Download vs Sonsiphere

[sidthecat]

I saw this article yesterday - how can they even try to compare Sonsiphere with Download. DL has been around for years and has a rich heratige. Sonisphere seems like a corporate stunt to make money.

here is the article: http://######/kingsofrock

Long live Download.

[ruflying2]

i

Edited May 22, 2009 by ruflying2

[Bad Girl]

don't get me wrong, if i had the cash i'd well go to sonisphere.. great line up! but better than download? err, no.

[biffoire]

I saw this article yesterday - how can they even try to compare Sonsiphere with Download. DL has been around for years and has a rich heratige. Sonisphere seems like a corporate stunt to make money.

here is the article: http://######/kingsofrock

Long live Download.

Edited May 22, 2009 by biffoire

[she bangs the drums]

I saw this article yesterday - how can they even try to compare Sonsiphere with Download. DL has been around for years and has a rich heratige. Sonisphere seems like a corporate stunt to make money.

here is the article: http://######/kingsofrock

Long live Download.

[LethalLegacy]

In my opinion, Download 2009 is better than Sonisphere 2009. Simply because Sonisphere's line-up, for me, looks to similar to the Download of all - we've all seen these bands before at Download, and there's only a few bands in there (in my case: Heaven and Hell, The Sword, Airbourne, Mastodon) that I'd happily bring to Download and see again. The rest of the bands I've already seen a few times or are simply not holding my interested. Their Bohemia stage in particular raises a bit of a yawn from me.

After the slight disappointment that was Download 2008, this year they've really gone all out and have surprised a lot of people, myself included, with the choice of bands. You can't deny the genius in booking the likes of Faith No More, Limp Bizkit, Down, the classic rock Sunday with bands like Def Leppard, Whitesnake, ZZ Top, Dream Theater, Journey et al - its brilliant!

And there's a lot of strength across all the stages - Motley Crue, Prodigy and Trivium as second stage headliners. Meshuggah and Anvil headlining 3rd (I won't say too much about Go:Audio!). Add to that class acts like Duff McKagan's Loaded, The Answer, Voivod, Lawnmower Deth, Steel Panther, Sabbat (tbc of course), Volbeat, Karma To Burn - I could go on and on naming the bands I'm impressed with.

Download wins hands down this year, without question. But don't be too surprised to see Sonisphere improve.

At the end of the day, the real winner is the true fans of rock and metal in this country. With Bloodstock becoming ever more impressive, we're truly spoilt for choice!

[savestheday]

i

[irons]

It's all opinions thou surely. But as a neutral going to neither, I'd choose Download.

[sidthecat]

What an articulate and well informed view you have. All backed up with reason and insight ofcourse!

You might as well have put Download = gud - sonisphere = bad!

[kaosmark2]

Download is better generally. Sonisphere has NIN.

[Salt_On_Everything]

While Sonisphere definitely looks boss, there is numerous reasons i'd choose Download over it. the download line-up rules, i'll be going for a fourth time so i know the festival, its 3 days, etc, usual stuff...

Sonisphere just seems too much of a rip-off. 2 days and staggered timing on the stages, surely they can't even announce that many more bands if thats gonna be the case. and the 3rd stage is good but also decidely average, i hardly think it lives up to the 'quality not quantity' they prmoised i've applied to work at Sonispehere as some campsite steward ghoul, hope it comes through, but it just doesn't seem justifiable paying it. i would MUCH rather buy an easyjet flight, a shite hostel room, and a ticket for the Barcelona 1 day Sonisphere (its 80 euros!) the line-up is awesome and a night or two in barcelona could be done for the same price

its actually getting seriously tempting. just look at the f**king line-up.

edited: i mean, can you even IMAGINE watching those top 7 bands *in a row*?!?

Edited May 22, 2009 by Salt_On_Everything

[dan666]

Download is better generally. Sonisphere has NIN.

