FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival 2019 – Saturday
Our coverage of Download Festival 2019 continues! Having shaken off our hangover from Friday‘s mammoth day of hard rocking action, day two of Download promised to not pull it’s punches with each of the day’s stages populated with a wealth of talent. So, let our coverage of Download Festival 2019 continue with our roundup of Saturday’s action!
ALIEN WEAPONRY – Main Stage
Opening the main stage festival in any capacity is an audacious task, but for ALIEN WEAPONRY, the stakes are even higher. The young thrashers from New Zealand have taken the metal world by storm and with the wind high in their collective sails, they arrive to Download with a statement of intent. And what a statement they made. The trio absolutely smashed the Main Stage to pieces with their blend of thrash and groove metal. Their Maori heritage bleeds into their sound with lead vocalist/guitarist Lewis de Jong and drummer Henry de Jong often utilising their native tongue into their sound and it feels as authentic as it does devastating. Ru Ana Te Whenua quite literally sends shivers down our spines. The tone of their heavy riffs, feeling akin to SEPULTURA, obliterate those in attendance, and the sheer confidence displayed by the band is staggering, especially given their young age. Mark our words, this will be not be the last we’ve heard of ALIEN WEAPONRY.
Rating: 9/10
Words: James Weaver
BAD WOLVES – Zippo Encore Stage
It would be fair to say that the large attendance for BAD WOLVES so early on Saturday morning is for one reason alone, but the Americans have some serious firepower in their arsenal even if it’s limited to a single full-length album. No Masters and Better the Devil go down very well with the punters, but their truly awesome cover of Zombie provides not only one of the biggest sing-a-longs of the whole weekend, but also a wave of emotion and poignancy that spreads through everyone with haste. Job very much done.
Rating: 7/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
ROYAL REPUBLIC – Main Stage
If you want a band who are constantly pushing the boundaries of rock music, ROYAL REPUBLIC are your boys. The Swedes have combined it with disco, funk and soul on their latest album Club Majesty and as the sun shines across Donington, it’s the likes of Fireman & Dancer and the new-wave coolness of Anna-Leigh that hit the spot perfectly. More surprising yet no less brilliant is their thumping cover of METALLICA’s Battery and a promise that if they get invited back they’ll attempt Hammer Smashed Face by CANNIBAL CORPSE. That’s one worth keeping.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
POWER TRIP – Main Stage
It seems to be a running theme in this review about hotly tipped talent and that theme certainly carries on with POWER TRIP. The Texas-based thrashers smashed down the proverbial gate with Nightmare Logic and greeted by a enormous, and equally enthusiastic, crowd on Download Festival‘s Main Stage, the band lived up to their now lofty expectations. Opening with the one-two punch of Soul Sacrifice and Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe) is a sure fire way to incite chaos and that it did, as the band proceeded to maintain the frenzy throughout their set. As tight as the band were, it was with Riley Gale who stole the show thanks to his buckets of enthusiasm to prowl the stage and a charisma that just oozed with class. It may have been early in the day, but as the dust settled, it’s fair to say that everyone packed in front of the Main Stage have been given one hell of a wake up call.
Rating: 8/10
Words: James Weaver
ANIMALS AS LEADERS – Zippo Encore Stage
Instrumental prog metal band ANIMALS AS LEADERS are one of those “You’ve gotta see it to believe it” acts. They’re a tour de force of musicianship and flamboyancy – gelled together by riff master Tosin Abasi. A three piece band with no bass player may sound like an odd concept, but these djent aficionado’s slickly slide their way through a five song set. There’s a purposeful lack of crowd communication here – this is one of the few sets of the weekend where you’re best served to just stand and watch. The twisting guitar lines of Ectogenesis gets punters rightfully looking on in awe, while the rhythmic turntable that is The Woven Web sees drummer Matt Garstka slam through his fills like some form of pre-programmed android. It’s a five song djent marathon that the audience gleefully eat up, and if you were hoping to find musical wizardry this weekend – this is where your needs would be most catered for.
Rating: 9/10
Words: Kris Pugh
BEHEMOTH – Main Stage
Whilst there’s no doubt that Download celebrates all things rock and metal, extreme metal hasn’t had much time to shine on the festival’s biggest stage over the years. That said, with Polish juggernauts BEHEMOTH in town, the challenge to bring metal’s most extreme style to the biggest of crowds is in very safe hands. And boy oh boy, do Nergal and company give one hell of a sales pitch for the heaviest of metal. Armed with a plethora of pyro and an arsenal of Satanic hymns, BEHEMOTH gave such an emphatic and devilishly wicked performance. From the crooning but sinister melodies of Bartzabel, the pummelling riffing of Ov Fire and the Void or the emphatic performance of Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel, BEHEMOTH more than proved that extreme metal can belong on the biggest of stages.
Rating: 9/10
Words: James Weaver
LOVEBITES – The Dogtooth Stage
To the critics and the elitists, it would be easy to pass off LOVEBITES as an all-female, Japanese attempt at IRON MAIDEN, but not only is The Dogtooth Stage absolutely rammed for them but they prove they’re far, far more than that. Tight as a nut and with serious fire in their bellies, the five women thunder through their set with utter conviction and Rising from latest record Clockwork Immortality is an anthem in the making. Watch this space, because these girls are about to get massive in a short space of time.
