Showing posts with label Rammstein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rammstein. Show all posts

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

Download Festival Day One Review

ANOTHER year, another torrential deluge of rain at Download Festival. But it takes more than constant downpours and lakes of mud to stop the metalheads from enjoying their weekend - and so it proved.

My weekend started with a trip down memory lane with Alien Ant Farm on the Lemmy Stage. I only have one of their albums in my collection - 2001's ANThology - and the Californians' set was almost entirely from that. A good start.

As the rain began to fall, I took in a bit of Zoax under the cover of the Maverick Stage tent and they did more than enough to hold my attention. 

Jesse Leach on the Lemmy Stage
Photo credit:
Matt Eachus

But then the rain took centre stage and stayed there for much of the weekend.

So heavy were the downpours that they delayed the start of Babymetal - but everyone knows by now that you can't hold that force of nature back.

I first saw Babymetal at Sonisphere in 2014 and didn't know what to think, and I still don't think I get it. It's OK. It's bat-shit crazy. It's a novelty act. It sounds bad, but also quite good. One thing is for certain, there is nothing else like it and that made it a refreshing addition to the bill.

I had hoped to see the highly-rated Heck, but a dash back to the tent for some dryer and more waterproof clothes was needed in time for Killswitch Engage

One of my big "ones to watch" for the weekend, the metalcore heroes did not disappoint. Their 11-song set carried a few of the best songs from most of their albums and a couple from new LP Incarnate. And Jesse Leach's vocals were superb.

As well as renaming the main stage after Motorhead frontman Lemmy, the slot the band were to fill before his untimely death instead carried a video montage with some past performances included. 

It's a shame, however, that with the huge assortment of talent hanging around backstage that no live performance was arranged that the fans could really get into.

Over on the Zippo Encore Stage, Long Islanders Glassjaw pull in a threadbare crowd considering they are third on the bill on the second stage and up against the end of the Lemmy tribute at the start of their set.

They look dwarfed by the stage and other than frontman Daryl Palumbo are static. Guitarist Justin Beck seems as if his shoes were superglued to the floor.

That said, Glassjaw's angular, uncompromising hardcore still sounds good and if the band were disappointed by the turn-out, they didn't show it. The performance was excellent and Palumbo's energy (and dodgy attire) made up for the rest of the band.

On a weekend where some top-billed performances underwhelmed, Korn delivered a triumphant set full of power and vigour.

They're meant to be washed-up, bloated nu-metallers who have had their day, right? Uh-urrrr! Think again.

Jonathan Davies looked in rich health as the band stormed through a collection of greatest hits. His voice and energy were superb. Everything I could have hoped for and more.

Heck in the Maverick tent
Photo credit:
 
Ross Silcocks

Here To Stay, Falling Away From Me and Coming Undone were in the early part of the set and an excellent drop in Shoots And Ladders into Metallica's One.

The set powered on and finished with Got The Life and Freak On A Leash. Mind-blowing stuff. 

I'd heard so much about Rammstein's live show. 'You don't have to like the music', they said. 'You don't have to understand the language', they also said. Well, I'm sorry to say that I think you probably do.

Yes there were costumes and fireworks and fire and silliness, but I found it so underwhelming. Maybe it was lost in translation or that I just didn't get it but I really didn't see what all the fuss was about.

So much so that I took a stroll up the hill to the Dogtooth Stage and poked my head in to watch Essex boys InMe. That I did enjoy.

I still had time after to go back to Rammstein for the tail-end of their set - including the encore - but like the weather, the day ended on a bit of a damp note.

Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Juliette and the Licks head to Download

THE finishing touches are being put to the line-up of this summer's Download Festival with another 12 acts added.

The recently reformed Juliette and the Licks will be making a return along with Raging Speedhorn.

The Amorettes, Wearing Scars, The Wild Lies, From Ashes to New, Skinny Lister, Inglorious, RavenEye, In Search of Sun, Puppy and The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing also join the bill.

Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden headline the festival that takes place at Donington Park from June 10th to 12th.

Korn, Disturbed, Nightwish, Deftones and All Time Low are among the other big names on the bill.

You can check out the full line-up and get ticketing details at downloadfestival.co.uk

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

All Time Low added to Download line-up

DOWNLOAD Festival has revealed a second batch of new bands playing this year's festival including All Time Low headlining the Zippo Encore Stage on Friday night.

The Temperance Movement, The Wildhearts, Napalm Death, Pennywise and Glassjaw are also new additions to the event in June.

Scorpion Child, Royal Republic, Buck & Evans, Scattering Ashes, Weirds, Devil You Know, The Raven Age and The Shrine complete the list.

The festival takes place over the weekend of June 10th - 12th at Donington Park. Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden will headline the event's Lemmy Stage.

Tickets are available now, check out downloadfestival.co.uk for more details.




Monday, 8 February 2016

Jane's Addiction among 36 additions to Download

JANE'S Addiction, NOFX and Sixx:AM are among a batch of 36 bands have been added to the line-up for this year's Download Festival.

Alien Ant Farm, Amon Amarth, Anti-Flag and Bury Tomorrow will also join them at the three-day event at Donington Park in June.

Escape The Fate, Monster Truck, Graveyard, Municipal Waste, Hill Valley High, Turbowolf and Ashestoangels are also among those added to the bill.

This summer's festival will be headlined by Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, with the likes of Korn, Disturbed and Deftones also playing.

