Well 2012
has sucked for me, I am not one of these new year fresh start people, I’m just
saying, from the weeks leading up to the new year I hadn’t been feeling great
and 5 months and 28 days into 2012, things have only seemed to get worse. Thank
Christ I have Download to look forward to this year, it’s been really the only
thing on my mind that’s got me excited or motivated to do anything in ages, but
no more blabbering, I’m so excited I’m writing my preview of the bands playing.
I’ll start
with the bands I intend to check out from the main stage downwards, so it looks
like main stage may kick off with Rise
to Remain, I have yet to see this band, despite playing I think at every
festival I’ve been to, last year’s album was a decent Metalcore offering,
decent, sounding just as good as the bands around them but not sounding strong
enough to break through, but I have heard good things about them live so there.
Cancer Bats nothing more really
needs to be said, if I had to rate my top 5 favourite gigs ever the bats would
probably be number one, I saw them in Cardiff after Bears, Mayors, Scraps and
Bones came out and was in agony for weeks after, an insane show, and they’ve
been amazing every time I’ve seen them. I only worry for them playing outside
on the second stage because I’m afraid that their sound may blur, but a
definite band to see regardless.
Fear Factory seem to be the standard
heavy band playing, heavy in both sound and err, size. But you can’t really
argue with tracks like Resurrection, Martyr or really anything off
Demanufacture. I’m sure I’ll have no GodDamn regrets in going to see them. (see
what I did there?) I may catch NOFX, they’ve
never really been my thing but I have Punk in Drublic and it is good, and they
do seem like a good fun band. The band I finally get to finally loose my sight
virginity too is Billy Talent, I
have been a fan of theirs for years but live they always seemed to slip under
my radar, but after watching video’s on that trusted Youtube I really am
excited.
Every band
on Friday, and maybe the entire weekend may have to really compete with Machine ‘Fuckin’ Head for the
performance of the weekend award, a band that have never failed me live and
this time they have something to prove, on a day when they support a
controversial D&B act despite many thinking this was the year that Robb
Flynn’s troops would stampede the headline spot, Machine Head may have the grit
in their teeth that they had at the first Sonisphere in 2009 with the whole Limp
Bizkit incident, and it may be enough to send the band into overdrive. Also
there is added pressure, everyone remembers what happened last time they played
Download, this set is going to be unenviable. Chase and Status probably the most controversial band choice of the
weekend, but I feel most of the criticism comes from their positioning on the
bill and not the fact that they are playing, anyway, I can’t see myself going
to see them despite being interested in them, I just think my attention may be
averted elsewhere by this time. The
Prodigy offers so far my first confliction of the weekend, I have their
greatest hits album, and despite my initial ‘Err I dunno if I can be bothered
with them’ after getting drunk and hearing them on the Jukebox a few months ago,
I’ve gathered excitement for them. At the minute my plan is to watch Slash and
hopefully catch the end of these guys.
It doesn’t
look as though I am going to be spending much time at the second stage this
year, at least not on the Friday, Opeth are
the first band that grab my attention from that line-up, however I am not
overly fussed about checking them out, especially after the misery that I
endower every time I listen to Heritage, I know some people like that album, so
I won’t say too much, just really not to my liking. Nightwish on the other hand have my attention, probably for the
wrong reasons, I don’t feel that the quality of the previous two albums matches
up well with what has come before, and I know that despite being a big
Nightwish fan, I’m not going to be seeing Tarja, this may sound shallow, but I
don’t know how anyone is meant to compete with that voice. The main reason for
me making plans to see them is that I am a fan of the band and whenever they do
tour the U.K. they go nowhere near Wales and there not the band that I would
spend a night in London to see. I say that, Unless there was a reunion tour, in
which case you couldn’t keep me away. Check out ‘End of an Era’
Slash is Slash, what can I say that has
not been said before, yes I am a Guns ‘N Roses fan, but you’re going to be good
to find someone who doesn’t know the words to Welcome to the Jungle, so that is
not a valid argument. The fact is that, Slash is probably the last ‘Icon’ that
the metal/rock world have left. When you think of Metal you think of Iron
Maiden with their giant Eddie, you think of the black album, you think of Angus
Young doing his strut, You think of KISS breathing fire and you think of a
black haired, topless guy, wearing shades and a top hat probably with a
cigarette in his mouth. It is hard to think of another band or person that
still symbolises what we love in the modern era, and to see him still excited
about music with his Velvet Revolver and new Slash project just fills you with
hope and respect. I will be going to see Slash with Myles Kennedy, who by the
way has one of the best voices in rock music today.
