Guitarist and vocalist Han Mee is a powerhouse of energy, running up and down the main stage while managing to pull off her pop-punk-esque vocals. Next were British power-pop band Hot Milk. The duo have an irresistible presence that oozes confidence and their talent is definitely big enough for the main stage. Matching blue outfits complement the smooth bass lines of Georgia South and the heavy, catchy guitar riffs of Amy Love in perfect harmony. Metallica | Photo by Todd Owyįriday rolled around and British duo Nova Twins were the second act to perform on the main Apex Stage, with tracks that dip into grunge rock, rap and metal. While we know that one day Metallica won’t be playing at Download Festival anymore, this 20th anniversary will always be remembered as the year they graced us with two unforgettable performances. Their first set of the weekend included fan favorites like ‘Seek & Destroy,’ ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ and ‘Fuel.’ They kicked off with ‘Creeping Death’ and closed with the classic hit, ‘Master of Puppets.’ Fans couldn’t get enough of frontman James’ banter with drummer Lars. As soon as you hear ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)’ an AC/DC song you knew they are on their way, but he crowd erupted in excitement when they played Ennio Morricone’s ‘The Ecstasy of Gold,’ humming along in unison. Metallica took the stage for their ninth headlining performance at Download Festival on Thursday. Their show features an array of impressive acts including dance, aerial performances, and fire displays. This group of fierce female performers is breaking barriers as the first of its kind to grace a Download Stage. One act that we were not able to catch, though were able to speak with after their performance was Cherry Bombs ( see interview here). At one point Webbe exclaims “Come with Skindread and leave your troubles behind”, and that’s exactly what it feels like, forgetting the chaos of the morning and starting the weekend on a high. ‘ Nobody’ goes as hard as you’d expect, and the set ends with much anticipated ‘ Warning’ featuring Lzzy Hale from Halestorm, with people swinging their t-shirts in the first five seconds for the iconic ‘Newport Helicopter’. If you want to keep your hands down you’ve come to the wrong place, as you’ll be encouraged to put up your fists, rockers, peace signs, claws, and even wave like the queen (RIP). Even when telling a heartfelt story about his parents passing from a young age, he turns it into an inspirational message to not let anyone get you down, before playing ‘ Kill The Power’. There is never a silent transition between songs, as Webbe either performs a sketch, 80s synth on his keytar or warms the crowd up with lyrics for the next track. The band’s frontman Benji Webbe exuded an innate talent for captivating audiences with his abundant charisma and wardrobe changes that included various pairs of stylish sunglasses. Even if one may have been disappointed by FFDP’s absence, it was difficult not to revel in Skindred’s performance. However, after resolving the campsite situation, we ventured towards the Opus stage where Skindred was set to perform as a last-minute replacement for Five Finger Death Punch. Regrettably, we were unable to catch the majority of Thursday’s performances due to the unforeseen circumstances. Despite opening two additional access campsites, they were informed that their designated site was full and it took several hours for staff to rearrange tents and remove gazebos in order to accommodate them and others waiting in line. Jess Bland, out RAMzine writer who attended the event, was in the access camp. By Thursday, most campsites were completely occupied at this point. The West car park had already reached maximum capacity by noon that day. On Wednesday, there were numerous accounts of traffic jams lasting 7-8 hours just to get into the car park. It’s no surprise that tickets sold out in record time, resulting in a jam-packed weekend full of dust, long lines, sunburns, but most importantly – unforgettable music. The lineup boasted Bring Me The Horizon, Slipknot, and two Metallica performances as headliners. For its 20th anniversary, Download Festival needed to up the ante and extend the event by an additional day for a four-day extravaganza.
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