HIM Have Signed Up
With the scorching sunshine and incredible heat of last year’s Download hard to beat, this year’s Festival is well on its way to top what was considered THE rock music event of the year, with another 22 bands added to the bill.
An incredible array of rock and metal acts, each representing the many different facets of the genre, will perform at this year’s Download Festival, which takes place at the mecca of rock and metal, Donington Park. Sunset Strip legends Steel Panther, whose Third Stage performance last year was one of the many festival highlights, Donington veterans Saxon - who will be performing their Wheels of Steel album in its entirety to celebrate the album’s – and Donington’s - 30th anniversary, Finnish rock outfit HIM – who played the first ever Download in 2003 and have since played another three; and the often-compared to AC/DC Aussie rockers Airbourne, who return to Download for the second time.
Also confirmed are New Jersey prog-rockers Coheed & Cambria, US glam-metallers Cinderella (returning to Donington for the second time having played Monsters of Rock in 1987), Welsh wonders The Blackout, Florida rockers A Day To Remember, Alaskan metallers 36 Crazyfists, mathcore heroes Dillinger Escape Plan, new Roadrunner signings Dommin and Taking Dawn, Boston metalcore stars Unearth, Nottingham rockers Lawnmower Deth, Metal Blade death metallers Job For A Cowboy and Whitechapel, and the Pennsylvanian metalscore band August Burns Red.
Plus San Diego glam metallers Ratt, ex-Evanescence and American Idol combo We Are The Fallen, brutal thrash metallers Rise To Remain, metal supergroup HellYeah, and San Fransciscan heavy rock act Y&T – another Monsters of Rock veteran band, who played Donington in 1984 along with this year’s Download headliners AC/DC.
These acts all join AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine, Aerosmith plus more in what’s shaping up to be one hell of a way to celebrate 30 years of Donington rock history at this year’s Download Festival.
STEEL PANTHER
This Los Angeles foursome returns to the Download stage for a second time. Since their first appearance at Download last year this band have gone from strength to strength. Building up a cult following with their outrageous style, raucous stage shows and seismic guitars. They released their debut album Feel The Steel in October of last year and have since been touring relentlessly. The band comes back to the UK in March before making what is bound to be a very memorable Download performance in June.
SAXON
Forming in 1976 this English heavy metal band have been heralded as leading lights in the new wave of British heavy metal. They had huge success in the 80s with 8 UK Top 40 albums including 4 Top 10 albums. Influencing some of today’s finest metal bands, such as Metallica and Megadeth, Saxon have sold more than 13 million albums worldwide. This will be Saxon’s fourth time at Download with their first at the 1980 Monsters of Rock.
HIM
HIM return to Donington for their fifth time at Download. Forming in 1991 this Finnish rock band have since released seven full length albums, the latest Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, Chapters 1-13 was released in February. Before hitting Donington turf the band will embark on a 28-city US tour in support of their latest release.
AIRBOURNE
Australian rock band Airbourne formed in 2003 and released their first EP Ready to Rock in 2004. The band relocated to the US to start work on their first full length, which was released in 2007. A year later they took to Donington ground for their first Download appearance.
COHEED & CAMBRIA
Progressive rockers Coheed & Cambria will return to Download for a third time this year in support of their fifth studio album Year of the Black Rainbow which is set for release in April.
CINDERELLA
Multi-platinum selling band Cinderella return to Donington since their first appearance at Monsters of Rock in 1987. Emerging in the mid-1980s the bands debut album Night Songs achieved triple platinum status reaching number 3 on the Billboard charts. After taking a hiatus due to singer Tom Keifer injuring his voice Cinderella are back and embarking on their first tour since 2006 including a very special Download performance.
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Victory Record signings A Day To Remember formed in Florida in 2003 and first played Download in 2008 – also taking part in ‘The Road To Download’ tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Alesana – returning again in 2009, making this year their third appearance. Their most recent album Homesick reached Number 1 in the US indie charts.
36 CRAZYFISTS
Hailing from Alaska, this four-piece metal band first emerged in 2000 when they were signed to Roadrunner Records and released their first major debut album in 2002. Since forming in 1994 this band have toured relentlessly and released four studio albums with their most recent release coming out in 2008 through Ferret Music. With a new album set for release this Summer their Download performance will be their fourth time back to Donington turf.
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
Mathcore pioneers Dillinger Escape Plan return to Download for a third time. Known for their elaborate performances and technical approach to music, they first made a name for themselves when they signed to Relapse Records and released their first full length in 1999. With relentless touring and various line-up changes the band return this year with a new album set for release this March.
