3 Doors Down – 3 Doors Down are an excellent live band. I
saw them in Manchester in 2012 and they were, well as I said earlier,
excellent. Somehow they were missed off the honourable mentions list for my
gigs of the year blog - definitely an oversight there. Anyway, they are a
pretty strong booking for Download I think. They’ve never played the festival
before and it’s always good to see a first time booking on the line-up –
especially when it is a band as good as 3 Doors Down.
Airbourne – Last time I caught Airbourne was the beginning
of their set at Wacken 2011 (would have stayed for the whole thing but I was
pretty damn tired). They are a great live band and they work really well at
festivals. 2013 will be the 3rd time they play Download but it will
be the first time I see them there, so I’m ok with this.
Amon Amarth – Amon Amarth is another good booking for
Download as far as I am concerned. First time they’ve played the festival since
2008. I enjoyed them when I saw them at Wacken last year. If they don’t clash
with anyone I’d prefer to see at Download, I suspect I will watch them again.
Asking Alexandria – This is a band that I just cannot get
into. I’ve tried a couple of times and I have to say they are just not for me.
I could piss and moan about the fact that there is a band playing Download that
I don’t like – or I could just...not. The only thing I will say which is mildly
annoying is that between them and another announcement from today is a band I
want to see. Again, it’s mildly
annoying; it is not the end of the world.
Black Dogs – I haven’t heard much of Black Dogs but what I
have heard, I like. While typing this short paragraph, I am listening to a song
called “Savages” which is ace. Also, their bio on their band camp page made me
smile: “Black
Dogs: an unstoppable pack of northern bastards”.
Buffalo Summer – Can’t find much stuff by this band (one
song so far) but that one song is pretty good so I am ok with this booking.
Bullet For My Valentine – One of the bigger announcements
from this batch. I have yet to see Bullet For My Valentine. It has only been
recently I have actually got into them. As I haven’t seen them, I’m alright
with them having been announced for the festival but I can fully understand why
people are getting annoyed with how many times this band has played. They have
played in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and now 2013. Assuming nothing
goes wrong before the 2013 festival, they will have played 7 out of 11
festivals. That is a lot.
Cancer Bats – At the moment, I cannot get enough of Cancer
Bats, so I am delighted they have been booked again for Download 2013. I’m also
really pleased to see them on main stage after the weather cancelled their main
stage slot at the 2012 festival. I wonder, considering BFMV and Cancer Bats are
at the same festival, if we will see an AxeWound set at some point over the
weekend. We shall see...
Coal Chamber – I don’t know a massive amount about Coal
Chamber other than they are doing reunion shows and their front man is the
Devildriver front man, Dez Fafara. I like what I’ve heard of them though so
they could be worth watching.
Converge – This is another band that is not for me. I’ve
always meant to listen to them but never had until this announcement. Having
now listened, I almost wish I hadn’t. I don’t hate them, but I can’t claim to
like them.
Down – Down is very hit and miss for me. Some of their stuff
I really like but some of it, I really don’t. However, I’ve seen them live
twice now and they are excellent live. They were one of my favourite bands when
I went to Download for the day in 2011. I imagine I will watch them again,
although they find themselves sandwiched in-between two bands I won’t be
watching.
Earthtone9 – This is a band I first became aware of in 2010
(late to the party as ever) and really liked what I heard. They were announced
for Sonisphere and as I was headed there, I planned to watch them. Then the
stage times came out and they clashed with Motley Crue. Based on how Motley
Crue was that day. I really wish I’d gone to see Earthtone9. Again, if there is
not a clash I will go and see Earthtone9. The song Evil Crawling I is a beast
of a tune.
Enter Shikari – I’ve added some of their music to my
Download Festival 2013 Spotify playlist because I don’t mind some of their
stuff. However, on the whole, I cannot get into Enter Shikari, and I doubt I’ll
be watching them. Maybe watching them will help me get into them? Who knows? If
they clash with no-one else I want to see, I might give them a chance.
Five Finger Death Punch – This is a band that I wouldn’t mind
watching live. I haven’t seen them before (although the opportunity hasn’t come
up). They were booked for 2012 but had to cancel. I’m not a massive fan of
their music but I like what I’ve heard so they could be worth watching.
Goldsboro – There once was a pop group called Orson. They
had a bit of success in the UK with their debut album but the second album wasn’t
so successful and they split up. The reaction to all of this is Goldsboro – a rock
band that Classic Rock magazine suggested were “a power trio pitched somewhere
between Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath”. Having listened to some of
their music, I can agree that it is very good. They could be well worth
watching.
