crowd and making sure everyone feels part of the performance. Blasting out hit after hit, Twister Sister wrap up a brilliant set with the anthemic ‘I Wanna Rock’, and for those who only hear these kind of songs in rock pubs and clubs (like myself), this acts as an open invite to check out more of the band’s back catalog. (LS)

21.00-22.15 – Download was given a god of rock in the form of Alice Cooper (9) to play at their festival and he does not disappoint, running around like he has the energy of a ten year old boy and managing to pass that on to the crowd is amazing to see and be a part of. With about five different costume changes he shows that he’s still a big showman and it certainly adds a sense of fun to the show. The set is amazing too, with a typical dark but colourful feel about it and emphasises that his shows have influenced so many other acts like Marilyn Manson, to put one name to boot. The set list’s great, with one new tune thrown in but Cooper sticks to the older songs which are brilliant, and probably help the younger amongst us enjoy themselves a bit more. A stand out moment is ‘Feed My Frankenstein’, during which Cooper appears in a lab coat, ‘Poison’ and ‘School’s Out’ are also brilliant moments live, which is no shock even to the most passive fan. The band deserve credit too, as they are very tight and provide a couple of mesmerising solos to keep the show ticking over nicely whilst Alice is changing costumes. The man can still sing like he is 25 and that’s no mean feat when you have a snake round your neck, wearing it like a piece of attire. This set makes me want to see him in concert with a longer show so he can add more madness, providing even more entertainment. For me, Alice Cooper was one of the highlights of the weekend at Download! (CM)

21.10-22.10 - I am so happy I made the decision to see Welsh rockers Funeral For A Friend (8) close out my Saturday night. Expecting a smaller than normal crowd for a headliner in the tent due to the competition on the outdoor stages, it’s a surprise when I see the turnout isn’t nearly as bad as I had worried. Those that have headed to the tent are treated to Funeral For A Friend at their very best. Heartened by the fact so many people have opted to see them over System Of A Down and Alice Cooper, they play well outside their comfort zone. Opening the set with ‘Roses For The Dead’ and ‘Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don’t', Matt Davies jumps around the stage with the energy of a teenager, whipping the crowd into a frenzy too. Things don’t calm down either when ‘Streetcar’ is casually rolled out mid-set. The only bad point to the set is when the band have to wrap things up after ‘Red Is The New Black’. With FFAF ending before the main stages, I could head to check out one of the other headliners but I’m content heading back to the campsite on an absolute high. (SS)

21.15-22.45 - There appears to be something in the air long before Saturday’s headline band take to the stage. You can sense the excitement running through the crowd which seems to go as far back as you can see, and when a white curtain drops in front of the stage to cloak whatever is going on behind it, that sense of excitement goes into complete overload. It’s little surprise then, that when the opening guitar chugging of ‘Prison Song’ teases the audience that the mosh pits already open, and when that curtain drops to reveal System Of A Down (10), things really gets nuts. There really isn’t another band like System Of A Down and it’s maybe this fact that makes the whole set such compelling viewing. The utterly bat-shit crazy time signatures in ‘B.Y.O.B.’ and the spectacle that is ‘Chop Suey!’ are executed with perfection, and it’s a rare occurrence when you see a band so technical in their delivery move with such freedom onstage. Serj Tankien is one of the most intriguing frontmen in the business vocally, and onstage he is just as compelling; inviting absolute chaos from the baying audience by simply standing their and delivering a huge vocal. The setlist chosen for tonight is huge, but perfectly suits the hardcore and passive fans alike. All the old classics are there, such as ‘Chop Suey!’, ‘Toxicity’ and ‘Prison Song’, but the band also include more contemporary tracks such as ‘Question’ which manage to turn the set onto it’s head for a brief moment before returning to suitable chaos. It really is a performance that could only be delivered from a band who have recharged their batteries and are genuinally enjoying what they are doing. Judging by the reaction of this audience, that feeling is very much reciprocated. (LS)