[t8yman]

I'm doing both, but if I had to choose one it would be DL, but thats only because of FNM. and the fact I am seeing nIN in manchester in july

Edited May 24, 2009 by t8yman

[kaosmark2]

I'm doing both, but if I had to choose one it would be DL, but thats only because of FNM. and the fact I am seeing nIN in manchester in july

[Px.]

Sonisphere for me too. A weekend full of bands me and the family can enjoy and with only 60.000 punters.

I think its great that Download with camping has sold out, boads well for them tempting some top bands to book up next year but too big for me to go with a young family, as yet.

Even picking a day ticket to go myself would be hard as my picks would be:

Slipknot -Sat

Korn -Fri

Trivium -Sat

Dragonforce -Sat

Dream Theatre-Sun

PapaRoach -Sun

Buckcherry -Sun

Hatebreed -Sat

Sylosis -Fri

So not only are the days well mixed, but looking at the line up at least three of the bands clash on Sunday!

Sonisphere = no clashes. Nice one

[Bad Girl]

I'm doing both, but if I had to choose one it would be DL, but thats only because of FNM. and the fact I am seeing nIN in manchester in july

[gard]

Just been having a look at the soni site and, although there are plenty of great bands playing I still have a lot of reservations about it... They seem to be getting very desperate to shift tickets, first the deposit scheme (ok not neccessarily a gimmick to shift tickets, a very good idea, but surely much have had something to do with the complaints about ticket prices), changing kids from concession rate to free, and more recently the dropping of booking fees and the offer of discount on guitar hero: Metallica when you get a ticket, all seem to me measures of trying to get tickets shifting as soon as possible... If ticket sales are that bad (I have no idea for one second how well these are selling) then is there the possibility of bands being dropped simply because they can't afford them nearer the time??

My main concern about Sonisphere this year is the amount of acts... not usually a problem, but we are talking about a 2 day fest here, a quote on the official site says: "as previously announced the outdoor stages will be running alternately to avoid scheduling clashes, meaning you will be able to see all 32 of the main stage bands." Thats a lot of bands...

One of the examples of the alternate stage set up that was used on the main site forums was for the Big Day Out in Australia, difference there is they only have 12 bands playing in a day, also at Soni we are looking at Metallica having a full 2 hour set compared to a 90 minute set at Big Day Out. Either bands further down the bill are going to have very very short sets or its starting at about 8 each morning!!

I don't know, maybe its just cos I'm bitter and can't afford to do both, but this year Download has my support 110%, great line up and I can't wait, plus its been going for a while now so you know you can trust it... I hope Sonisphere proves me wrong and goes on for years, but I don't think I will honestly believe it can work until its happened!

Rant over!

[biffoire]

I personally prefer the look of Sonisphere. There are about 6 acts I would watch at dl and sure most of those would clash with one another. Whereas Soni, there are 12 acts I would make an effort to see.

Ok, you might be at the festival less time but you will see more acts. Thats a winner in my book!

[LethalLegacy]

I'm not so sure Sonisphere have done so well with the day splits. Personally, as a metal fan, and as a Heaven and Hell fan, I'd be really pissed right now!

[oscar]

Must admit I am thinking of a Sunday ticket would watch ever band main and most of the second.Only half on Sat will have to look at funds or ways to make some.

[biffoire]

I'm not so sure Sonisphere have done so well with the day splits. Personally, as a metal fan, and as a Heaven and Hell fan, I'd be really pissed right now!

[Salt_On_Everything]

holy shit. Sunday looks just, well, amazing... the only bands i would really care about on the friday are Heaven & Hell, Fear Factory, and Anthrax, whereas on sunday i'd happily watch pretty much everything, except Avenged Sevenfold. a day ticket is kinda tempting. But the Barcelona Sonisphere still looks tempting too...

but still - i dunno how the f**k you can look at that line-up and think it justifies the same price as Download. thre's just, um, so many less bands...

Edited May 28, 2009 by Salt_On_Everything

[kaosmark2]

but still - i dunno how the f**k you can look at that line-up and think it justifies the same price as Download. thre's just, um, so many less bands...