But nothing can compete with the fire, fury and precision conjured by second-stage headliners Slayer as they rip through 90 minutes of certified hymns to the dark side. Bringing Download to a wilfully obtuse close, Tool’s long-awaited return as headliners is as hypnotic (two new songs are on first listen, laudably trippy) and contrary (the main stage’s big screens have been turned off) as fans will have hoped. Earlier in the day, Swedish veterans Amon Amarth turn Download into a giant Viking piss-up and, after scoring a No 1 album in Germany recently, they are destined to be much higher up the bill next time – Twilight of the Thunder God is an absolutely fantastic heavy metal song. New songs All Out Life and Unsainted are greeted like classics and the size of the crowd alone confirms that they are anointed kings of the Donington turf.Īs diverse as it is, Sunday at Download is Slayer day, as the thrash legends play what is supposedly their final UK show. It’s the fourth time the Iowans have headlined at Download, but they’ve never sounded more pissed-off or antisocial. In truth, the whole day is really just one big buildup towards Slipknot’s set. Corey Taylor of Slipknot on stage at Download. Let’s Get Rocked is still horrid, however.Īnointed kings of the Donington turf. Playing the all-conquering Hysteria in its entirety, they sound immaculate and vastly more engaged and spirited than they did last time they topped the bill here in 2011. Fortunately, there’s no disputing Def Leppard’s headlining prowess.
A perfunctory canter through Guns N’ Roses’ Nightrain aside, it’s a struggle to pick out a memorable tune or genuinely dynamic moment. Much less diverting is Slash, whose solo material is phenomenally dull. “The sun’s out!” bellows the Cov, beaming from ear to ear and looking like some fabulously wealthy LA grandma. David Coverdale is still lascivious charm personified as Whitesnake thunder through the hits and a couple of sparky new songs. They are also far funkier than they look: even without the studio version’s blaring horns, In Walks Barbarella turns previously raucous mosh pits into a mud-caked episode of Soul Train, much to hirsute frontman Neil Fallon’s delight. Practically unknown outside left-field rock circles, the Maryland quartet have steadily become one of the great rock’n’roll bands of the modern age. You can see it in the riotous response that Clutch receive on the main stage on Friday.
Despite invariably being plagued by hideous weather, this year, enthusiasm for three days of big riffs and shouting appears to be at an all-time high. A ll those joyless souls lamenting the death of rock really should give Download a try.
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