Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
It is a great Sunday in Donington Park, and while the end of Download Festival is coming, the event has still something left for us before saying goodbye. Many bands to see and to enjoy, old and new acts that are ready to enchant the audience of the festival. Our morning begins, like usual, at Opus stage…
Let’s start the day with some good ol’ metalcore, shall we? That’s why the first band of the day is Catch Your Breath, directly from Texas to Download. It was my first time seeing them and they have been an absolute delight, I enjoyed how well lead vocalist Josh was handling the stage, the audience and everything else in between. He is truly a master of this! But let’s not forget the other members Teddy, Cianan and Onell, that give depth and meaning to each song they play. I sincerely hope to see them again soon enough!
Photo: Niko Sihvonen.
Some people choose to get into the music business. Some, instead, are born into it. And if that’s not an appropriate description for Mammoth, I don’t know what is. Wolfgang Van Halen is a living legacy and with his band’s show at the Opus stage, he showed very clearly why he’s such an accomplished artist. His guitar playing skills were exquisite, as were his vocals. The majority of the setlist was focused on their latest release “The End”, but they didn’t forget tracks like “Don’t Back Down” and “Like a Pastime“. Rock and roll is alive and well, and Mammoth is the definitive proof of it.
Photo: Niko Sihvonen.
Does anyone here like secrets? Well, if they’re in a relationship or in a workplace maybe they can be nasty, but I would argue that a secret performance is something positive. And we’ve been wondering all week who was the secret set that would perform at the Dogtooth stage: when my colleague read that it was Skindred, we were basically jumping up and down from happiness. But then we were also worried, because how packed will the tent be? And the answer was: incredibly much! I had to go and take a spot hours before so I could be inside and have a clear view of the stage. My efforts were rewarded though because I was front row to one of the most exceptional shows that Download (or should we say Dredload?) has ever witnessed. Skindred bring it all and give it all, there’s no doubt. With just 25 minutes of set, it was even going to be more intense. There were people crowdsurfing for the whole duration of the show, and it was completely mad. Then the band also invited everyone to their upcoming headlining tour and special Halloween show in London, which I’m sure will be even more crazy!
Photo: Niko Sihvonen.
Music shouldn’t mix with politics, that’s the point of view of some people. But I don’t think it’s right. Music has always been, is, and will always be political. It is a vessel for expression, rebellion and fight. This is basically the job description of Tom Morello, the legendary guitarist of Rage Against The Machine and more. I think he deserved the headlining spot on the Opus stage, but I’m not complaining about this set at all. With a loving tribute to both Ozzy Osbourne and Chris Cornell, this man’s talent knows no bounds, both as an artist as well as an entertainer. He knows how to get a crowd to go crazy, and we’re all here for it. With his son Roman (who’s almost a superb guitarist as Tom is), the audience kept on asking for more. Everybody played on their new single “ADJOURN IT” featuring Serj Tankian, and the usual cover of Bruce Springsteen‘s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” which I adore, and ended the set with “Killing In The Name” and “Power To The People“. To me, this was the best performance of all the Download Festival, and it’s going to get a great deal to top it. Long live Tom Morello.
Photo: Niko Sihvonen.
Oh, to be young, and to be in 2007, listening to nu metal, or symphonic metal, or punk. Sorry, that was just a trip down my memory lane, which is exactly what happened when Linkin Park graced the Apex stage, closing the 2026 edition of the Download Festival. This was my first time seeing them, also with the new lineup that recorded “From Zero”. I must admit, Emily does an excellent job in singing and fronting the band, so hats off to her for such an incredible legacy that she’s carrying on her shoulders. While she is incredible on the new material, I have to say that probably the Chester-era songs don’t fit her singing style to a T. Despite this, she is helped by Mike Shinoda and the rest of the group to shine brighter. Also, I felt that they have somehow reworked their previous songs in a bit softer way. When “What I’ve Done” started, it almost seemed like it was a ballad, instead of the powerful anthem that the original is. The same goes for “Numb” and “In The End“. That doesn’t mean that it’s not an enjoyable set, full of theatricals and special effects, it just means that you’ll be listening to something slightly different than what’s on the CD that I’m sure we all own. All in all, it was a very glorious ending to another great Download Festival, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed all these amazing artists in person.
Photo: Niko Sihvonen.