Other bands
I hope to be seeing on the Friday include The
Defiled, I felt their Grave Times album released last year was the finest
metal release since Deep Blue the year prior, which I thought was the best
thing since The Blackening, so that tells you what realm I believe that debut
album is, I believe this could be a
great chance for this band. Especially seeing as they look like they are
playing just before While She Sleep, another
fine band from the current hardcore scene, who are going into this weekend with
a bit of momentum, with the release of single ‘This is the Six’ also things
went off for them last year at Sonisphere. (See previous post) I am going to
take a miss on Soil and Axe Wound and unfortunately probably Devin Townsend. The final band I have
the intention of going to see on the Friday are Gallows with new frontman Wade McNeil, I really want to see how it
comes across with the Canadian screamer replacing the pint-sized hell house
that was Frank Carter.
Saturday
Saturday Mainstage doesn’t really hot
up for me until Black Veil Brides,
maybe? I mean that, I saw them with Murderdolls last year and wasn’t too
impressed, nor have I been impressed with either of their albums, but there is
something curious about them, I feel I owe them one more chance, then again, I’ll
probably just give them a miss. Trvium
however are one of the bands of the weekend I am most looking forward to
seeing, they are abit of a curious case, for a while I saw them three shows
running and they were supporting bugger bands and then they had a big tour with
Machine Head of all bands supporting them, then The Crusade happened, and they
haven’t really been the same since. Album quality has improved, their previous
two outings have would be certified classics if they still had the support and
backing they had at the period. This will be the first time seeing Trvium in 5
years for me, a shocking thought.
If I have to
see Steel Panther I will, just
depends who they clash with, I have no idea how their version of rock is going
to come off live, either way, Death to all but Metal is a tune. Tenacious D may also get viewed, but
that is purely because I have friends who love the idea, I on the other hand,
seemed to have grown out of the joke, a saddening thought when I consider that
a dew years ago I knew the debut album off by heart, skits and all. Biffy Clyro is probably the one band I
did not see coming, from one of the best headline slots at Sonisphere last
year, the Scots return to open up for Metallica, this could be seen as a step
backwards, but you have to consider just how strong the Download line up is
this year and you say, fair play, this is probably what they need. A tough
Metallica crowd, where they will probably have to win over the majority of
Metalheads, and I feel Biffy can do it.
Probably the
only headliners I will see on Saturday is Metallica,
I am not a You Me At Six fan, that brand of pop-punk I find repetitive and
boring, and obviously no one else wanted to take on the mighty ‘Tallica playing
their famous ‘Black Album’ in its entirety. Here’s why I am honestly 50/50 on
this. Firstly this is the third time in four years I am going to be seeing
Metallica headline a festival, and the second time in 11 months, but that same
argument can be made for Biffy. Secondly, I am not a fan of the Black Album,
yeah I’ll admit to not liking it that much, sure Enter Sandman is one of the
finest metal songs ever written, no arguments, and there are metal classics,
Sad But True, you’ve got to be a special kind of idiot to say is not a great
song, but for me the album peaks at ‘The Unforgiven’ and everything after that
barley holds my interest, sorry folk, my opinion. So does the idea of seeing it
being played in its entirety excite me? No, not even backwards? No, but I won’t
complain for the following reasons. The two times I have seen Metallica they
have brought it, especially last year, an incredible live band. Secondly I love
the Unforgiven, I will happily sit through that set just to hear that, and if I
get the Unforgiven II (I know I won’t but still) I’ll be chuffed, but Metallica
have some of the strongest songs ever placed on record, for every ‘Struggle Within’
there’s a ‘Master of Puppets’ for every ‘Through The Never’ there’s a ‘Creeping
Death’ Metallica- No arguments.
