Get a Download of this!

I don't know if anyone knows this, but apparently you can't please everyone. On 17th, 18th and 19th November 2014, the infamous Download Festival announced its first set of confirmed bands for the 2015 event. Lets go through each confirmed band, shall we?

Friday

The first day needs to be hard-hitting, and it needs to set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Who better than to send the happy campers of Download back to their tents in a hyperactive mood than Slipknot? This is the band's third headline appearance at Donington since 2009, which has given people reason to moan about how there is a lack of diversity amongst the headliners each year. I could understand people whinging about that if the headliner were an act who are infamous for having the stage presence of a courgette, but this is Slipknot we're talking about; arguably one of the most destructive live outfits around. With a rotating setlist and new album .5: The Gray Chapter out now, I see no reason why they can't slam Download to the ground once more.

Before the masked mayhem though, you have to go through Judas Priest first. A band that are undisputed legends of the heavy metal circuit, they will go down a proverbial storm at Download. Last time they graced Donington's hallowed turf, they played as special guests to Kiss in 2008, and I hear they were phenomenal. As veterans of the live circuit, they played back when this festival was called Monsters Of Rock, over thirty years ago, so it is time for them to show these young whippersnappers how it's done.
The main stage announcements are completed by Five Finger Death Punch. My girlfriend went to Download's 2013 event, and came away from it with nothing but good things to say about this band. With live performances as hard-hitting as their name, they'll be bringing their stateside heavy metal show to Donington for their fourth appearance. They have rightly earned their place high on the main stage, and with the anthems that gracefully adorn their back catalogue, they are sure to whip up a frenzy and get the circle pits going. Future headliners? We'll see.
For the Zippo Encore stage, Black Stone Cherry are your headliners. Now, this has set the cat amongst the pigeons, so to speak. Whilst Black Stone Cherry are a hugely respected band amongst the rock community, they are in the exact same position that they were in back in 2013, when they headlined the second stage against main stage headliners, you guessed it, Slipknot. They will definitely pull a big crowd on the Friday, but for those who have to choose between these two American heavyweights again, it's not an easy choice to make. That and, some people are a bit sick of them being at Download (this is their third year in a row here). I however, would like to see them on the main stage at some point. Their recent arena tour with Airbourne in tow suggests that there can only be bigger things on the horizon for Black Stone Cherry.

Saturday

Whether the ignorant masses incapable of accepting change like it or not, Muse are headlining the Saturday night. Regarded as the greatest live act around today, Muse will be showcasing their alternative rock to the metal masses, which is an environment that they're not entirely unfamiliar with. The minor backlash that they received upon announcement was totally unjustified. This is a band who can woo you and make your clothes mysteriously fall off with a delicate piano ballad, but can also burst your eardrums with an onslaught of riffs. With a rumoured "heavier" seventh album in the pipeline, I can guarantee that Muse will be one of the heaviest bands of the weekend, with more riffs than Donington will be expecting. If they play the right songs, they will go down an absolute storm e.g. playing Stockholm Syndrome, Dead Star and Hyper Music in favour of Explorers, Undisclosed Desires and Feeling Good will win over the doubters who have the band pigeonholed as Queen wannabees who write radio rock for teenage art students. This is a chance for Muse to shut everyone up who thinks they can't rock a cradle.

Muse can make light work of following many bands, but returning former headliners Faith No More are not going to be an easy band to follow. A very popular pick, they blew everyone away when they returned to the live circuit and headlined Download in 2009. Now though, they're bringing some new tunes with them, which will become part of the first album they have released in 18 years. The recently aired Motherfucker has fans pining for more, and at the same time has left every fan as confused as ever, as let's face it, Faith No More are at their best when they leave people feeling confused. Even if their new material somehow fails to deliver, you can bet your mortgage that songs like Epic and We Care A Lot will leave the crowd caring a lot.

A Day To Remember are guaranteed to draw a huge following to the main stage. They're currently coming to the end of a small UK tour, with the foundations being built for what could become one of the most successful acts to come over from across the pond in recent years. Having caught their main stage set at Leeds Festival this year, they're definitely at home on a big stage, with the crowd being in the palm of their hand. Thousands upon thousands of excitable punters were singing the guitar riff to 2009 single The Downfall of Us All before A Day To Remember had even taken to the stage; this is the kind of hype that the Download crowd will gladly provide too. A crossover of pop punk and modern metal appeals to many demographics, meaning that everyone from happy hardcore teenagers to the most metal dude you know will be keeping an eye on this band. Miss them at your peril.
And now, we have Marilyn Manson headlining the Zippo Encore stage. His recent appearances at Download gathered many critics, with claims that he was either "not bothered" or that he was too drunk to know his Antichrist from his Superstar; these criticisms were mostly related to his much maligned 2009 appearance on the main stage. Download Festival booker Andy Copping confirmed that he refused to book him after the calamitous 2009 gig, but since Copping recently observed Manson back in action in the USA, he explained that Manson is "back to his best". This will excite those who are holding out hope for the American to not have completely lost it, but will also provide those who aren't satisfied with Muse as a headline option, with something to get their teeth into.

Sunday

The final day of the weekend is very much as classic rock affair as the line up looks so far. Kiss will be closing the main stage, with what may be one of the biggest shows Donington will ever see. They're definitely showmen, but with Gene Simmons' big mouth not gaining him many fans (see my post before this), he may be prone to a bit of verbal from the local pundits. Maybe this his way of winning over his haters, and it may very well work; last time they headlined in 2008, if Donington had a roof, Kiss blew it off, and then some. Their anthems have the power of unite all masses, with what may prove to be one of the loudest singalongs of the weekend.

Signing off in style with their last ever UK festival appearance is Motley Crue. They're old hands at this, and since it's their final tour, they will want to go out with a bang. Kiss will have trouble following them, because when the ever so solid Crue are on form, they're untouchable. With a sold out tour of the USA behind them (with Alice Cooper in tow), and nine studio albums behind them, be sure to see them for what may be the final time, as each individual embarks on their own projects/consider retirement.

A mixture of Download favourites, Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators combines the sexy Guns n' Roses riff machine with the soaring vocals of Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy. These two rock n'roll juggernauts put Axl Rose's silly excuse of modern "Guns n' Roses" to shame. Rather than being all about Axl, with these two it's all about the music. New album World On Fire will get an airing, and you can guarantee a top notch atmosphere with the popular top-hatted veteran. Still to this day he is one of my favourite guitarists, and with his trademark Gibson Les Paul on display, Kennedy's Plant-style crooning will surely be one of the strongest and most popular performances of the event.

Finally, topping the second stage are techno-wizards Enter Shikari. They seem to be at Download every other year, but that's only because their live shows are such a draw. At Leeds 2014, they were easily one of the best performances I've seen at the festival, and I am lucky enough to be catching them on their upcoming UK tour. New album The Last Garrison is due for release in January, and if the title track is anything to go by, we're in for another groundbreaking effort from the St Albans quartet. There will be a large dose of youngsters who will be sacrificing their chance to see the painted ones on the main stage, but what they will get is a powerful light show complete with high intensity mosh pit action. There will be blood, and I warn you, there will be genre-bending.

We wait in anticipation for further announcements from the Download camp. Your move, Mr Copping.