Hacktivist – I can’t make my mind up about Hacktivist. I’ve
listened to them a few times now and I go between liking them and not. I guess
this is what is known as the struggle to get into a band. I recognise they are
a decent band but I can’t decide if they are to my tastes or not.
Hardcore Superstar – I quite like what I’ve heard from this
band (which admittedly isn’t much) but they could be well worth a watch. It won’t
be the end of the world if I don’t watch them at Download as they are also
playing Wacken Open Air. It’ll be a bit annoying if I miss them at both now I’ve
mentioned it...
Heaven’s Basement – I last saw this band supporting
Halestorm and they were very enjoyable. They’ve played quite a few of the UK
festivals I’ve been to I think, and I’ve never managed to watch them at a
festival. They tend to clash with other bands I’d prefer to see. I might watch
them at Download, might not – we shall see.
HellYeah – I saw this band at Download 2007 and remember
thinking they were quite dull. It was cool for me to see Vinnie Paul behind the
drum kit (after the death of Dimebag Darrel, I never thought I would see that)
but that didn’t help me through the whole set. Since 2007, they have released 2
albums and I’ve listened to some of the music from them and I am tempted to
give them another chance.
Huntress – After their announcement, I thought “I’ve heard
of that name before”. Turns out the reason I had heard of it as it is a
recruitment agency. I found the band shortly after that realisation and came to
another one – Huntress are ace! I’ll definitely be trying to see them. Only
heard a handful of songs but from what I’ve heard, they sound excellent.
I AM I – In 2010, ZP Theart left Dragonforce in what I seem
to recall was quite a shocking move. I AM I is the band he formed following his
departure from Dragonforce. It reminds me of a power metal vibe but in a very
different way to Dragonforce. They are a fairly decent band though and a good
booking for Download. I more I listen to them; the more I am reminded of Edguy
actually (without Tobi doing the vocals).
In This Moment – I’ve seen In This Moment before when they
supported Devildriver on their pre-Download 2007 gig. That was a good night
actually. I remember that I really enjoyed In This Moment and have wanted to
see them again. The chance has not come up sadly. If they aren’t clashing with
anyone then I hope to see them at Download.
Jimmy Eat World – I saw Jimmy Eat World twice in 2011 and thought
they were good both times. I preferred them when they supported Foo Fighters as
they played the songs I knew mixed throughout the set, as opposed to playing
them right at the end of the set like they did at Reading. Anyway, I am really
happy about this booking as I do like what I’ve heard of them. If I end up planning
to watch them though, I’ll do a little more research first.
Korn – Korn is probably the band I am happiest about seeing
in this announcement. I was really looking forward to seeing them at Download
2006 but Jonathan Davis had to be rushed to hospital. The band played a fairly
memorable set with guest vocalists (including a superb version of Freak on a
Leash with Corey Taylor). However since then, I have not had the chance to see
them (or truthfully been all that interested in spending £30+ on seeing them on
UK tours). They are being rejoined for this tour by Head, one of the founding
members of Korn I believe so I’m hoping it will be a classics/best of set and
leave the dubstep album alone (although if they want to throw a quick version
of Narcissistic Cannibal in the set, I’d be ok with that)
Last Witness – I listened to some of Last Witness earlier
when prepping for this writing and they didn’t do a great deal for me. That’s
pretty much it. I don’t hate them, or even dislike them. I just don’t care for
them really.
Limp Bizkit – What can I say? Limp Bizkit, along with Linkin
Park got me into rock and metal music. For that, they will always have a
special place in my heart (a place which Linkin Park are doing their best to
leave but that is a sentiment for another blog, maybe). I saw them at
Sonisphere 2009 and thought they were alright. I remember thinking that they
could have been better. I didn’t see them at Sonisphere 2011 as they clashed
with a couple of smaller bands I wanted to see. However, I think I would like
to see them again. The thing about their positioning is interesting as it
appears they are headlining the second stage on the Saturday. This means, due
to an agreement between the festival organisers that they will clash with the
end of Queens of the Stone Age’s set, and the changeover gap before Iron
Maiden. I am tempted to go and watch them and when they are finished, try and
get as far forward as possible for Iron Maiden. That sounds like a good plan –
I shall see what happens when stage times are released.
Mastodon – Mastodon have released one song that I like. I’ve
tried so many times to get into them and every time it ends in failure. I guess
it’s just not meant to be.
