Download 2013 Review

Image: Giles Smith

With fans still riding a Black Sabbath-nostalgia wave after the band’s momentous performance at last year’s festival, the organisers of Download 2013 were tasked with filling big, heavy metal boots for this year’s event. Fortunately, having probed in-depth this year’s line up, it’s a challenge they seemed extremely capable of living up to. Headed by the mighty Iron Maiden, nu-metal kings Slipknot and German industrial metallers Rammstein, the line-up is a real powerhouse. And compared to last year’s festival, this year’s bill has its gems scattered throughout.

Uriah Heep get the ball rolling, and, satisfyingly, the sound is spot on. As the rain begins to pour at the close of their set, Papa Roach take to the main stage, but the spirit of the hard-rocking public seems far from dampened as the Californian four-piece plough their way through a set that is stupid-tight and full to the brim with horrendously catchy songs. After a short break it’s Korn, who continue the nu-metal theme. Just like their vocalist Jonathan Davies’ appearance, the band’s sound hasn’t aged a day and is as fresh and unique as ever.

Image: Giles Smith

To wrap Friday up, it’s Slipknot on the Main Stage and Black Stone Cherry on the Zippo stage, which actually provides a bit of a dilemma – both bands are great live. Deciding to catch half of each is the right move as Slipknot put on one hell of a show, literally bringing the crowd to its knees for a brutal version of ‘Spit it Out’, while Black Stone Cherry have their audience eating out of the palms of their hands with their sleazy rock song-ridden set.

On Saturday, carrying the wear and tear of Slipknot’s brutal performance from last night, it’s off to see Heaven’s Basement to break us gently into the day. Unfortunately, it all feels a little forced – a shame. After an extremely late breakfast it’s time for the highly anticipated Mastodon, and while all of the technical ability, laden with riffs, harmonies and disjointed time signatures is audible, the sound is a little off and the vocals fall way below par.

Alice in Chains lift the spirits with a set which is surprisingly full with singalong tracks, but Thunder turn out to be the real revelation, as their set is the perfect way to ease the way into an evening full of classic music. Next, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats hit the Pepsi Max tent, and with big stoner riffs and wailing vocals they are just what the doctor ordered. They’ve been described previously as like Black Sabbath fronted by John Lennon, and for us the description is bang on.

On the Zippo Stage, Jimmy Eat World take us back to 2001 with a host of, what are now, classic tracks from their breakthrough album, ‘Bleed American’ before Queens of the Stone Age do the same but with a healthy dose of new material thrown in for good measure, which live, stands up really well. After a break and a stop for burritos the masses are taken aback by the sound of a drone overhead, humming its way down from a low flying aircraft that seems uncomfortably close. Thankfully, and before panic sets in, it becomes obvious what is going on: Iron Maiden are in the house.

After the noise of the spitfire diminishes, the six-piece, led by operatic vocalist Bruce Dickinson, break into a set that whisks fans back to the band’s heyday. All of the classics are there and so is the band’s much-loved partner in crime, Eddie. It’s a rapturous show, but also one that leaves us asking why there aren’t bands of this prolific nature coming through today.

On to Sunday we roll, and whilst on the face of it today’s line-up feels a little sparse, there are some real heavy weights in town. Swedish rockers Graveyard start off the day with a little old school rock n roll and are quickly followed by Masters of Reality, who unfortunately don’t live up to the Sabbath-like status that they’re name suggests.

The fun really begins when Amon Amarth take to the stage, and it’s obvious that they are crowd favourites, as the Zippo Stage is heaving. Viking ships as drum-risers and rock chicks drinking out of horns bring a real festival vibe to the day, and it’s hugely welcome. A series of mundane performances follow before Australian AC/DC anoraks, Airbourne, show up to rock a tiring crowd, and boy, do they get the job done. Frontman Joel O’ Keeffe is relentless, working tirelessly to drag every ounce of excitement from the audience. They haven’t quite got the songs that their rock grandfathers have in the back catalogue, but they’ve certainly got the show, and they’ve got plenty of years on their side to catch up.

Image: Andrew Whitton

Fast forward to the headline slot; Why? It’s Rammstein, that’s why. 50-year old singer, Till Lindemann bursts onto the stage in a blaze of lights and fire wearing a pink furry coat that can only be described as something you might find a seedy backstreet store in Soho. The sound is notably louder and beautifully crisp as they work their way through songs like ‘Ich Will, Du Hast, and ‘Links 2, 3, 4’ in a fashion that can only be described as harrowingly cinematic – you’d be forgiven for having nightmares afterwards.

But, despite the seeming insanity, there is an undercurrent of beauty in what they do. A combination of the rich baritone vocals and the pairing of German electronica and Ministry-like industrial guitar sounds create a sense of a foreboding future, but an unrelentingly exciting one. As for the light show and pyrotechnics, that was just something else, along with a keyboard player, turn gimp who spends the entire evening either combatting a moving walkway or on his knees being mock-abused by the band. At times it’s quite unbelievable, but it is in Rammstein’s command of the unexpected that their live show trumps all, and crowns off a great weekend of music.