Download

[DAN]

Headliners:

Lost prophets
Offspring
'A Major Act' rumoured to be Kiss.

Priest are playing but not headling!!!

[Nik]

....perhaps Priest are headlining a lower stage? Preferably clashing with lost prophets

Although realistically they're probably second headliners. Which is somewhat of a pisstake really

Do you know if they're just doing festivals or if there will be a nostradamus (close enough!) arena tour? They were somewhat blinding at Birmingham on the 'comeback' tour.

[DAN]

There was talk of 'theatrical performances' of Noastradamus so I assume there will be an arena tour.

Can't see them doing anything other than the greatest hits at Download.

[Fat Reg]

Kiss are confirmed now. The Offspring and Lostprophets are the other headliners. Priest, Motorhead, HIM and Rise Against also confirmed.

[Nik]

....the absence of both rage and metallica boads well for reading i think

...when is the announcment anyway?

[T8]

WOOO im back!!! ive just realised ive been gone for far to long!!!

[Catfood]

The announcement will probably be when the tickets go on sale, I'm guessing around April time.

[Nik]

Incubus, Coheed & Cambria, Alter bridge, Disturbed, In flames and Children of Bodom announced.

Pretty good I think, In flames were great at BOA last year

[DAN]

I'm quite tempted by Donington but not sure it's a goer this year 'cos a couple of days later I'll be flying out to tour the states with me band.

Yup, showing off again.

[T8]

There are sure to be some top bands at Download this year and Reading does look like its going to be abit heavier than just "inde" bands all the time if the rumours of AS,Metallica and RATM are true

[DAN]

Just got back from Download, just went for the Friday & I can't remember the last festival where I saw so many top bands.

First up was a coupla songs of Black Tide who seem pretty promising in an old school kinda way.

A coupla dreary efforts from the Stone Gods (sack the frontman he's an embarrassment).

Then met up with the fat lad & the afternoon really took off...

Firewind, awesome Greek power metal.

Then since Kid Rock was sick we ended up catching the whole of Fall of Troy who were something of a revelation. Very entertaining mix of punk, hardcore, prog & god knows what else.

Motorhead, High on Fire & Priest were all there usual brilliant selves & then much to my surprise Kiss played an absolute blinder.

I had taken a book to read during what I expected to be considerable downtime but I think we spent pretty well the entire day watching top quality stuff.

Just as a fessie should be, a few quality bankers & the chance to see some new stuff that maybe you wouldn't bother to catch elsewhere.

Good weather too.

[DaveyC]

Good stuff. Liking the Black Tide album, shame Stone Gods were a let down. Roll on Reading in ooo 10 weeks now.

[Nik]

Just got back from Download myself (i'm poor - odd for a student (well, graduate now I guess) i know - so i worked as part of the litter crew, from Tuesday 10th till Wednesday 18th.)

May write up the week at some point, but for now -

Friday

Stone Gods - ...sorry Dan but I actually quite enjoyed this. May have just been relief not to be working though

Black Dahlia murder - pretty fucking cool in a , holy shit...metal! manner.

Disturbed - Utterly awful. Watched their set from the top of the hill. Could still hear unfortunatly.

Missed Motorhead because I am an arse

Judas Priest - When it was good it was blinding...but when it was bad it was bloody terrible. Nowhere near as good as i expected, but the good moments made it for it overall

Kiss - I went to have a laugh and ended up a Kiss fan. Reckon I can sue? This was genuinly stunning.

Saturday

...I was very, very, very pissed this day so my opinions may be shite

Sign - Fucking terrible. Don't want to think about them any more

Skindred - Fucking amazing. Only downside was the stupidly short 30 minute set

36 crazyfists - Not great, but good enough to pass the time

Ace Frehley - It's a bit like a flashback to last night with the song choices...but it's quality none the less. At the time I remember thinking it was better than Kiss... but then again I was rather out of it

Saxon - For reasons unknown I watched this from sat outside the tent, only occasionaly running in for the odd song. Even though I reckonised pretty much every song...and they were playing amazingly well...and the crowd was super responsive... .... .... fucking booze...

Testament - Thrash at Download? Madness! Awe inspiring, seriously jaw on the floor stuff. I may have damaged my neck

Sunday

Municiple waste - ...will fuck you up. And did. 'twas great

Black stone cherry - Didn't really pay much attention, at top of hill. Sounded alright though

Apocalyptica - Down to the front for a great set, been a few years since I last saw 'em and they still startle and amaze

Within temptation - back to the hill...but this was oddly (and quite worringly) pretty good

In Flames - Back down the front for an expectation fulfilling blinding (another one of those) set. Maybe my standards are too low.

Voddoo six - Really, really, really....great. Short set, but yeah, was good stuff

The Wildhearts - Arguably the band of the festival. Amazing singalong every word songs, endlessly entertaining rants from the ginger man (although he looks oddly young cleanshaven and short haired) and some bottle throwing fun. Power got pulled during their final song

Children of bodom - alright in a not particularly spectacular way. Filled the time. Did do a Journey cover though...was a bit unexpected

Cavalera conspiracy - Immense. All there is to say really.

...so yeah, an unexpectadly decent band packed weekend, plus plently of fun cleaning up the piss, shit, used condoms and bloody tampons the scummy kid punters left behind. So win-win then

[Fat Reg]

Agreed - the Friday at Download was the best single day I can recall at a festival. Ditto for all the bands I saw with Dan, especially Kiss. Hell, I might even get off me arse and do a proper review with pics and everything, though being a cretin I picked up my iPod by mistake, so had to take pics on my phone. Will try and be a little more on the ball for Reading (though expect lots of pics from inside various pubs...).

[DAN]

...and the restaurants, don't forget the restaurants.

Looks like we are going one last time for the Fat blokes 25th.

Think I'll pop in to see Serj if the sun is shining but otherwise it's pubs & restaurants for me.

Actually I may go in to see Metallica but only because I was reading their rider on 'the smoking gun' last night & they specifically ask for tea...PG Tips. Anyone who appreciates the importance of a pyramid bag gets my support.