PREVIEW: Download Festival UK 10-12th June 2022

Download Festival is making its highly anticipated return with its first full-scale festival in three years. The big rock reunion party, which kicks off the festival season, will take place on 10-12th June 2022 at the Donnington Park, Leicestershire. The massive return also will see some major site improvement plans following feedback, so it is now even more equipped to take on the hordes of metal heads. After such a long wait, the festival is packing a hefty line-up. Here are just some bands we recommend you catch over the loaded weekend!

It goes without saying that the headliners are a big pull and worth checking out. This year boasts a varied headliner mix to please and cater for the masses, offering something for everyone, with old school glam rockers KISS closing the first day. The unstoppable NWOBMH champions Iron Maiden headline on Saturday and will satisfy both old school and newer metalheads alike. The closing day sees Scottish powerhouse alternative rockers Biffy Clyro see the festival out.

Friday

Florida hard rockers A Day To Remember are known for their fun and vibrant mix of punk mixed with metalcore and know how to deliver massive anthemic songs that go down a storm live. Their latest seventh album, ‘You’re Welcome’ was released last year, so they are bound to play a few tracks from there, but no doubt they will play all their top and well-loved melodic offerings.

British metalcore heavyweights Bury Tomorrow have recently returned with new music unveiling their new line-up, welcoming Tom Prendergast (keyboards/vocals) and Ed Hartwell (guitar) after long-time clean vocalist/rhythm guitarist Jason Cameron left, leaving fans worried. Still, the new members step up in their latest offering, ‘Death’ to assert that the band is still in business and going strong. We are likely to hear this new single plus hopefully more unreleased new material, and it will be exciting to see them perform with the new members.

Italian gothic metallers Lacuna Coil latest and heaviest album 2019’s ‘Black Anima’ tour promotion was cut short due to the pandemic, so they have plenty of making up to do. They have also revealed that they are working on a new album, so maybe they will treat us to some new songs, but even if not, they have got an impressive back catalogue to choose from to keep fans happy.

American metalcore act The Ghost Inside have experienced massive hardships following the bus crash accident back in 2015 that left three members in critical condition, and understandable meant the band had to take a hiatus to recover from the ordeal. They came back on the scene in 2019 to perform live and went on to release their latest fifth self-titled album in 2020, their first release since their accident. The album saw the anticipated and welcome return to the sound you would expect and was well received by fans and critics. This band has persevered in the most extreme sense and proved they have plenty of creativity and fight in them to continue to deliver impressive metalcore and are very inspiring, continuing their dreams despite their setbacks and trauma, so they will be a hotly anticipated band to catch at the festival.

Saturday

Alternative metal act Deftones hardly need an introduction. They are unmistakable with their unique sound and vocals from frontman Chino Moreno. They are bound to draw in a massive crowd and allure with their impressive back catalogue that spans their twenty-seven-year career. Their latest album was 2020’s critically acclaimed ‘Ohms’, which was the perfect blend of Deftones old roots and their evolution. Their set will be varied and soaring.

Melodic British metallers The Raven Age was formed in 2009 and features guitarist George Harris, son of infamous Iron Maiden bass player Steve Harris. They have three albums behind their belts, with their second album ‘Conspiracy’ diving into medieval history, making for a musically and lyrically thrilling listen.

Metal legends Megadeth again like many bands on this list need no introduction, but 2022 will mark the release of their 16th album ‘The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!’ which is set for release on July 8th 2022. So with Download so close to the release date, they are likely to grace us with new material. With front man Dave Mustaine successfully beating his throat cancer, Mustaine is fighting fit and ready to tour, and the metal community is ready to cheer and mosh with them.

Welsh post-hard act Funeral For A Friend disbanded in 2016, but fortunately, in 2019, they reunited as a live band to play some benefit shows and decided to play a few more. They were set to perform at Download 2020, but as the event was cancelled here, we are in 2022, and they are returning to Donnington perhaps for the very last time.

Hardcore punk rockers Dragged Under debut 2020 album ‘The World Is In Your Way’ went down a storm, and with their new studio album titled ‘Upright Animals’ will be released globally on the 10th of June, the day before their Download UK debut, the timing couldn’t be better. This will be their first UK tour, so catch this up and coming band in their early stages.

Sunday

Nu-metal champions Korn always delivers a crushing set and being up so high on the bill on the main stage, they will have plenty of time to play all their best songs spanning their impressive fourteen albums. Their newest album is ‘Requeim’, with Korn doing what they do best with some more killer songs to add to their collection.

Swashbuckling pirate metallers Alestorm always bring the fun and comedy to their sets armed with tonnes of catchy singalong songs, and with their new album ‘Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum’ due out on 24th June they have even more absurd songs to sing along to such as their latest single ‘P.A.R.T.Y’ which is meant for the live setting.

German power metal act Powerwolf’s latest album 2021’s ‘Call Of The Wild’ may be their best album yet, adding more fan favourite anthemic tracks to their catalogue, which are thrilling and compelling with their glorious dramatic and ominous melodic tracks which will be perfect for the live setting.

If you want to experience something wickedly weird and different, then Twin Temple is a must with their unique Satanic Doo-Wop. Twin Temple consists of a married couple and practising Satanists Alexandra and Zachary James, who hail from Los Angeles. The duo has quite a reputation for their live shows, being known to perform rituals involving blood during their sets. So be sure to witness them and become part of their following.

Metalcore supergroup Kill The Lights consists of James Clark, ex-Throw The Fight, on vocals, Jordan Whelan of Still Remains on guitar, Travis Montgomery, ex-Threat Signal on guitar, and two former Bullet For My Valentine members, with Jay James on bass and Michael’ Moose’ Thomas on drums. Their previous experience in other bands makes them a formidable force. They released their debut album ‘The Sinner’, in 2020 via Fearless Records, and they have a striking sound that will be perfect for the festival and get people moshing.