FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Download Festival 2018 – Sunday

And so here we are, Distorted Sound‘s big preview of this year’s Download Festival draws to a close. This year’s festival is absolutely stacked with killer bands across the weekend and we have loved breaking down each stage and giving your our picks for those bands we want you to see. Here, we take a look to the last day of this year’s festival, so read on for our coverage of the Sunday for Download Festival 2018!

Main Stage

Closing Download Festival is a bittersweet affair. Everyone is wanting it to end with a bang, but not really wanting it to end at the same time. It only seems right that the perfect way to end the weekend is with one of heavy metal’s greatest titans, OZZY OSBOURNE. He will bring his unique voice that made many of us fall in love with rock and metal, alongside riffs for days in the form of classics such as Crazy Train. Getting the crowd warmed up for Sunday’s headline show is MARYLIN MANSON, the iconic vocalist will deliver some of his best hits alongside tracks off his latest record, Heaven Upside Down. Playing their highest spot at Download is SHINEDOWN, having just released their record ATTENTION ATTENTION, you’re guaranteed to be singing your heart out to some of their anthemic tracks. Another band that will get you belting your heart out is BLACK VEIL BRIDES who will be playing after the outrageously cool IN THIS MOMENT. Packing a punch and ferocity will be HATEBREED, the band always bring something filthy to their festival performances that get the crowd and pits really kick-started. CRADLE OF FILTH will bring their symphonic black metal sound to Donington on the back of their latest record Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay. First band of the day is INGLORIOUS, the hard rockers who are inspired by 70s bands such as DEEP PURPLE and BAD COMPANY will blast you back to the past and make you get your groove on. The last day of Download is always special, not only are you going home the next day having made some great new memories, but you’ve always witnessed some of the best talent, new and old. The excitement for the next year to come will stay with you for the next 12 months and with a Sunday like 2018, it’s gonna be leaving a mark for a long time to come.

Words: Jessica Howkins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnNWUUZ7cEA

Zippo Encore Stage

Whilst the main stage of Download Festival‘s last day is arguably pretty straightforward with their billing, Sunday’s Zippo Encore Stage is a mish-mash of bands that may differ in style, but all will surely bring sets of glistening quality. Headliner RISE AGAINST have been consistently solid across their career and landing the stage’s coveted headlining slot on the back of last year’s Wolves only bolsters their position in modern rock music whilst ALEXISONFIRE will make a rare but eagerly awaited appearance, surely their performance will be one to remember. Elsewhere, things get heavier as German thrash legends KREATOR will whip up a storm, MESHUGGAH‘s enormous progressive riffing will obliterate anyone standing in their path and BODY COUNT FT ICE T land a spot following a glowing reception to last year’s Bloodlust. That, and with American rockers THRICE or the bizarre on-stage antics from TURBONEGRO, it’s clear that there is plenty on offer to watch on Sunday’s Zippo Encore Stage!

Words: James Weaver

The Avalanche Stage

With Friday and Saturday’s Avalanche Stage billing showcasing some of the best new talent in the UK, Sunday’s lineup of Download Festival‘s third stage very much continues this trend as a number of breaking British bands are billed throughout the day. MILK TEETH enjoyed a wonderful breakout year last year, and the British rockers land a slot at this year’s Download Festival to much anticipation. Expect good vibes aplenty. Throw in the riffs from rising trio PUPPY, BLACK FOXXES, hotly tipped post hardcore crew DREAM STATE or the bizarre musical landscapes found with Jamie Lenman, it’s fair to say that the future of British rock music is in safe hands. Rounding off the Sunday for The Avalanche Stage is pop punk favourites LESS THAN JAKE and headliners THE HIVES, both will deploy anthems and recognisable tracks aplenty.

Words: James Weaver

The Dogtooth Stage

The last day of a festival can be a struggle. With two full days under festival goers’ belts, the last full day of music can be an audacious one. Hangovers and a lack of sleep will be in full swing and judging from the billing of The Dogtooth Stage, that the organisers of Download Festival aren’t in the mood for allowing any respite. Scattered across the stage, there’s a vast degree of talent on offer, from Mancunian alternative duo THE HYENA KILL to bluesy hard rockers ALL THEM WITCHES, riffs are going to dropped to great extent! Throw in the sweet melodies of SUN ARCANA and the hard rocking riffs from WAYWARD SONS, there’s plenty on offer on this stage’s final day. However, things really turn up a notch as the final three bands set to grace The Dogtooth Stage offer what could be one of the greatest endings to this year’s festival. Firstly, MYRKUR will bring a ethereal and haunting atmosphere with her chilling rendition of black metal, ZEAL & ARDOR‘s avant-garde and bluesy approach to black metal will be a thing of wonder and what better way to close a stage than with the sheer musical bliss of BARONESS? Talk about a way to end proceedings on The Dogtooth Stage right?

Words: James Weaver

And so there we have it! Distorted Sound’s big preview of this year’s Download Festival draws to a close! Check out our coverage for the Friday and Saturday here, and we will see you at Donnington!

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.