DOMMIN
Forming in Los Angeles in 2000 this four-piece became well-known for their hit song My Heart, Your Hands on their album Mend Your Misery released in 2007. The band are currently signed with Roadrunner Records and recently released their second full length album in February. This will be the bands first Download appearance.
TAKING DAWN
Growing up in Las Vegas the glitz and glam helped shaped the band into what it is today – a rock n’ roll time bomb with melodic hooks and heavy riffs. They are currently preparing to release their Roadrunner Records debut album Time To Burn.
UNEARTH
Metalcore band Unearth were formed in Massachusetts in 1998 and since have released four studio albums with their last in 2008. With stints on Sounds of The Underground Tour, Ozzfest and support slots with the likes of Slipknot and Killswitch Engage as well as two performances at Download Festival - Unearth are ready to return to the UK for lucky number three.
LAWNMOWER DETH
English thrash metal band Lawnmower Deth formed in the late 1980s and after splitting reunited in 2008 to support Welsh metalcore band Bullet For My Valentine for a one off gig in November at Alexandra Palace. Back by popular demand this will be the bands second Download performance with their first last year when they took to the Tuborg Stage underneath headliners Anvil and Architects.
WHITECHAPEL
American deathcore outfit Whitechapel formed in 2006 and since signing with Metal Blade Records have racked up some impressive tours including supports with the likes of Darkest Hour, Black Dahlia Murder, fellow Downloaders Unearth and Rise To Remain. The band are currently in the studio recording their fifth album set for a Summer release. As well as their first Download appearance they will take to the road for their first appearance on Warped Tour this Summer.
AUGUST BURNS RED
Only a few years ago, Lancaster, PA’s August Burns Red were just another young band trying to make their way in the modern metal scene. The band then released their first full-length album Messengers in 2007 through Solid State Records and a new front-runner in the modern metal scene emerged. This will be the bands second Download appearance.
RATT
American glam metal band formed in San Diego had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band have been recognised as instrumental in the formation of the early 80s LA hard rock and glam metal scene. They have sold an estimated 11 million records in the US while worldwide album sales are approximated at over 20 million. Their 7th studio album, Infestation is due to be released this month. This will be their second performance at Donington with their first in 1985 at Monsters of Rock.
THE BLACKOUT
The Blackout began life in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil in 2006. With just one EP release under their belt the sextet were invited by their countrymen and 2008 Download headliners Lostprophets to be the main support on the band’s UK tour. The Blackout played to thousands of people each night and their fanbase expanded by the second. They released their first album in 2007 on Fierce Panda and toured all over the world in support of the release. Within the next year the band signed to Epitaph and released their sophomore record The Best In Town. This will be the band’s second time at the Download Festival – although they played twice last year, making it three actual performances!
WE ARE THE FALLEN
We Are The Fallen began forming in 2003 when former Evanescence members Ben Moody, John LeCompt and Rocky Gray decided a change needed to be made. Fronted by American Idol contestant Carly Smithson the band officially debuted on 22 June in 2009. In October 2009 the band signed with Universal Republic in preparation for the release of a full-length debut album. They are scheduled to play their first major concert at King’s College in London at the end of this month before beginning a 28-city concert tour with HIM. This will be the bands first Download performance and definitely not their last.
HELLYEAH
This supergroup originated in 2001 with former Pantera, Mudvayne members along with Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul. They embarked on their first tour in May 2007 and made a very memorable appearance at Download Festival. Their second album is scheduled for a 31 May release just in time for their second Download performance.
Y&T
Originally known as Yesterday & Today, this American hard rock heavy metal band formed in 1974. The band released two studio albums on London Records in the 70s before shortening their name to Y&T and releasing several albums on A&M Records starting in 1981. They have sold over 4 million albums worldwide to date and this will be their second time to play at Donington with the first in 1984 at Monsters of Rock.
JOB FOR A COWBOY
American death metal band formed in 2003. They released their first EP Doom in 2005 and later that year signed with Metal Blade Records. Their official debut album Genesis was released in 2007 reaching number 54 in the Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week. They have played several festivals including Sounds of the Underground, Mayhem Festival and Download in 2007 and 2008.
RISE TO REMAIN
Created on the streets of London in 2008, Rise To Remain are a five piece metal band who have begun to make their mark on the scene. Having toured with bands such as Trivium, Five Finger Death Punch, Shadows Fall and making their first Download appearance in 2008 the band are no strangers to the live circuit. They have recently emerged with their debut release showcasing their multi-textured sound which is due to be released this year.
With the scorching sunshine and incredible heat of last year’s Download hard to beat, this year’s Festival is well on its way to top what was considered THE rock music event of the year, with another 22 bands added to the bill.