SUNDAY

One moan before I get into the bands from Sunday. Everybody woke up on Sunday to pissing rain and lower than normal temperatures. However, I was amazed at the amount of people who went home on Sunday morning when they realised they were going to be soaked all day long. I haven’t experienced an exodus of this size in the past. I have heard numbers that a THIRD of campers left on Sunday and this disappointed me that the music was not enough to overcome some rain. Man up and get your rock on! (SS)

13.25-13.50 – There’s no better way to start your final day of festival music in a tent, checking out some pop punk. Especially when the heavens have opened up outside the tent, leaving everyone in a soaked mess. Put a terrible sounding Madina Lake on the main stage too, and the tent feels heavenly. The appalling weather has played into the hands of Aberdeen’s Autumn In Disguise (8) quite well, and understandably being so far away from home, playing to an audience with quite intimidating expectancies takes it’s toll on the quintet for the first few minutes. The band eventually battle through such nerves and things quickly pick up. Battering songs out from their debut EP, vocalist Mike Hendo is a ball of energy once he gets into his stride, and when he’s in the face of the crowd doing his thing, those nerves are all but a thing of the past. Since ditching the dual vocalist aspect to their sound, Autumn In Disguise have really managed to settle into their new formation quite well. The set closer ‘See Me In Terror (S.M.I.T.)’ relied heavily in a former members vocal duties, but the band completely wipe this handicap aside, which is admirable. New tracks such as ‘Where The Hell?’ and the brilliant ‘Let’s Make This A Home Run’ sound just as anthemic onstage as they do on record, and whilst this 25 minute set isn’t going to blow anyone away, it’s certainly further proof that Autumn In Disguise have the hallmarks of something great. If these guys keep moving at such a relentless pace whilst not forgetting their roots, it shouldn’t be long before dotted lines are signed on. (LS)

14.25-14.55 – The Norwegian’s amongst us today are gathering around the Second Stage with their flags in force, which can only mean one thing; it’s Kvelertak (9) time. For those who are not brushed up on their Norwegian(!), Kvelertak translates to “stranglehold” in English, and when you see these guys in the flesh (quite literally, as frontman Erlend has his beer belly hanging out), you realise how suitable a band name this is. The Scandinavian’s power through a set of hardcore fueled metal, a sound that genuinely seems to cram as much genre inspirations as possible into such a short length of time. It’s a sound that has clearly gathered much respect from the audience before them. The short set consists of some of the best tracks lifted from the band’s debut album, including a thunderous ‘Mjød’ and wrapping things up neatly with the epic ‘Blodtørst’. We might not understand a word of what these guys are singing about, but they’re clearly enjoying their rise to popularity in the UK, even when the front man attempts to jump off the stage and lands on his face before eventually making it to the crowd. You’ll be hard pushed to find a band as tight as this, and with three guitarists, if you are at Download for a rock show, then there really is no other band to provide such a party! (LS)

14.00-14.40 – Bowling For Soup (9) follow up their acoustic outing on the Jager Stage by bringing the sun out for their 40 minute set. In what is a disgusting day of rain and freezing cold temperatures, BFS amazingly have the power to stop the rain and whip the crowd into bedlam! Kicking off with ‘The Bitch Song’ they manage to fit 9 songs into their set as well as partake in some top banter with their fans. Perched at either side of the stage are two fully inflated sheep. Mid way through the set which includes ’1985′ and ‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’, Jaret Reddick spots an inflatable penis in the crowd, summons a security guard to retrieve this penis, then proceeds to thrust it up one of the sheep’s behind! Obviously one of the funniest things I have experienced at a live show! Some people could say the set is disjointed, but the crowd love the mix of jovial banter and music. (SS)

15.10-15.50 – Having heard a couple of The Pretty Reckless’ (6) songs on the radio in the past few months I was looking forward to hearing more from Taylor Momsen and co. Being heralded as the next big thing from some quarters I’m left disappointed by what they have to offer. Whether it is the rain and wind that puts them off, they don’t get the crowd going at all and seem to be having a strop because of this. The highlight of the set is their most recognisable song ‘Make Me Wanna Die’ which gets the crowd a bit more interested. I have come across this problem before in the past, American bands not performing when the rain and wind comes out to play, and maybe this was another case. Poor show. (SS)

