FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Download Festival 2018 – Friday

Download Festival. The Goliath of the UK rock festival circuit returns for another stellar year. With a absolutely stacked lineup across four stages, deciding on who to watch at this year’s festival is quite a tough choice. Here, across three previews, three of Distorted Sound‘s Editorial Team break down the lineup of this year’s festival, telling you the bands we reckon you should definitely check out. Today, we take a look at the first full day of music at Download Festival 2018; the Friday! From main stage headliners AVENGED SEVENFOLD and returning Download favourites BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE to rising stars like EMPLOYED TO SERVE and MARMOZETS, we’ve more than got you covered! So, sit back and enjoy Distorted Sound‘s preview to the Friday at Download Festival 2018!

Main Stage

There may have been question marks surrounding AVENGED SEVENFOLD‘s ability to headline Download Festival back in 2014, but four years later, their status as a credible Download headliner is that much stronger. Their popularity has spiked in the years since, and the evolving nature of 2016’s The Stage is adding fuel to the fire of belief that the band are certainly one of the biggest players in modern rock music. And as such, their headlining performance on the Main Stage at this year’s Download Festival should be so much more than a statement of intent, rather one that solidifies the band’s place on top of the pile. Expect a massive stage production, plenty of pyrotechnics and a whole arsenal of massive cuts. Elsewhere, festival staples BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE return to Download with their new album Gravity on the horizon and Danish rockers VOLBEAT will more than keep festival goers’ spirits high and happy. Throw in one of the UK’s hottest new properties in MARMOZETS, the ridiculous and whacky sonics of DRAGONFORCE and AVATAR as well as rising UK pop punk rockers BOSTON MANOR, and you have one mighty strong billing on Friday’s Main Stage!

Words: James Weaver

Zippo Encore Stage

The Zippo Encore Stage always throw out some of the finest bands that are climbing the ranks to be the next top dogs. Returning to Download Festival to the same headline spot they played in 2012 is rocks much-loved YOU ME AT SIX with post-hardcore HELL IS FOR HEROES getting things well and truly kicked off. Jonathan Davis will be performing his debut solo album Black Labyrinth after party icon ANDREW W.K. has taken to the stage to deliver a wild time. CKY will be performing on the back of their 2017 release The Phoenix, with NOTHING MORE sparking up the energy for the day even more. Metalcore mob MISS MAY I will be throwing out crushing riffs and helping the first band on stage, CULTURE ABUSE, get people in the spirit for the rest of the day. It’s fair to say with a line-up like that, these are the party starters for the weekend.

Words: Jessica Howkins

The Avalanche Stage 

Following it’s success last year, The Avalanche Stage for 2018’s edition of Download Festival is back for another year jam-packed full of bands set to ignite the stage full of riffs. The Friday in particular is one that boasts some serious firepower as punk icons BAD RELIGION take the coveted headlining slot whilst THE BRONX will surely get the party going in full spirits. Elsewhere STICK TO YOUR GUNS will provide soaring choruses aplenty with their brand of melodic hardcore, STRAY FROM THE PATH arrive at Download Festival on the back of last year’s phenomenal Only Death Is Real so expect plenty of new cuts, CANCER BATS will pummel those in attendance with buckets of killer riffs, EMPLOYED TO SERVE will continue to bolster their already stellar reputation and DED will keep the hardcore vibe flowing effortlessly. The only eyebrow raising choice on stage with such aggression is WOES, but then with such a chaotic billing, you’ll need something to ease you in right?

Words: James Weaver

The Dogtooth Stage

The smallest of Download Festival‘s stages, The Dogtooth Stage boasts a plethora of bands that vary distinctively in style. Friday’s billing in particular is one that proudly boasts this as the bands hitting the intimate stage all contrast in their sonic delivery but there are a handful that definitely warrant your attention. Headliners TESSERACT arrive to Donnington on the back of the sensational Sonder and will amaze crowds with their brand of progressive metal. Expect riffs to bounce and swirl from delicate melodies to crushing poly-rhythms. It will be an elaborate and jaw-dropping experience. TESSERACT may boast a varied pallet of musical characteristics but NAPALM DEATH is a much more straightforward affair. With a gargantuan career spanning over three decades and an astonishing 15 studio records to boot, the British grindcore pioneers take to the stage at Download Festival in good knowledge that they will raise hell indeed. The Friday on The Dogtooth Stage boats some of the most exciting new names in heavy music. From noise bringers HELPLESS to Liverpudlian hardcore mob LOATHE, expect these new-blooded bands to make a real statement of intent. That, and with the thrashing riffs of SAVAGE MESSIAH, the delightful charms of CELLAR DARLING, the no-nonsense breakdowns from EMMURE or the bizarre soundscapes of IGORRR, you’d be a fool to avoid this stage on the Friday at this year’s festival.

Words: James Weaver

And there’s our lowdown for the first day of music at Download Festival 2018! Keep an eye on Distorted Sound as we bring your our preview for the Saturday and Sunday of this year’s festival!

Download Festival takes place on 8-10 June 2018 at Donington Park. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.

For more information on the festival like their official page on Facebook.