Download's organisers have confirmed that Motorhead will now longer be playing following the sad death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister.

But they have named the main stage The Lemmy Stage and are working with the band's management on a tribute to the rock legend for what would have been Motorhead's slot on Friday, June 10th.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now, visit downloadfestival.co.uk for more.

Sunday, 7 February 2016

Jane's Addiction lead 36 additions to Download Festival

Jane's Addiction
ALMOST 40 more acts have been added to the bill for this summer's Download Festival - and they've renamed the main stage The Lemmy Stage.

Jane's Addiction, NOFX and Sixx:A.M are the top names among the new additions along with Alien Ant Farm and Amon Amarth.

Download Festival takes place at Donington Park across June 10th to 12th with tickets with Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden headlining.

Motorhead were also due to play until the death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister. As well as renaming the main stage, the festival's organisers are working with the band's management on a tribute and a Motorhead logo remains on the poster for a Friday slot.

Back to the new additions to the line-up, they will include Anti-Flag, Bury Tomorrow, Escape The Fate, Periphery, Electric Wizard, Monster Truck and Graveyard.

Municipal Waste, One OK Rock, Heck, Hill Valley High, Turbowolf, Grand Magus, Whiskey Myers, Cane Hill, Zoax, Danko Jones, Shvpes, The King Is Blind, Kadavar and As Lions are also on board.

Also joining them will be Slaves, Wage War, Palisades, Ashestoangels, The Kenneths, Muncie Girls, Reigning Days, Black Peaks, Strange Bones and Good Tiger.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at a special early bird rate until February 12th. Find out more at downloadfestival.co.uk

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Merry Xmas - here's 30 more Download bands

DOWNLOAD Festival's booking gurus have delivered an early Christmas present for metal fans with an announcement of 30 - yes 30 - stonking acts for next summer's event.

Shinedown, Killswitch Engage, Down and Don Broco are among the deluge heading to Donington Park in June.

Architects, Neck Deep, Tremonti, Gojira, Ghost, Billy Talent, Saxon and The Amity Affliction will join them across the weekend.

Halestorm, Beartooth and Twin Atlantic are also among the shit-ton of additions sure to get your bells jingling all the way.

You can check out all the new names joining the likes of Rammstein, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Korn, Disturbed and Deftones at download.co.uk




Monday, 9 November 2015

Korn, Deftones and Disturbed added to Download bill

SIX more huge names have been announced for Download Festival 2016 incuding Korn, Deftones and Disturbed.

They were revealed by Radio 1's Dan Carter along with Motörhead, Nightwish and Megadeth.

Nu-metal legends Korn will support Rammstein on the festival's Friday night along with Lemmy and Co, while Deftones and Megadeth will precede Black Sabbath on Saturday.

Clearly that means Nightwish and Disturbed will be joining the bill for the Sunday night with Iron Maiden headlining at Donington in June.

You can get more details, including ticketing info, at download.co.uk

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Maiden, Sabbath and Rammstein for Download 2016

IRON Maiden, Black Sabbath and Rammstein have been announced as the headliners of next summer's Download Festival.

It means a final UK festival appearance in the Midlands for Ozzy Osbourne and co as Sabbath bows out after a 50-year career. 


They will take to the stage on Saturday, June 11th, at Donington. Ozzy said: "Download is my absolute favourite summer festival. It's always like coming home. See you all there."

German masters Rammstein will headline on the Friday night, their first appearance there since tearing the festival a new on back in 2013.

Booker Andy Copping said: "In 2013 they delivered quite possibly the best Download headline performance ever! I know they will step up and deliver for us again. If you haven't seen them before, don't miss them - you will not be disappointed!”

Copping has also delivered a third top-rate headliner with Iron Maiden bringing in their Book of Souls tour to close the Sunday night.

Frontman Bruce Dickinson will fly the band, their crew and their entire stage production to Donington on their Ed Force One 747-400 Jumbo Jet.

He said: "Download is a very special place for us. Not just because it’s always great to play on home turf but because there’s a truly unique vibe there, it’s the very heart of England and of Metal, so a fitting place for Iron Maiden! 

"The crowd is always fiercely passionate and the whole band feeds off that famous Donington energy. We aim to deliver a really memorable show for our fans to close the 2016 Festival."

A gazillion more bands will be added in the coming weeks and months, but if the headliners are enough for you - and, quite frankly they should be - head to download.co.uk for ticket details.

Monday, 14 January 2013

Have Limp Bizkit jumped the gun on Download announcement?

NU-METAL gurus Limp Bizkit appear to have jumped the gun and announced they will be performing at this year's Download Festival.

Organisers are expected to announce a wave of bands to perform at the June festival on Wednesday morning.

However, Fred Durst & Co said in a message on their Facebook page: "We are really excited to play India February 16&17. Its been long enough! We've always wanted to visit there. Also- Plans for an exclusive USA run are underway for April/May. Did somebody say Sonisphere and Download after that?!! And the UK? And Europe? And Russia? And Australia? And Asia? It cannot be!! Let'z get your Bizkit on!!!"

If Limp Bizkit are confirmed on Wednesday, they will join Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein as headliners alongside Queens of the Stone Age, Bullet For My Valentine, 30 Seconds To Mars, Stone Sour, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Motorhead, The Gaslight Anthem and more on the bill.

For more details on the festival, visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk