other stages review

It’s another scorcher at Download again this year. Not very good for all us metal fans, wearing black from head to toe, or for any Goths that want to keep that pasty look. Two of the stages are undercover though, providing some much needed shade for weary festival-goers.

The first band for me is over in the newly named Dimebag Darrell stage, and it’s From Autumn To Ashes. A lot of the names on the line up appear to have some deep meaning, whether it be spiritual or just a long-winded tag that sounded cool at the time. This band are celebrating bassist Josh Newton’s birthday with their hardcore set.


Porcupine Tree bring a bit of progressive rock to the stage next, just before Paramore hit the stage. One of a handful of females to play on stage at this festival where males dominate the scene, tiny Hayley Williams has a voice that can beat a lot of them. Though the band only have an average age of 19, they are set for big things with their poppy metal sound played with the speed of punk. Think Avril Lavigne, except the fact that Williams can sing live.

For all the hype, I must be the only one to miss the attraction to Enter Shikari. Sure they are doing a first by mixing techno with metal, but Prodigy stood in this same spot last year and mixed plenty of metal and electronic sounds. The crowd are loving it, but I would rather be watching Velvet Revolver or Hayseed Dixie.



Korn more than make up for them in my book though. ‘Blind’ has the metal/hip-hop fusion just right, as has ‘Clown’ and ‘Falling Away From Me’. I believe they should have been on the main stage, as Prodigy should have been last time, instead of clashing with Funeral For A Friend. They more than make up for singer Jonathon Davis’ illness last year.


The choice to leave the indie stuff for other festivals has paid off this year, as My Chemical Romance and Korn please more people here than Feeder and Dinosaur Jr (though both excellent) did two years ago.

After a truly great night’s sleep (honestly, why have a festival next to an airport? Most of us are too young to have hearing problems just yet caused by exposure to loud music) it’s time to get out of the tents early as the sun is out in full force yet again. Many people are looking a little worse for wear after arriving on Wednesday.

The ever changing names of the tents could cause confusion to many seasoned Downloaders; just be aware that they are all in the same place, no matter about the name. The choice to name the second stage after Pantera / Damageplan’s late Dimebag Darrell is a decision many fully support anyway. The Snicker’s Bowl stage is no more, but there is some mean motor cross action next to the second stage in the Red Bull X Fighters area.

My Alamo are the first band for me today (Army Of Freshmen put me off trekking down any earlier, after I caught their set with Tuborg headliners Reel Big Fish last week). They are very loud, though I don’t care, I am mainly here to shade from the sun. They have a lot of melody in there, reminiscent of Alice in Chains and Sugar in the 1990’s, especially for the aptly named ‘1994’ and ‘Enemy’. They are friendly and draw up a good unassuming sort of relationship with the crowd. Statements like “Here is a new song, though most people don’t know our old ones!” and “We are an English band” show their good humour.



The shade in here is working a treat, so I stay to catch Beyond All Reason. They are more emo, but I give them a chance as they are from York, my end of town. Their songs are mainly about relationships, which would be quite repetitive if singer Venno’s vocals weren’t so alluring. Next up the tent really does heat up with the arrival of hundreds of people for Panic Cell (either they like the band or are just passing on the way to another stage, as this is the closest stage to the campsite). This is just pure heavy metal; nothing really stands out, just their whole set keeps you interested.

I decide to move onto the Dimebag stage (at the opposite end of the festival. A right trek for this reviewer, what with all the dust and whatever to contend with. And this one way system, where is it? There is a bottleneck at the front on the hill to stage right of the main stage, unless you know to walk behind the hill). I arrive to the strange sound (especially at here, the UK’s spiritual home of rock) of sweet female vocals. I’m thinking that these are a little too light for this festival, until the lady singing disappears, having only been helping out with the one song from Anathema’s set. They finish with a cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Hurt’, which impresses the dwindling crowd.


There is a definite increase in crowd numbers for the heavily hyped Gallows, and so there should be. Singer Frank Carter is a born performer, not in the traditional sense but he has the Johnny Rotten thing going and has punk in his veins. It’s hard not to take notice of this band; they demand your attention, with Carter ringing up his mum on stage (“Say hello to my fucking mum everybody!”) and songs about him being a c***, shitty towns and divorce, you know these boys perform from places they have been. And if they haven’t they deserve Oscars. They completely thrash the stage a few songs in, mics and stands flying everywhere. One of the festivals best acts.

My Dying Bride are stark contrast to the Gallows; a heavy Goth rock band, complete with the clothes and make up. It is a little sombre for me after the excitement of the Gallows, but where they lack in visual entertainment they make up for in musical ability.



