FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival 2019 – Friday
Ah, Download Festival, you wonderful, wonderful festival. Ever year, we make the pilgrimage to the hallowed grounds of Donington Park for three days of the best rock, metal, punk and everything in between and this year’s festival was no different. Despite the weather and the relentless tags of Drownload, 2019’s festival kicked off with a bang, featuring a host of iconic rockers and plenty of emerging talent. So, let our coverage begin.
LAST IN LINE – Main Stage
The supergroup LAST IN LINE, who have amongst their ranks musicians who have worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, BLACK SABBATH, Friday’s headliners DEF LEPPARD and more importantly DIO, which they all worked with. With two albums under their name, they primarily stick to their original material of classic rock and open Download Festival with a short and explosive set ending on the DIO classic Rainbow In The Dark which lead singer Andrew Freeman handles with aplomb.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Craig Huntley
SKID ROW – Zippo Encore Stage
The sight of former DRAGONFORCE singer ZP Theart fronting glam metal titans SKID ROW is still a novelty three years on, but you can’t deny it doesn’t work; he’s got the chops and the power to nail the likes of 18 and Life and Sweet Little Sister. The rest of the band are on decent form too, giving half an hour of solid hits that ends with a very raucous run through of Youth Gone Wild. The shadow of Sebastien Bach might loom forever, but they’re not going to let that affect them.
Rating: 7/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
KVELERTAK – Zippo Encore Stage
Starting the day off can be a difficult task when you’re two days deep into a festival before the tunes have even begun, so having a band like KVELERTAK on early is a stroke of genius. The Norwegian blackened rock n’ rollers bring as much party as they can muster for the eager Friday crowd. Frontman Ivar Nikolaisen makes a stab at the coolest moment of the weekend when he stubs a fag out on his wrist after commanding the crowd to sing him happy birthday, and whilst the set does lull quite heavily during 1985, KVELERTAK do an excellent job at injecting some vitality into the first musical day of the festival. Brune Brenn and KVELERTAK both prove why they are still a truly exciting breath of fresh air from a country stereotyped for its frostbitten sensibilities.
Rating: 7/10
Words: Eddie Sims
BLACKBERRY SMOKE – Main Stage
At this point on Friday we were all hoping BLACKBERRY SMOKE would have at least considered bringing some of their much-needed Georgian sunshine to the main stage at Download Festival. As disappointing as it was that they didn’t, their performance made up for every second of it. Hitting out some of their back-catalogue songs such as Waiting For The Thunder and Nobody Gives A Damn then leading into two massive covers of Come Together and When the Levee Breaks, the band delivered a set that answers why we’re all falling head over heels for these rockers.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Jessica Howkins
NOVA TWINS – The Dogtooth Stage
For NOVA TWINS, this is a Download Festival debut and it’s one they take with serious aplomb. The pair of Amy Love and Georgia South have mixed the heavy, raucous energy of punk and grunge with the urban sounds of grime and hip-hop that are more associated with their South London roots and it works impressively well. What also helps is they attack the stage with an abundance of swagger, attitude and charisma that makes for a memorable first performance; judging by the reactions to the set, it won’t be their last either.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
CLUTCH – Main Stage
It might be getting a bit old by now, hearing us bang on about it, but CLUTCH are good and damn near almost approaching legend status in the pantheon of heavy music. Whilst not even close to being their best showing, the band still navigated through some of most infectiously fun rock songs punters will hear all weekend. Book of Bad Decisions made up the majority of the set, with a large portion of the of the 11 songs coming from the new record, with a few landing as instant classics already. That said, coming off the back of a dud Hot Bottom Feeder, Electric Worry feels like CLUTCH are going through the motions ever so slightly, but kicking into X-Ray Vision means their set still ends on a smile inducing high.
Rating: 6/10
Words: Eddie Sims
CONJURER – The Dogtooth Stage
CONJURER are one of the most exciting bands in metal right now. And given that the capacity of The Dogtooth Stage is packed to the absolute brim, the crowd is quite literally spilling out of the tent, it’s fair to say that the hype surrounding the band is very real indeed. And boy did CONJURER not disappoint, providing a performance so gripping and equally devastating it’s surprising that the tent was still standing. Their musical maelstrom of sludge-tinged riffing from guitarits Dan Nightingale and Brady Deeprose are absolutely earth-shattering whilst bassist Conor Marshall will surely be wearing a neckbrace after relentlessly headbanging throughout their time on stage. Nightingale‘s leading bellows hold their own in the chaos, and when he doesn’t even use his mic and rather drives his fury with his solitary screams, it is utterly spine-tingling and one of the set’s most memorable moments. It’s a truly gripping set and the triumphant roar that greets the band as they conclude more than justifies why CONJURER are one of the hottest bands on the market right now.
Rating: 9/10
Words: James Weaver
WHITESNAKE – Main Stage
WHITESNAKE have been an unrelenting force to be reckoned with since their beginnings. They’ve had hit after hit, but their performance at Download Festival really proved just how iconic these rockers have really been to the multiple generations of fans they have. With Love Ain’t No Stranger, Here I Go Again, Give Me All Your Love, Is This Love and Still Of The Night being only a portion of the absolute hits pulled out by WHITESNAKE they did nothing but prove why they’ve been a staple in the music world for as long as they have.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Jessica Howkins
LOST SOCIETY – The Dogtooth Stage
Coming out of the gates flatter than a badger caught beneath a tractor thanks to a sound man incapable of turning the band’s guitars up, LOST SOCIETY eventually find their groovy guitars coming through the front of house some halfway through the first song. The thrash troupe do their best to play catch up and it’s lucky the crowd are seemingly gagging for their brand of breakneck riffing, because by the time Riot closes the set, The Dogtooth Stage is damp with moisture from the near relentless circle pit that envelopes their whole set. LOST SOCIETY definitely need the boost from new material, given the energy they throw into their newest offering No Absolution, but this set is more than enough soundtrack for the Friday afternoon party.
