Rage Against The Machine bring Friday to a thunderous close

Every so often the festival calendar seems to pull out a line-up that makes its owner the undisputed must-see event of the summer, and in 2008 that honour must surely go to Reading and Leeds. Not only is the usual glut of indie acts a particularly impressive one with the likes of The Killers, Bloc Party and Babyshambles all in attendance, but the double whammy of the recently reunited Rage Against The Machine and metal gods Metallica makes this an utterly unmissable year by anyone-s standards, of course excepting those who have severe music taste retardation.

Reading kicks off with a Friday bill that will eventually see one of the most insane festival crowds ever gather to witness the first UK Rage Against The Machine performance for eight years, and things get off to a suitably hectic start with Anti-Flag, who put on the first of two showings at the festival on the main stage. Their hardcore-infused American punk rock is in stark contrast to follow-up act Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., who enhances his live set with the presence of a backing trio of trumpeters. Crowd-pleaser 'Face In The Crowd' receives one of the larger singalongs of the day, and the sight of a few precious rays of sunshine breaking through the thick blanket of cloud goes hand in hand with the huge grins of those both on stage and in front of it.



Further clashes in style emerge as emo heroes Taking Back Sunday provide a rock-driven set that is at odds with the hip hop shenanigans of Dizzee Rascal, who is surely Reading's resident house rapper by now – and for good reason. Both attract impressive audiences and are largely well received, but the debut UK festival performance of one Serj Tankian is met with far more enthusiasm. Though the System Of A Down frontman does not receive anything near the level of hysteria that often greets the nu metal idols when in full collective force, it is clear that these punters have waited for far too long for the Armenian-American superstar to return to a festival stage, and his solo numbers are greeted with an impressive air of familiarity. Although is there really need for the top hat?

A quick jog over to the NME stage sees New York indie upstarts MGMT almost bring the tent down with some crowd-led choruses that are more irresistible than Megan Fox in a tub full of Lindor. True, their music is far from groundbreaking, but it has clearly struck a chord with the packed-out second stage, and few would bet against them appearing on the main stage in years to come.



Despite this, they will surely struggle to attain the kind of 'respected veteran' status that main stage sub-headliners Queens Of The Stone Age have happily anchored in for years now, and their set is a timely reminder of why they will always serve as a highlight on any festival bill. Polished, professional and effortlessly effective, their more recent songs are already beginning to sound like timeless classics, and while the crowd in front of Josh Homme and his merry men is evidently saving its energy for the evening's headliners, they are still treated like true rock heavyweights.

Then again, how any music act can be considered a heavyweight when compared to Rage Against The Machine is debatable at the very least, and the reunited Californian quartet provide one of the most jaw dropping scenes to have ever graced Berkshire.



As all four members appear on stage dressed as Guantánamo Bay prisoners moments before the Earth-shuddering intro to 'Bomb Track' arrives, the already hectic crowd becomes a seething throng of unbridled energy. Bodies begin flying all over the place as hit after hit is reeled out in effortless fashion, and whilst the band's interaction with the crowd is predictably restrained (save one inevitable political rant), the pure power running through the awesome foursome and the heaving swarm that was previously a collection of individuals is nothing short of immense.

'Know Your Enemy', 'Gorilla Radio', 'Sleep Now In The Fire' and 'Testify' are just a few of the tracks that stomp a hole further into the Rivermead soil, and by the time 'Killing In The Name' brings the night to a thunderous close in a flurry of 90's metal mania, it seems that Metallica's place on the bill is the only thing keeping the rest of the festival from being a write-off. Welcome back boys.

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