Regarded by many as the headbangers' Glastonbury, the 23rd Download Festival returned to Donington Park for three days filled with raw energy, featuring denim, distortion, and dangerously sore ears, all while offering the ultimate in rock music.

Not only is the Download one of the friendliest festivals around, where the rock community comes together every year, but it is also a weekend that appeals to rock and metal fans of all ages.

Friday offered an eclectic mix of rock; Final Fantasy’s official in-house rock band, The Primals, would have probably remained one of your regular rock bands had they not been associated with the Japanese role-playing game. Those early enough to catch the band making a European exclusive appearance on the Dogtooth stage were treated to, among others, Absolute Tyranny and Under the Weight bridging the gap between video game culture and rock superbly.

The Primals

Daughtry

Over on the Opus stage, Daughtry brought their signature polished, hook-driven anthems to a discerning audience; led by frontman Chris Daughtry, the band delivered a consummate performance that blended their big hits with harder tracks from their back catalogue with Heavy Is The Crown being a standout moment.

Led by Lizzie Hale, Halestorm arrived on stage to even more fire flames and smoke than Daughty employed. The melodic guitar band attacked the Download audience with hands raised high but with a solid bond in their hearts. A surprise cover of the Lady GaGa track Bad Romance was in excellent hands before drummer Arejay Hale reminded everyone that sometimes drum solos are better left curtailed.

Dedicating their headline set to the deaths of former bassist Sam Rivers and friend Dougie Millers, Limp Bizkit might have had the tendency to remind the audience to “party like it’s 1999” far too many times; however, the band was as rebellious as ever, with lead singer Fred Durst displaying a new head of curly hair.

Only a few groups, like Limp Bizkit, can play snippets of Spandau Ballet and Soft Cell between their hits and have the audience sing along before dropping another rock-driven number. As My Way and Break Suff concluded an energetic set, the band had reason to celebrate.

Saturday saw Hollywood-based rock band Black Veil Brides bring their brand of anthemic rock to Download. After recently releasing a new album, Black Veil Brides debuted some new tracks live, but it was during "Fallen Angels" and "In The End" that the performance truly excelled, marking one of the best sets of the day.

Cody Carson, the lead singer of Set It Off, exuded an infectious and inspiring self-confidence, particularly during the performance of Why Worry. In a set that lasted just over thirty minutes, the band gained a new following.

Behemoth, a Polish doom metal act, likely shines best in the dark of night, not in the full afternoon sun. The band, resembling a much darker version of Lordi, performed some dark and menacing songs that culminated in Ora Pro Nobis, Lucifer. The band totally believes in what they do; their stagecraft was tightly perfected, leaving the audience spellbound after one of the most unusual performances of the festival.

Behemoth

Guns N'ROses

Nearly forty years ago Guns N’ Roses arrived onto the rock scene with the classic album Appetite For Destruction—the intervening years have, to say the least, been very intriguing. Arriving on stage to headline on Saturday evening, Welcome To The Jungle kicked off a mammoth three-hour set, which, as might have been expected, became a little too self-indulgent mid-set; a more concise two-hour showing might have been more comfortable. Then again, fans of the band know that it is never an easy journey with Guns N’ Roses—in the past, the band has not arrived on stage on time.

Sunday saw The Pretty Reckless deliver a slick set, with lead singer Taylor Momsen bringing an assured confidence to the stage, never missing an opportunity to engage with the audience. Their performance was refreshing, with For I Am Death coming with a mighty punch.

Taylor Momsen The Pretty Reckless

Ice Nine Kills

Download is known for the secret sets; this year Welsh rockers Skindred made a surprise appearance that was frenzied, rapid, and furious. With barely half an hour left, the band unleashed Gimmie That Boom, leaving the fans' eardrums blistered. 

Ice Nine Kills were one of the most anticipated bands of the festival weekend. The shock-horror American band may seem fresh and new to younger audiences, but if you remember Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson, you've likely experienced it all before.

The band even tried to create the famous Alfred Hitchcock shower scene from Psycho in what was a very theatrical production that had been meticulously thought out. They have the songs too, as Welcome To Horrorwood and A Work Of Art demonstrated, where the fans' anticipation was admirably rewarded. 

Set It Off

Mastodon

Mastodon has appeared at the Download Festival numerous times, though this time without the loss of ex-guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds, who was recalled in their new single Your Ghost Again. As the mosh pit turned into a frenzy, Blood And Thunder rounded off what had been a heavy and unapologetic set.

As the sky began to turn a deeper shade of red as the sun began to set, Sunday’s headline act, Linkin Park, was greeted warmly by the Download audience.

Emily Armstrong’s vocals on their comeback single The Emptiness Machine cut through the track like a knife through butter as she sounded commanding and in total control. Making history as the first woman to headline Download was celebrated in a set that concluded with In The End before teasing the audience with one last dose of metal in the shape of Faint, on a glorious weekend of rock music that had sadly come to an end...until next year.