Sunday is Sabbath day at Download

It was a most glorious feeling come Sabbath day. Not only did the 'Sabbath' day actually mean we get to see Black Sabbath, but the holiest of holy days brought with it much missed sunshine. Emerging from the refreshingly novel hot tent syndrome, punters were in for all manner of treats for the final day. On the main stage – DevilDriver managed to warm up the slowly pinking bodies with all manner of audio assault. A little flat samey - but energetic nonetheless.

Sadly losing another founding member of its original classic line-up, but sounding just as epic- Kyuss Lives! had the light of the lord shining upon them. Blasting through 40 minutes of pure, uninterrupted, genius - Kyuss Lives! nailed it. Stoner rock institutions such as 'Gardinia', 'Thumb', and 'Supa Scoopa And The Mighty Scoop' rumbled through every mud clumped lump of Donington soil. Colossal bass and drums, with gorgeously wailing guitars and John Garcia's unmistakable vocal talent made for a true highlight of the weekend. The band left the stage without uttering one word to the sun baked masses in front of them. "Thank you very much." As Garcia exited the stage was all that was needed. Thank us? Thank You, John.

Festival staple Anthrax ticked all the boxes as always. Energetic, good fun and impressively tight. Joey Belladonna looked feral as he darted across the front pit barrier, stewards grabbing at him and his microphone as he pelts to the corners of the pit. An impressive set including everything you'd want to hear from Anthrax. You might have heard it all before, but today it proved nothing short of a perfect high energy burst of fun.

Black Label Society however, just failed to ignite. Taking an abnormally long time to finally emerge onstage, Zakk Wylde enters donning an Indian headdress. They don't sound band, but just a little samey. A great show for the hardcore down the front I'm sure, but even they must have been a little bored during the longest guitar solo which felt it was going on just too long. Hell – the biker looking Black Label fan stood in front of me even uttered the words “Bloody get on with it!” All in all not bad, but for the curious- just another hour of music in the good sunshine.

Over on the second stage, Shinedown throw their 40 minutes worth at Download. To a surprisingly massive audience, it's all a pretty standard affair. Throwback rock and roll with boring clichés to everything you'd expect out of a ‘safe rock' band. Dull.

Catching the end of Megadeth brought no unique stories to write home about either. A standard Megadeth performance with a crowd en masse which looked as if they didn't want to be there. Which is normally the thing with a Megadeth slot- most people are just getting a nice spot for the headliners. It's unfair to judge fully since I did only catch the final 15 minutes, but the ageing Dave Mustaine missed no opportunity for guitar solo self indulgence. "You've been great. We've been Megadeth. Goodnight!" Mustaine bellows as he always does, as they leave the stage.

Soundgarden emerged to 'Spoonman' instantly grabbing the audience's attention. It was a set which graciously spanned their deceptively massive back catalogue, delving right back to their first ever EP. Chris Cornell's vocals were both fantastically awesome and complete rubbish and he persisted to indulge himself in unnecessary warbles and extra filler. The rest of Soundgarden sounded fantastic though. Other standout moments had to include an impressively speedy run through of 'Jesus Christ Pose' and an eerily screeching 'Rusty Cage'. Soundgarden leave the stage to a wall of looping feedback from all stringed instruments. Not disappointing, but one couldn't help but feel that the grunge legends might have been better just leaving this reunion in our dreams.

But as the reason we've got up this morning, is the same reason we've showed up to this muddy hell hole, which is the same reason we've got the music we love, it's all for one band. Black Sabbath weren't just headlining Download this weekend- they were Download. Sabbath delivered on each and every song. A montage video of Sabbaths fine history warmed up the masses nicely before the curtain drops and they plough into the fantastically slow and colossal 'Black Sabbath'. Ozzy, Geezer, Toni, and Bill Ward Tommy Clufetos emerged to thousands of open arms and hearts. Sure fire hits such as 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs' and 'Fairies Wear Boots' rang out over Donington with the entire audience focused on these four gracious men.

It was the perfect way to end a solid weekend. To look back over the three headliners of this weekend, sums up where this festival has come from. The different (Prodigy), to the legend (Metallica), to the creator (you know who). Sabbath Sunday it was. Sabbath it always will be.

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