Many people arrive for My Vitriol, with Som Wardner looking every bit different to most artists previously on stage, in a red bomber jacket (something that’s not black!). There’s a lot of (good) heckling directed at Wardner, who takes it in his stride as the band play ‘Moodswings’ and ‘Always: Your Way’, along with a few riffs from RATM, Pantera and, strangely, The Carpenters.


Now I am excited to be seeing Biffy Clyro. So are the crowd, though I think they would like more of a fan base set list of older tracks rather than a lot of newer tracks. We do get ‘Joy.Discovery.Invention’, but the songs are mainly from new album ‘Puzzle’ (‘Now I’m Everyone’, ‘Get Fucked Stud’ and ‘Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies’). Not that I’m complaining when you get the singing trio of Scottish totty that are Biffy. “Mon The Biffy!”



The best band of the weekend in my opinion is Perry Farrell’s new get up Satellite Party. I am speaking for myself and not the majority of the people at Download, as plenty are watching Necro and even more are there for Marilyn Manson. But here at this stage we are treated to a pissed Perry, his attractive dancing wife and some top musicianship. In fact something for everyone. Throw in old Jane’s Addiction classics like ‘Stop’, ‘Is Not Alright’ and the mighty ‘Been Caught Stealing’ and it is a show (if a little short) to remember. Even Farrell’s spiritual ramblings and prayers for a great festival do not spoil it. Though I would not class his wife as a real singer for the band, more something to watch...

Motley Crue finish the day off, fighting for headline position with Linkin Park. Sleazy rock over screaming soft rock? I would have stuggled to choose if I had not been closest to the stage holding the Crue. It’s a greatest hits set, with ‘Doctor Feelgood’, ‘Live Wire’, ‘Same Old Situation’, ‘Home Sweet Home’ and ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’. A guy manages to climb up one of the many pillars holding up the tent, and people are throwing bottles at him (a few hit his head). As he gets down there is a loud boo of really deep throated voices, just what you would imagine of rockers.


After the bands there’s a chance to catch ‘Hot Fuzz’ on the big screen, also named the Hot Fuzztival screen (honestly who names these things). This explains why we get the excellent ‘Shaun of The Dead’ on Sunday night, along with ‘Smoking Aces’ on the Friday.

Sunday has heard Farrell’s prayers, and the heat is off for the day. It is still very warm, but cloud is covering the sky (even hiding most of the planes taking off, though sadly not the sound of their engines at 6.30am).

DevilDriver have filled up the Dimebag stage, and it helps that Coal Chamber’s Dez Fafara is the singer. How strange it is that a band can incite crowd surfing but then tell the fans to look out for each other. Go mad but carefully? The best bit is their attempt at the world record for the largest circle pit. Looking at it from the hill at the side of the tent I reckon they have done it; if not the largest it’s definitely the longest.



Hanging about again I see Orange Goblin and their back to roots heavy metal, with added bits of stoner rock. These really have the metal hair; long so it can hide their faces. Within Temptation sees another female frontwoman, though sadly their set is cut very short because of sound problems.

This is apparently Dimmu Borgir’s first UK show, and they also suffer from sound problems (the microphone keeps cutting out and “popping”) but they carry on anyway, if looking a little pissed off. For Goths that is. The many painted faces around the festival are probably for these fellows, true masters of dark, black metal.

Dream Theatre are a band I have always wanted to see but never got to. They’re underground credibility in the world of progressive metal has ensured their place as the penultimate act on this stage, much to this huge crowd’s delight. The drum kit is the largest one of it’s kind I have ever seen; like four rolled into one, with a huge gong behind. And the keyboards swing around while being played. No wonder the musicians in this band are some of the best in the world.



Over on the Tuborg stage Fastway are just finishing up with their New Wave of British Heavy Metal set. They feature an impressive line up with Motorhead’s "Fast" Eddie Clarke and members of UFO and Little Angel.

Finally, as Billy Talent close the Dimebag stage and the fantastic Iron Maiden visually and musically blow people’s minds on the main stage, Reel Big Fish bring a little humour to the Tuborg stage. Download regulars, they are the perfect end to a good festival, with no trouble and a lot of red looking faces from the sun and cider. As a lot of bottles have been thrown about in the crowds whilst people are waiting, here we have beach balls. And people cheer as the backdrop goes up. To every band. As well as ‘Good Thing Going’ and ‘The Set Up’, the American jokesters play a snippet of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ and of course ‘Take On Me’.

Everyone’s in high spirits as the festival draws to a close, and I believe this has been the most successful Download to date. Rock ‘n’ roll on next year!

Latest Updates