Words by Tom Donno & Marta Tavares
In part four we take a deeper look across the Friday and Saturday and give a few more of our stand-out picks at Download this year.
Opus Stage - Mr. Bungle - Friday
Mike Patton's brilliantly erratic Mr. Bungle are back, and with the line-up including the relentless one-two combo of Dave Lombardo and Scott Ian taking the band through their Thrash era there's absolutely no doubt this will be performance of the day on this particular stage. Their recent show in London was as savagely heavy as it was completely bizarre. Slayer into Dad jokes? Why not. Spandau Ballet covers? Go on then. It's a party and the band are having an absolute blast.
Dogtooth Stage - Urne - Friday
Hitting the fourth stage around the middle point of the afternoon are one of the most exciting Metal bands coming through on the scene at the moment. With the release of A Feast On Sorrow last year, Urne went from a promising band to a genuinely brilliant one in a flash. Glimpses of this prowess were certainly scattered across older records but on this run they're truly stomping their way through to a bigger and brighter future. Brutal, tight and melodic on all counts - don't miss this.
Opus Stage - Bleed From Within - Saturday
Speaking of bands rising through the ranks in Metal at the moment, Bleed From Within continue to go from strength to strength at the moment. With the announcement that they're entering a new chapter on the eve of Download we cannot wait to see what's in store both this weekend and beyond. The band last graced Donington two years ago with a truly impressive short set on the fourth stage (similar time and placing as Urne above) so seeing them unleashed on one of the two big outdoor stages is an absolute must watch. Riffs, riffs and more riffs.
Opus Stage - Tom Morello - Saturday
One of the potentially more interesting sets of the weekend, Rage Against The Machine's legendary guitarist will bring his solo show to the second stage in what we're sure will be an eclectic set indeed. Given Morello has flirted with everything from Folk to Hip Hop to Metal to everything in between should keep everyone on their toes throughout. Another one of those odd band sandwiches at Download this year - Morello is squeezed between While She Sleeps and Slaughter To Prevail - but we're still expecting a big crowd for one of music's genuine greats.
Apex Stage - Bambie Thug - Saturday
How often do you get to say you seen a current year Eurovision Song Contest entrant at Download? Bambie Thug was of course Ireland's representative in the maddest singing competition in the world this year and considering the music was on a far more extreme part of the spectrum in comparison to the others, they actually put in a good showing. Tasked with opening the Main Stage on the Saturday (a brutal slot for absolutely anybody), this booking may in turn be a stroke of genius from the organisers as there is no chance Bambie Thug will come and go quietly. An 11am ruckus indeed.
Apex Stage - The Offspring - Saturday
We're rounding off our "best of the rest" portion of the preview with these genuine legends in alternative music. With a career now spanning 40 years (how mad does that sound), this will be a greatest hits set from front to back. A perfect Saturday night sub-headliner, it feels fitting that they take to the stage before headliners Fall Out Boy - a band who may not exist the way they do today if not for The Offspring and some of their closest peers across the 90s in particular. From Self Esteem to Why Don't You Get A Job to The Kids Aren't Alright to everything in between - this will be a major sing-along event at this year's Download.
Check out all other parts of our preview coverage below:
http://roomthirteen.com/features/1272/DL2024_Preview_Part_1.html
http://roomthirteen.com/features/1273/DL2024_Preview_Part_2.html
http://roomthirteen.com/features/1274/DL2024_Preview_Part_3.html
DONINGTON! See you all in the field.