15.35-16.05 – There is very little I could say for Starseed (4). I mean, there’s absolutely nothing to offer here other than middle of the road, dull rock songs. The South African rock group are as tight as they come live, but there’s just absolutely nothing to write home about here. It’s just, there. The music just passes right through you. For fear of allowing a hangover to kick in, we quickly dash to the bar rather than stay in the tent, because this band are without a doubt the number one killjoy of the weekend. (LS)

16.20-17.10 – The first person to recognise that New Jersey’s The Gaslight Anthem (8) stick out like a sore thumb on this main stage is the band’s very own Brian Fallon. With a cheeky grin etched across his face, he claims that he wasn’t keen on accepting the slot at the festival until the promoters won him over by sending him videos of AC/DC’s performance last year. He needn’t have worried, because if you play a set with so much heart, you would have to be one miserable bastard to deny yourself the fact that this band are a bundle of joy to watch. The set kicks off with a double barrel of tracks from the band’s latest album ‘American Slang’, but not to be fooled by the set opening, today see’s the band pick a couple of gems from every chapter of their career to date. Songs such as the punchy ‘The ’59 Sound’ and the bluesy ‘Even Cowgirls Get The Blues’ represent the record that propelled the group to fame, but the debut album is far from neglected when the band pull out the hard rocking ‘Wooderson’. The smiles are intact throughout the whole set, and whilst it’s pissing it down from the high heavens, The Gaslight Anthem still brought the kind of heartfelt fun you could get used to watching while sitting in the sun. Quality stuff, here. (LS)

17.15-17.45 – With an ever-increasing fan base Deaf Havana (7) play to a tent full of fans who are singing every song back to them, none louder than favourite ‘Friends Like These’. With their post-hardcore sound being continued into their most recent records, like ‘Smile All Round’, the quartet is growing from strength to strength. Based on todays performance, there’s no reason to doubt that these guys are going to be pretty big in the UK after the release of their new album. After all, the kids love it. (SS)

17.40-18.40 – It’s five minutes until Chicago’s The Disturbed (6) are about to come onstage, yet the main stage is, in comparison to yesterday, deserted. The rain (and by rain, I mean torrential rain) has clearly caused most of the punters at Donington to retreat to the tents, and that’s only talking about those who haven’t went home already. You can sense that The Disturbed’s set is going to contain some graphics. The huge screen that covers the whole of the stage is a subtle giveaway. What that screen is used for, however, I did not predict; a five minute movie which was as chilling as it was grandeur, showing frontman David Draiman laying dead in a room, thus being rushed to the hospital, before being infected by what I can only assume is “the sickness”. What follows after that has to be something of extreme epic proportions, which isn’t what you get. Instead what you get is a poorly executed, boring collection of accessible metal songs. This is sad considering the huge amount of hype the band set for themselves with such a massive opening movie. It’s black and white if you think about it. Don’t bring the epic cinematography to a music festival if you can’t match it with the music. (LS)

18.05-18.35 – With more and more people creeping into the Pepsi Max Tent, some to escape the lashing rain outside, Framing Hanley (5) take the opportunity to impress a young, larger crowd than they would have normally encountered in the UK. Their biggest hits ‘Lollipop’ and ‘You Stupid Girl’ will be seen as highlights for the youth amongst us, but for those with more years on them, it’s clear to see that the same feeling isn’t exactly emanating through the tent. There’s just something a bit to clichéd about the band’s music, and whilst this is exactly what will sell a record, there’s no evidence here to ensure that Framing Hanley will be remembered any longer than most cookie cutter bands of the same ilk. (SS)

19.00-19.40 – In the third performance in a run of four, we witness what looks like Silverstein’s (8) final outing in the UK. Considering it’s their final show of their UK stint, it’s a bit of a disappointment that people are more interested in sheltering from the rain than giving the band the send off they deserve for putting in 100% energy and enthusiasm. Only small parts of the tent are singing ‘My Heroine’ and ‘Smile In Your Sleep’ back to the band. Credit goes to the pockets of crowd who break into circle pits to send the Canadian’s home feeling that their hard work wasn’t completely wasted. With a cover of a popular American Nightmare song, Silverstein done more than enough to impress this years Download faithful. (SS)

