We’re now only ONE WEEK away from the start of Download 2013, and that means it’s time for the final part of our annual Donington preview. If you’ve missed the first two parts, you can catch them on the links below:
Download 2013 Preview (Friday)
Download 2013 Preview (Saturday)
This final part focuses (naturally) on the final day of the event, which will be closed by a certain pyro loving German band (see more below). But aside from Rammstein, there are quality bands across all the stages, and we’ve picked out our best ten (plus a couple of extras) for you once again. Onto the bands for the final time this year….
Rammstein
Rocksins is going to go out on a limb and say, even in spite of the presence of Slipknot and Iron Maiden, this year it’s ALL about Rammstein. Download have been trying to get the German industrial metal legends to play Donington for years and 2013 is the year they finally got their men.
Rammstein’s arena tour throughout the UK last year was one of THE metal events of recent years (read our Nottingham Arena show review here) and with a brand new stage show lined up for this year, one can only wonder what Till and co have in store for Download. The sight of the fields of Donington bouncing to the likes of Du Hast, Feuer Frei and Ich Will will be something to behold. They managed to upstage Iron Maiden back at Sonisphere 2010, can they do it again here? We’re betting they can.
A Day To Remember
Favourites at Download over the past five years, 2012 was only the second Download of recent times where A Day To Remember did not put in an appearance. The Florida pop metal natives are old pros at this now and will be able to get the best out of what will surely be a sizeable crowd. They may wheel out a new song or two with a new album due this Summer too.
Having grown hugely in popularity thanks to songs the likes of The Downfall Of Us All, My Highways Thinking About The End and All I Want, A Day To Remember are one of those metal bands who could make the jump to arena level in the very near future. Another top level performance at Download could be the catalyst for that.
Modestep
Fancy mixing up your Sunday at Download with something a little different? Into your Dubstep as well as your rock and metal? Then head to the Pepsi Max Tent early evening Sunday to catch Modestep. Having seen them live for ourselves last year, Rocksins know just how hard Modestep like to party and worldwide reports indicate the boys don’t know how to put on a bad show. Songs like Show Me A Sign will sound absolutely enormous in the confines of a tent stage, and they could be the perfect warm up to get you in the mood for Rammstein. (Want to know more about Modestep – then read our interview with them from last year).
Newsted
After a decade out of the limelight, including stints in bands such as Voivod, former Metallica bassist Jason Newstead has returned with his new solo project and an E.P entitled, quite simply, Metal. You can’t get more straight forward than that. Making his Download debut and his first appearance at Donington in nearly twenty years, you can be absolutely certain The Pepsi Max tent will be overflowing for a chance to catch Mr Newsted in action. Don’t be surprised to hear a Metallica track or two in the process either. Don’t miss this.
Stone Sour
Long it was wondered if Corey Taylor and Jim Root would ever do double duty at a major UK festival and 2013 finally sees the time where Slipknot and Stone Sour appear on the same festival. Armed with the very well received House Of Gold & Bones (parts one and two), it will be very interesting to see what Stone Sour conjure up for those in attendance with a wealth of new material available to them and some established festival level anthems in their collection already. The chances of them outdoing their masked alter ego’s are slim, but this should still be one very enjoyable set (hopefully in the mid – late afternoon Sunshine, if the weather gods allow it to be so).
Sacred Mother Tongue
Another of the fantastic pack of UK metal bands that have come along over the last few years, Sacred Mother Tongue have all the ingredients to be a huge success. Mental riffs and insane solo’s courtesy of the guitar maestro that is Andy James and Darrin South’s vocal abilities give off a sound that could almost be described as a cross between Alter Bridge and Sylosis. Their major label debut and second album Out Of The Darkness has seen them continue to make good on their early promise and this could be the first of many, many Download appearances if they play their cards right.
Cancer Bats
Regular visitors to the UK, Cancer Bats have something of a cult following in these parts. It’s a rather large cult following mind, as 2013 sees them return to have another attempt at playing the Donington main stage, having been thwarted like Rise To Remain by the weather this time last year (although they did get one song on the main stage courtesy of those nice lads in Billy Talent). Having just completed a short trek around the UK at the likes of Takedown Festival and shows with bands such as Hang The Bastard, Cancer Bats are in prime form to make a lasting impression on you at Download. Hail Destroyer indeed.
The Howling
Perhaps the most unknown of all the bands we’ve featured in our Download preview this year, The Howling are another band emerging from the plentiful UK rock & metal scene. With a charismatic frontman in the shape of Blacky, former member of The Prodigy The Rev, and a distinctive rock & roll tone to their music, there is definitely a place for The Howling in the lives of many (We first discovered The Howling when they opened for Rise To Remain in Cambridge a couple of years back, so if you want to know more, read that review here). Head along to The Red Bull stage to discover this hidden gem of a band. They won’t stay unknown for long if they do themselves justice.
Limp Bizkit
You either love them or you hate them but Limp Bizkit will always make sure you have an opinion about them! Returning to Download for the first time since 2013, Fred, Wes and co will be headlining the Zippo Encore Second Stage on the final day of the festival. Now on board with Hip Hop label Cash Money Records, it’ll be very interesting to see whether we get a look at any new Bizkit material during their performance. Their performance at Sonisphere in 2011 was an absolute stormer and if they come close to matching that, there will be a lot of very happy people. Expect crowd pleasing hits by the bucketload and a good time – for those that way inclined.
Five Finger Death Punch
They have their detractors but there is absolutely no denying Five Finger Death Punch are one of the most successful metal bands to come along in the last five years or so, particularly when it comes to the US. With a double album “The Wrong Side Of Heaven & The Righteous Side Of Hell” on the way this year in two installments, we’ll all be hearing a lot more 5FDP this year.
We’re also wondering if there might be a guest appearance during the Death Punch set, with them having recently teamed up with Judas Priest legend Rob Halford for their brand new single “Lift Me Up”. Regardless, there will be circle pits and crowd participation in large quantities. Due to tour arenas with Avenged Sevenfold at the end of the year, another good Download performance will add further anticipation for their return and see their status elevated further.
So that’s ten bands, but we thought we’d chuck in one extra as it’s the final part of the preview:
Coal Chamber
Rounding off our Download Festival 2013 preview are another marmite choice, Dez Fafara from Devildriver’s band from his previous “musical life”, Coal Chamber. Coal Chamber never hit the heights of the likes of KoRn, Slipknot and Linkin Park during the nu metal era but still had their fans and Coal Chamber’s appearance at Download 2013 will be a party for those who were into the band the first time around, plus a chance for a new generation of metal fans to experience Coal Chamber in the flesh. They may well split opinion but we would highly recommend seeing them in action, you probably won’t get the chance again.
So there we have it. Our preview of the annual Donington festivities is complete for another year. For all those going, have a fantastic time, stay safe and check out at least some of the bands we’ve recommended for you. For those of you still undecided there is still time to get tickets but the clock is ticking!
Rocksins will have full coverage of the event, including a full review from all three days of the event as well as backstage interviews with some of the performers from Download 2013. We’ll also continue to preview the event with our daily classic videos from years gone past – so stay tuned as Rocksins.com is the place to be for all things Download!