Motionless In White – I haven’t listened to much Motionless
in White but what I have heard, I have quite liked. A fairly good booking I
would say.
Parkway Drive – Pretty sure these guys have played
Sonisphere before when I’ve been there and I’ve missed them. Listening back to
their music now, I can see why I missed them. I like what I am hearing but I am
not in love with it. In terms of them being a festival band, they definitely
fall into the category of “if there’s nothing else on I fancy watching, then I’ll
watch them”.
Stone Sour – Stone Sour are one of my favourite bands so I
am of course delighted to see them on the Download line up. I wish they were
higher up but no matter! I suspect I’ll be watching them.
The Hives – This is a very surprising booking for the
festival I would say but I am really happy with it personally. I love the song “Hate
To Say I Told You So” and I’ve been told they are a superb live band. I imagine
I will be watching them as long as they don’t clash with one of my must-sees of
the festival.
The Sword – I saw them live in Portsmouth off the back of
the song they had on Guitar Hero and I ended up leaving quite early. They were
pretty boring that night. Some people love them; I am not one of those people.
UFO – Nothing wrong with a bit of classic rock early in the
day to get things started. I bet some of the music would be good for a
sing-along. It would be outstanding if they performed Doctor Doctor live before
Iron Maiden came out on stage, but I suspect that is unlikely. Their set should
be fun though, and it saves me spending £25 to see them in Portsmouth!
Vision Of Disorder – I really like what I’ve heard of this
band, which admittedly isn’t much (seems to be a theme of these blogs). I would
like to see this band at Download if I get the chance.
Walking Papers – One more blues rock band on the line up is
no bad thing. I like some of the music I have heard from this band. I was
surprised to learn that it is Duff McKagan on bass. I wonder if he is a live
member as well. Anyway, they are another band that I will see if I get the
chance to.
Young Guns – I like some of this bands stuff. I also don’t
like some of it. Will I watch them? Who knows? Only me, and I don’t at this
stage. If there is nothing else on, then I probably will give Young Guns a
watch.
Overall I would say that this has been a very good
announcement for Download (in terms of my personal tastes anyway). One thing
which does slightly concern me about this line-up however is the lack of a “wow-factor”.
Last year had Metallica playing the Black Album in full and the only European
date of Black Sabbath. The year before had the only UK date on the reunion tour
of System of a Down. 2010 had AC/DC headlining. I am happy with the line-up
this year but there is definitely no “wow-factor” present. Still, as it stands,
I would be happy seeing 37 bands that have been announced. While that does
include bands I’ve already seen, I think that is quite a good return at this
stage. This is the updated line-up poster:
All in all, that looks pretty good. At the end of my last
announcement blog, I posted a list of bands I suspected would be announced. Of the
10 I listed, 6 were announced. If you look at the poster, it is fairly clear
that there are still 2 second stager headliner slots to fill. I think they will
be filled by Paramore and The Scorpions. There is no science behind that guess.
Scorpions have been rumoured on various websites for a short while now, and
Paramore are playing other European festivals at around the same time as
Download. As for other bands, I would like to see The Wildhearts get announced
although I suspect at this stage they might not be. I would still like to see Bad
Religion get announced as I was really looking forward to seeing them at
Sonisphere, and then they clashed with Panic Cell’s last ever show. I think I’d
like to see Within Temptation get announced but aside from that, I can’t really
think of any other realistic names I’d like to see added to the bill. That’s an
odd way to be with about 5 months to go before the festival, but the current
line-up in my opinion is pretty strong.
EDIT - Late in the day but it would seem that poster is quite misleading. Enter Shikari are headlining the second stage on the Saturday and Limp Bizkit are headlining the second stage on the Sunday. Bizkit against Rammstein? Only one winner there sadly
EDIT 2 - It would seem that The Hives are clashing with Iron Maiden. That is really not friendly. I said I would watch them as long as they are not clashing with one of my "must see" bands. Iron Maiden are a must see band. Bah!
EDIT - Late in the day but it would seem that poster is quite misleading. Enter Shikari are headlining the second stage on the Saturday and Limp Bizkit are headlining the second stage on the Sunday. Bizkit against Rammstein? Only one winner there sadly
EDIT 2 - It would seem that The Hives are clashing with Iron Maiden. That is really not friendly. I said I would watch them as long as they are not clashing with one of my "must see" bands. Iron Maiden are a must see band. Bah!
No comments:
Post a Comment