19.20-20.10 – The rise from Bullet For My Valentine (9) at Download since the Welsh metal group released their debut album The Poison in 2005 has been enviable. The work ethic which has seen them climb the bill at Donington should be deeply respected, and with a performance as demanding as this, they clearly don’t feel content with their current position on the main stage. The sheer wind bursting through Donington sometimes sabotages the sound for those who aren’t crammed in the golden circle, but it does little to take away from a performance which has something for fans of all albums released by the Welshmen. Being a fan of the band’s debut album in my mid teens, I’ve never been a fan of anything released by BFMV since, but the songs on these records are completely different beasts in the live cauldron. ‘Bittersweet Memories’ is an absolute juggernaut; full with raw emotion and sounding absolutely huge on such a huge stage. It’s songs like this and ‘Say Goodnight’ that give you the realisation that these songs were made for stages of such scale. Throw in some old classics such as ’4 Words (To Choke Upon)’ and ‘Tears Don’t Fall’ and you find yourself witnessing one of the most confidently brilliant sets of the weekend. As the final notes of ‘Alone’ ring out, fireworks erupt behind the stage over the audience, and I don’t think there’s one witness to this show who isn’t thinking at this moment that the next time Bullet For My Valentine return to Donington, they will be headlining the very stage they act as main support on tonight. (LS)

20.05-20.45 – In one of the strangest bookings of the weekend, Plain White T’s (8) are up next, playing to a surprisingly receptive crowd, minus the odd few immature shouts that lack intelligence just as much as they lack respect. It’s easy to see a lot of the people who have turned up are here to see the band perform hit ‘Hey There Delilah’, but they are trying to steer away from this particular single with their new material including ‘Rhythm Of Love’ and ’1, 2, 3, 4′. No matter how strange it is, the band have the entire tent singing that song back to them and they pour their hearts into their performance, clearly delighted to be second headlining one of the stages at a major festival. And yes, I ended up singing along too. I’m not ashamed to admit it! (SS)

21.05-22.45 - It’s a hell of a long time we’re left waiting for the final band of the weekend, and with the vast majority of the crowd either home or at the Second Stage watching Rob Zombie, you’d be forgiven for thinking the atmosphere is pretty low at the moment. You’d be completely wrong. The faithful here are waiting for one thing, and that’s for their heroes to walk on the main stage. When Linkin Park (7) do exactly that to a cinematic video as a backdrop before launching in to ‘Papercut’, the crowd goes suitably apeshit. My love for Linkin Park has waned since the release of ‘Minutes To Midnight’, but the new direction the band have gone in has allowed them to include a very, very effective visual element to their show which is so powerful, that along with the band’s music, it’s just impossible not to get sucked in. It’s a performance that includes all the hits you would expect, but the setlist for tonight is more than questionable. Kicking things off with powerhouse tracks such as ‘Papercut’ and ‘Lying From You’, the band then proceed to take things down a few notches with very sombre tracks from their latest album ‘A Thousand Suns’, which completely draws out every bit of adrenaline the tracks before them pumped into the audience. It’s an episode that carries on for too long, but in the band’s defence, the visual element to these tracks does just enough to stop us turning around in disappointment and heading back to the campsite. Things are quickly picked up when the opening keys to ‘Numb’ are played, and the audience comes back to life again. The band bring things down a notch again with ‘Breaking The Habit’, but the crowd lap it up for every second as Chester Bennington spends the duration of the song in the front row. Closing with the belting ‘Faint’ and questinably the band’s biggest hit in ‘One Step Closer’, the audiences patience during a prolonged blip is rewarded with an ending to finish off all festivals. I don’t think there’s one person in the crowd who could honestly say they like the direction Linkin Park are going in, but the superstars have a back catalogue in their artillery that Donington will always love. You just feel tonight they didn’t get the balance quite right. (LS)