With Download 2019 almost upon us, who should you be watching out for at Donnington? Here are a few suggestions to get you started, some obvious, some not so…
Friday
With the mainstage taking on a decidedly classic rock vibe on the Friday, an early highlight is Blackberry Smoke. Signed to Earache, the band arguably refined their winning brand of southern rock with 2012’s The Whippoorwill, whilst tours with renowned acts such as ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd shows the respect with which the band is held. Currently supporting 2018’s well-received find a light, Blackberry Smoke will bring some laid-back grooves to the main stage on Friday at 2.55pm.
For those who are after something with a little more attitude, heading over to the Dogtooth stage at 4.00pm will find Conjurer summoning the darkness. Following on from a superlative set at HRH’s Doom Vs Stoner and a recent stint in the US, Conjurer are uncompromising, fiercely heavy and every bit as good as their press coverage might suggest. No hyperbole here, just great music – Conjurer are heading places fast.
What is there that is left to be said about the fiercely independent Opeth (Zippo Encore at 6.15pm)? A band who have made a career out of following their muse; Opeth’s recent live album, garden of titans, captured them in full flow on the Sorceress tour and, with a new album in the offing, there will be much for long-time fans and newcomers alike. Not a band you’d typically think of in a festival environment, previous stints at Donwload have seen Opeth pull out all the stops to ensnare the attention, and they are likely to provide an enigmatic highlight on the Friday.
Although the main stage may be playing host to Def Leppard and their leather-trousered ilk, the best place to be will be the Zippo Encore Stage (at 8.55pm) for Rob Zombie, whose live show remains a remarkable example of Grand Guignol mastery. With unstoppable tracks such as Dragula, Living Dead Girl and Superbeast on the cards, we can also hope for some White Zombie classics in the mix but, regardless of set list, there’s no denying the horror-carnival atmosphere of a Zombie show. Better still, it leaves time to leg it to the Dogtooth stage for…
At the gates, who will be unleashing their brand of melodic death metal at 10.10pm. A legendary force in metal, At The Gates’ unexpected return brought forth the amazing at war with reality and, more recently, the equally-impressive to drink form the night itself, and there’s no question that, for those thirsting for yet more blazing metal, ATG will deliver.
Saturday
Unfeasibly heavy, Power trip (main stage at 1.10pm) are set to bring their raw-toothed death metal to Donnington and the unwary had best watch out. In nightmare logic, the band have crafted a devastatingly brutal call-to-arms that will see the field heaving with bodies. Unyielding and yet surprisingly groovy with it, Power Trip have earned their main stage slot with sheer, bloody-minded dedication to their cause, and will leave no head un-banged.
Polish metal monsters Behemoth (main stage at 2.20) are taking to the mainstage at the unfeasibly early hour of 2.20pm. Nonetheless, whilst these veterans undoubtedly operate most effectively during the hours of darkness, there is no denying the hypnotic force of the material from their latest opus, I loved you at your darkest. A band who have proved increasingly ambitious over the years, Behemoth are arguably at the peak of their powers, and their show promises to be a highlight of the day.
Let’s face it, there are few party bands as able to set the entire crowd off as Skindred (main stage, 3:35). With recent album Big Tings a perfectly-polished example of the band’s craft, Skindred guarantee a good time for all, inclusivity being a watchword of motor-mouth frontman Benji, and it is likely that the band’s set will pass in the blink of an eye, with only the aftershock of the giant mosh pit they are sure to conjure providing evidence of their visit.
Another band to have reformed to considerable acclaim, Carcass (who hit the Dogtooth stage at 7.40pm) may not have released any new material since 2013’s stunning Surgical Steel, but they remain a brilliantly irascible presence at any festival, and they’ll be unleashing their dense, death metal to what promises to be a packed tent.
Tragedy, turmoil, inter-band feuding… Slipknot have not had an easy run of it in the last twelve months, so this headline slot is bound to be an emotional, even cathartic show for band and audience alike. Slipknot have done well to make Castle Donnington their spiritual stomping ground and, for the fans, it is very much a case that the band are returning home once more. Slipknot have not once disappointed with their three headline performances to date, and it seems likely that 2019 will be no different. With a new album in the offing, this will be a chance to check out the new material first hand, as well as to check out a number of old classics, with tracks from All hope is gone (which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary) liable to be peppered across the set. Kicking off at 9.10, this is not a headline slot to miss.
Sunday
For those who are able to get themselves into the arena early, a treat awaits on the dogtooth stage (at 1.30pm) as Aaron Buchanan is set to get the day off to a flying start. With a re-release (via Listenable) of The Man with stars on his knees furthering the acclaim already lavished on that album, Aaron’s multi-faceted take on rock draws on a wide variety of influences from heavy rock to alternative with frequently astonishing results. Be sure not to miss his set.
Make no mistake, Heart of a coward (who play the Avalanche stage at 2.00pm) are one of the best UK bands currently doing the rounds. With new singer Kaan Tasan (chosen from over 200 applications) firmly in place and a blistering new album that deserves every accolade that can be thrown at it, Heart of a Coward are a viscerally powerful, endlessly exciting band and they are essential viewing at this year’s Download.
Something of a wild card on the ever-varied Dogtooth stage, French band Alcest (4.50pm) are a highly recommended live experience for sonic adventurers. A mesmerising experience on record, the band’s music has the ability to transcend the boundaries of the everyday and draw the listener into a realm of the imagination, the volume of a festival stage only adding to the band’s ability to drown out mundanity. An experience well worth undertaking, Alcest could well be the live highlight of the festival for the uninitiated.
Pretty-much unmissable, Anthrax are a straight-up party band. The most fun of the ‘big four’, the band remain energised by their reunion with Joey Belladonna and their most recent two albums – worship music and For all kings – have rightly been praised for their fire and focus. A relentless ball of energy, Anthrax in 2019 are as vital as they’ve ever been and will undoubtedly light up the Zippo Encore Stage at 5.35pm
The partially reunited Smashing Pumpkins are, by all accounts, on a form not seen since the behemoth Mellon Collie tours and, certainly, recent album oh so shiny and oh so bright is a thing of wonder that feels like a gift for long-term fans. How long this current line-up will remain stable is, of course, open to question but, with the Pumpkins renowned for putting on blistering festival sets, it’s likely to be an explosive and emotional show. They hit the main stage at 7.10pm
The final show in the UK (somewhat surprisingly announced after the final tour), there’s a tough choice to be made as Slayer kick off at 8.45 on the Zippo Encore stage, a scant half hour before Tool. That said, fans of both bands tend to be so fiercely loyal, that it is likely to be the case of either one or the other in most cases. Rightly regarded as legends, Slayer have been one of the most thrilling consistent thrash acts (even among the so-called ‘big four’) and it’s hard to believe that this is the end although, in Repentless, they are bowing out on a high. Expect an emotional farewell to one of metal’s most beloved institutions… it’s just a shame about the clash.
Back after a ten year absence, Tool are a divisive band who are either fiercely loved or fiercely loathed. Their intense, progressive art-metal is certainly a challenging listen that does not elicit ambivalence, but for many, the band’s headline slot is the musical event of the decade. With a new album finally looking set to emerge, reports from Tool’s tour suggest that the band are more than meeting the remarkable levels of anticipation that their return to action has generated, and they are set to close the festival on a gargantuan high.
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