There is an
argument to be made that some of the bands playing the second stage could
easily be on the first stage, this doesn’t include Fozzy, making a return to the UK, Wrestling nerds unite. Halestorm are also up on Saturday, and
that’s something to look forward to as ‘The Curious Case of…’ is
unrealistically catchy and ‘Rock Show’ is the cheesiest thing I have heard in
ages I love it. Lower Than Atlantis
one of my favourite bands going around at the minute (Also the only band I’ve
seen this year, summing up my first 6 months) are going to be fun to see, a
band who have improved live every time I’ve seen them and were a true highlight
again at Sonisphere last year. Skindred are
one of the bands that could be playing the first stage and actually I am surprised
their not, I don’t care as long as I see them, nothing can really get in the
way of seeing these guys, a formidable live act who just cannot fail when
preforming live. Nothing more really needs to be said, finally on the second
stage, Killswitch Engage; Finally, ‘The
End of Heartache’ is one of my favourite albums ever and I’ve prayed for this announcement
for years, I don’t know what it’s going to be like with Jesse back on vocals as
opposed to Howard, but it will be interesting, I don’t know how you perform a
KSE show without tunes like ‘Rose of Sharyn’ or ‘My Curse’ that said, there’s
more than enough quality on ‘Alive or just Breathing’ to suffice.
Sunday
Sunday
quickly becomes one of the saddest days of the year, usually around the 11.05 P.M.
mark when you realise your going home in the morning, so why not go large on
the final day, Yeah fuck it seems to be the idea from Mr Copping, compromising
one of the most mental mainstage line-ups in festival history (my opinion) Devil Driver are straight up metal, a
band that attempt to try and break a world record for the largest circle pit
can have few complaints, and when you consider the amount of classic tracks
that this band hold, Devil Driver should have no problems holding the attention
of the probably hung-over crowd. I’ve managed to see Anthrax at least once a year since 2009, even last year at Download
I Scott Ian was in attendance with ‘The Damned Things’ I;m not complaining too
much, Anthrax are a legendary band and I can at least once a year scream ‘I Am
The Law, You Won’t Fuck Around No More.’
Black Label Society I dare anyone to
say they’re not interested in seeing one of the few guitar heroes left or even
contemplating not banging their head to some of the heaviest riffs and chant
along choruses of any metal band. Speaking of heavy, Lamb of God, I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of the modern
masters of heavy metal but this years ‘Resolution’ album is one of the finest
metal albums I’ve heard in years and would put it second to ‘Sacrament’ anyway,
that’s irrelevant, it’s Lamb of God, the name alone signifies something
different, and in the term of performances that what you get with Lamb of God, something
different—an unrelenting modern heavy metal assault.
Last year,
me and my best mate got drunk and laughed for ages talking about quotes from
sections of Megadeth lyrics, even
waking upto the line ‘Hello me, meet the real me’ in fact we once walked home
from my local train station singing ‘Peaaaace, Peace Sells… But who’s Buying?’
not to mention the fact that Megadeth are Legends who managed to keep
delivering album wise, I’d say out of the Big 4, there the only band to be able
to say that in the 2000’s era they’ve managed to release 3 albums of pure metal
to some incredibly high standard. Can a live performance follow though? Soundgarden any other year could
headline apparently, I don’t know about that, but I’m glad they are here this
year. ‘Jesus Christ Pose’ has been one of my favourite songs for years and I
never thought I’d see the band.
Same as
Slash, what can be said that hasn’t been said already, Black Sabbath, the reason this festival exists in my opinion, how
many of the bands playing this festival would be around without them. I can
understand some people not wanting to see them, Ozzy’s live performances haven’t
always been the stuff of legend, and there’s no point tainting that legendary
image of the band, and the music may not seem as heavy, scary or fast as it
once did so it may be harder to maintain attention, the thing is however is
that Black Sabbath songs are pure genius. You could probably fill an entire set
based around the first three albums alone. It is a shame Bill Ward isn’t playing,
but we should be thankful the band are playing at all. An extra show of
appreciation needs to be shown to Mr. Tony Iommi after the year he’s had. This
month’s edition of Metal Hammer does this more justice than I can.
Black Spiders for my reckoning are the finest rock n roll
outfit at the minute, last year’s ‘Sons of the North features some of the
catchiest, foot stomping shout along albums in years and also features some of
the greatest lyrics ever written ‘Eat Thunder, Shit Lightening’ I can’t wait to
scream ‘Fuck You Black Spiders’ Refused
are a very important band to me, being a big fan of post-hardcore and punk
music, a chance to see the originators of the music that I live my life with is
going to be a pleasing honour.