Rating: 9/10
Words: Elliot Leaver
SKINDRED – Main Stage
If you think about it, SKINDRED are one of the most reliable bands in alternative music. The stage presence of frontman Benji Webb alone almost guarantees a good time. Add this to the band’s classic reggae metal sound, and you have an instant, guaranteed recipe for success every time. To no one’s surprise, the Welshmen put in one of the most energetic sets of the weekend. Webb plays his role of crowd puppet master to perfection, able to squeeze laughs out between songs, and seemingly coming up with new crowd chants on the fly. SKINDRED are much more than just a barrel of laughs and some chants though. Tracks like Rat Race, Warning and Nobody pulsate energy through the crowd at fever pitch, and the shirt swinging opening to Warning in particular should be on everyone’s bucket list to experience at least once. The quartet proved yet again why they’re one of the most adorned propositions in alternative music.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Kris Pugh
TRIVIUM – Main Stage
It’s no secret that TRIVIUM have a special relationship with Download. The band made their breakthrough at 2005’s festival, something that Matt Heafy is keen to address in their resounding performance on the Main Stage. The band have grown considerably in the years since 05, and the strength of their back catalogue shows as they display a tight and emphatic performance. Opener The Sin and The Sentence sets a fitting tone for proceedings, Until The World Goes Cold demonstrates the more melodic-leaning edge to their sound with some lovely vocal melodies but it is with their older material that steals the show. Like Light To The Flies is an absolute world beater in its own right but nothing compares to the sheer mayhem when the band drop Pull Harder On The Strings of Your Martyr. It’s a moment that will be long remembered by the Download faithful, demonstrating the sheer adoration for TRIVIUM.
Rating: 8/10
Words: James Weaver
INTERVALS – The Dogtooth Stage
By this point of the weekend, punters are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to bands. With TRIVIUM decimating the Main Stage, INTERVALS offered a more cerebral musical experience on The Dogtooth Stage as the instrumental four piece displayed a clinic in technical ability. INTERVALS fair better than most in delivering interesting lead lines that fit within digestible song structure, but there seemed to be a bit of a hollow sound in The Dogtooth Stage that really prevented the set from truly taking off. This said, the light show benefited the band no end, and the clear musical joy that emanated from every member was enough to fill the tent with a positively delightful energy that carried the set to reach the heights it does.
Rating: 7/10
Words: Eddie Sims
BATUSHKA – The Dogtooth Stage
After all the controversy that BATUSHKA have been facing as of late, their performance at Download should have been a platform for the black metallers to make their stand and gain the support of their watchers. Unfortunately this was not the case, most fans were left leaving the performance shortly after the band took to the stage, and bottles were thrown towards the stage in frustration. In hindsight BATUSHKA didn’t perform poorly but when given a 45-minute set at a festival where you’re the only black metal band playing, you should use it to capitalise and show people your sound. Disappointingly what was offered was a late arrival to the stage, a three song set-list and the rest being a ritual of lighting candles. People who are educated in the band and their stage performances know that rituals are a main part of their setting, but it should have been on a quicker turnaround to 30-minutes and more music should have been played as the atmosphere was being lost at a rapid speed. This isn’t to say they should throw out their ritualistic performances but more so keep the lengthy proceedings to their main shows where they have more time. The songs BATUSHKA did play however were strong and well executed but sadly were not what people took away from the stage.
Rating: 4/10
Words: Jessica Howkins
DIE ANTWOORD – Main Stage
Musically speaking, this year’s variety act DIE ANTWOORD have as few ties to rock/metal as you could imagine. Despite this there’s a level of gravitas towards the duo that can’t be ignored. The South Africans pull in a swarm of bass hungry enthusiasts to the main stage for their sub headline set. Even as a variety act though, the duo fail to put in a performance that justifies their position on the bill. And outside of some twerking, the occasional heavy bass drop, and nod to “we’re as surprised we’re on this stage as you are” by rapper Ninja, not a lot goes on here. It’s natural to roll the dice when you’re putting together a festival as large as Download, but even when you consider the crowd size – you’d be stretched to refer to this DIE ANTWOORD set as a success.
Rating: 5/10
Words: Kris Pugh
CARCASS – The Dogtooth Stage
Coming off the back of a bit of a dud with BATUSHKA, it seems rather fitting that four humble lads prove no frills are necessary to level an entire crowd, and raze a tent. Coming onto the opening sounds of their excellent Surgical Steel album, the following set is an eclectic mix from one of this country’s finest ever extreme metal exports. Unfit For Human Consumption bounces along its’ triplet riff with such energy that it’s impossible not to head bang along, and when the band decide to throw out some of their grinding classic cuts, the quality of musicianship is crystal clear. The pacing is undeniable, with not a single dull moment throughout the set helping give the 45 minutes a frantic energy from start to finish. Bill Steer and Jeff Walker are as vital as ever on stage, and the reception the legends receive is proof that extreme music has just as a big a claim to Download Festival as any other alternative genre.
Rating: 9/10
Words: Eddie Sims
SLIPKNOT – Main Stage
SLIPKNOT take to the headline slot on a regular basis at Download with Saturday proving why they are asked to come back time and time again. Taking to the stage and kicking off with the ferocious People = Shit they had the audience of Download in the palm of their hand from the off. As the evening proceeded the amount of energy from SLIPKNOT only gained in size, and despite all the things that have been thrown at this band as of late, it’s inspiring to see members bounce back and up their game even after being in it for so long. Clown‘s flaming baseball bat was certainly a highlight for the band’s performance as he went from utterly terrifying to wanting to go home and hide under the duvet for the rest of your life. From the classic’s of The Heretic Anthem, Before I Forget, Spit It Out to their newer songs Unsainted and All Out Life, SLIPKNOT delivered their very best. This is a band that despite any push backs they just carry on and let it strengthen them, this year at Download proved that. Possibly the best time the band have performed at the festival, we are only left wanting them booked every single year!
Rating: 10/10
Words: Jessica Howkins
And that closes up our coverage of the Saturday of Download Festival 2019! Check out our round of up Friday’s action and keep posted to Distorted Sound as we bring you our Sunday review in the coming days!