An incredible array of rock and metal acts, each representing the many different facets of the genre, will perform at this year’s Download Festival, which takes place at the mecca of rock and metal, Donington Park. Sunset Strip legends Steel Panther, whose Third Stage performance last year was one of the many festival highlights, Donington veterans Saxon - who will be performing their Wheels of Steel album in its entirety to celebrate the album’s – and Donington’s - 30th anniversary, Finnish rock outfit HIM – who played the first ever Download in 2003 and have since played another three; and the often-compared to AC/DC Aussie rockers Airbourne, who return to Download for the second time.
Also confirmed are New Jersey prog-rockers Coheed & Cambria, US glam-metallers Cinderella (returning to Donington for the second time having played Monsters of Rock in 1987), Welsh wonders The Blackout, Florida rockers A Day To Remember, Alaskan metallers 36 Crazyfists, mathcore heroes Dillinger Escape Plan, new Roadrunner signings Dommin and Taking Dawn, Boston metalcore stars Unearth, Nottingham rockers Lawnmower Deth, Metal Blade death metallers Job For A Cowboy and Whitechapel, and the Pennsylvanian metalscore band August Burns Red.
Plus San Diego glam metallers Ratt, ex-Evanescence and American Idol combo We Are The Fallen, brutal thrash metallers Rise To Remain, metal supergroup HellYeah, and San Fransciscan heavy rock act Y&T – another Monsters of Rock veteran band, who played Donington in 1984 along with this year’s Download headliners AC/DC.
These acts all join AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine, Aerosmith plus more in what’s shaping up to be one hell of a way to celebrate 30 years of Donington rock history at this year’s Download Festival.
STEEL PANTHER
This Los Angeles foursome returns to the Download stage for a second time. Since their first appearance at Download last year this band have gone from strength to strength. Building up a cult following with their outrageous style, raucous stage shows and seismic guitars. They released their debut album Feel The Steel in October of last year and have since been touring relentlessly. The band comes back to the UK in March before making what is bound to be a very memorable Download performance in June.
SAXON
Forming in 1976 this English heavy metal band have been heralded as leading lights in the new wave of British heavy metal. They had huge success in the 80s with 8 UK Top 40 albums including 4 Top 10 albums. Influencing some of today’s finest metal bands, such as Metallica and Megadeth, Saxon have sold more than 13 million albums worldwide. This will be Saxon’s fourth time at Download with their first at the 1980 Monsters of Rock.
HIM
HIM return to Donington for their fifth time at Download. Forming in 1991 this Finnish rock band have since released seven full length albums, the latest Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, Chapters 1-13 was released in February. Before hitting Donington turf the band will embark on a 28-city US tour in support of their latest release.
AIRBOURNE
Australian rock band Airbourne formed in 2003 and released their first EP Ready to Rock in 2004. The band relocated to the US to start work on their first full length, which was released in 2007. A year later they took to Donington ground for their first Download appearance.
COHEED & CAMBRIA
Progressive rockers Coheed & Cambria will return to Download for a third time this year in support of their fifth studio album Year of the Black Rainbow which is set for release in April.
CINDERELLA
Multi-platinum selling band Cinderella return to Donington since their first appearance at Monsters of Rock in 1987. Emerging in the mid-1980s the bands debut album Night Songs achieved triple platinum status reaching number 3 on the Billboard charts. After taking a hiatus due to singer Tom Keifer injuring his voice Cinderella are back and embarking on their first tour since 2006 including a very special Download performance.
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Victory Record signings A Day To Remember formed in Florida in 2003 and first played Download in 2008 – also taking part in ‘The Road To Download’ tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Alesana – returning again in 2009, making this year their third appearance. Their most recent album Homesick reached Number 1 in the US indie charts.
36 CRAZYFISTS
Hailing from Alaska, this four-piece metal band first emerged in 2000 when they were signed to Roadrunner Records and released their first major debut album in 2002. Since forming in 1994 this band have toured relentlessly and released four studio albums with their most recent release coming out in 2008 through Ferret Music. With a new album set for release this Summer their Download performance will be their fourth time back to Donington turf.
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
Mathcore pioneers Dillinger Escape Plan return to Download for a third time. Known for their elaborate performances and technical approach to music, they first made a name for themselves when they signed to Relapse Records and released their first full length in 1999. With relentless touring and various line-up changes the band return this year with a new album set for release this March.
DOMMIN
Forming in Los Angeles in 2000 this four-piece became well-known for their hit song My Heart, Your Hands on their album Mend Your Misery released in 2007. The band are currently signed with Roadrunner Records and recently released their second full length album in February. This will be the bands first Download appearance.
Tagged in Download Festival