Rating: 7/10
Words: Eddie Sims
OPETH – Zippo Encore Stage
Their departure from their death metal roots may have annoyed some, but judging from the size of the crowd OPETH have gathered, it would appear most are happy by the sound shift. The addition of jazz and blues as a focus of the band means that now longtime set opener Sorceress still covers the audience in a hushed captivation before the Swedish legends take the Zippo Encore Stage through some choice cuts from their most memorable outings. The Drapery Falls is an easy set highlight, and despite the set length being a source of self deprecation for Mikael Åkerfeldt, this is a well paced performance that serves as an easy stand out of a busy Friday.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Eddie Sims
SLASH FT MYLES KENNEDY – Main Stage
After headlining with the massive GUNS N’ ROSES last year, you would be forgiven for thinking Slash and his merry band of men would pull out another set akin to that of last year. Alas, it’s not to be, Slash over the substantial back catalogue he has, sticks to that with a majestic World On Fire and Anastacia showcasing the axe wielding skill that we all know and love from the mop topped rock icon. With only one GUNS N’ ROSES hit in the set list, the Appetite For Destruction era Nightrain, which Myles Kennedy wields strongly but is clearly no Axl and shows that he as a solo artist he is only looking towards the future and less about the past.
Rating: 7/10
Words: Craig Huntley
REEL BIG FISH – The Avalanche Stage
Ska punk needs a revival. The warm reception that REEL BIG FISH get as they walk on stage is tangible, and the band deliver what is some of the most wholesome fun the whole weekend can offer. With early classics like Everything Sucks and Beer proving the true highlights, the need for a revival is more so founded from their passable-if-not-brilliant new material. In terms of just this performance, REEL BIG FISH prove to be an almost timeless band, and the packed out tent proves that the ska punk legends are just that, but fresh blood is needed to offer new tunes for what is clearly a keen audience. Anyone who was present for Take On Me will likely agree it was some of the most fun they had all weekend.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Eddie Sims
TWELVE FOOT NINJA – The Dogtooth Stage
You have to feel for TWELVE FOOT NINJA. They’ve flown all the way from their native Australia to be here and, thanks to some major sound issues, they take to the stage halfway through their allotted time and only get to play three songs. Frontman Nick Barker, known as Kin, is clearly livid with the situation, but he channels it all into the time they have and they very nearly blow the tent away with them. They’re not the only band to face issues like this, but they’re certainly the ones who make up for it.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
ROB ZOMBIE – Zippo Encore Stage
It’s a third Zippo Encore Stage headline slot for ROB ZOMBIE this evening and the master of all things spooky does exactly what is needed, namely 75 minutes of wall-to-wall bangers with one of the most visually impressive shows of the whole weekend. Even his band members are in on the act, with guitarist John 5 and bassist Piggy D changing their outfits nearly every song; the former even includes a rather nifty, flashing mouthguard. But nothing’s taking away from ZOMBIE himself tonight. Dropping Living Dead Girl just three songs in is testament to how many hits the man has produced over the years and by the time he’s got to Well, Everybody’s Fucking in a U.F.O and the now obligatory cover of Thunder Kiss ’65, there isn’t a soul in front of him who isn’t engrossed by the spectacle. “I’ve toured all over the world and this is still the muddiest place I ever play!” he shouts, before getting everyone to wave at the plane taking off from East Midlands airport and then levelling the place with a rip-roaring Dragula. To top it off, he has a new film coming later this year and the trailer aired during his set was greeted with loud cheers from all corners. It’s a shame he doesn’t tour here or make new music more often, but it means each show is a must-see event, and this one is no exception.
Rating: 9/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
DEF LEPPARD – Main Stage
DEF LEPPARD have been around since most of us can remember, either through booze or age. What we all know though is that Hysteria is the band’s greatest album of all time and at Download Festival we was treated to it in its entirety. The second Women kicked off, the Friday night became the most ultimate hair-rocking party there ever was, especially by the time the classic everyone loves Pour Some Sugar On Me rolled round and had everyone losing their minds. Love Bites had everyone serenading each other in the most romantic of ways, or the cheesiest, you choose which way that went for you. Armageddon It and title-track Hysteria forged the best nostalgic memories of why this album is one of the greatest in rock history. After the album was complete DEF LEPPARD didn’t stop there, with encores of Let It Go, When Love and Hate Collide, Let’s Get Rocked, Rock of Ages and Photograph it was a night to remember and one where we made the best fools of ourselves. We were hysterical for Hysteria and what DEF LEPPARD provided was everything we wanted in life, whether we thought it was or not.
Rating: 10/10
Words: Jessica Howkins
And that rounds off our coverage of day one at Download Festival 2019! Keep posted to Distorted Sound as we bring you our coverage of Saturday and Sunday’s action in the coming days!
