Download 2007 Redux

And here's the third review, it's a long one from 'the_bunster':

The Bunster’s Download 2007 Review

DAY 1
After arriving early afternoon and sorting out the basic necessities – Beer tokens and food (Damn, those Burritos were good!) – the first band we headed to see was MEGADETH on the main stage. This was a great start to proceedings and got everyone pretty well warmed up for the weekend. It was a bit of a surprise to see them on so early but I’d say they’ve definitely still got it – some would say got it back - playing a number of songs off both the recent United Abominations and Rust In Peace and leaving well alone most of the stuff in between. The 45 minutes allocated to them flew by but definitely worth catching again in the near future – the ticket price was already looking good value.

After that it was into the Tuborg tent (the smallest stage) for all-girl group THE HEDRONS. I thought these were great and the best “find” of the festival bands that I didn’t previously have much awareness of. They describe themselves as the love child of Joan Jett and the Foo Fighters and it was just the kind of high-energy punk metal that I love. The album is already on order and I suspect it will be played to death over the next few weeks. If you want a preview, I suggest visiting the site (http://www.thehedrons.com/) and having a listen for yourselves.

THINGS THAT PASSED OVERHEAD ON DAY 1: A few empty plastic bottles, a hundred planes and the lead singer of The Hedrons – If you’re going to have a lead singer crowdsurfing over you, I recommend a petite rock-chick over the beer-bellied biker every time!

As Jon and Tim stayed at the main stage to watch DRAGONFORCE (I’ll ask their opinion on that) can I say just one more time that they missed out on The Hedrons? – Yes, One More Won’t Kill Me!

After that it was back to the main stage for WOLFMOTHER and then VELVET REVOLVER. I enjoyed both of these without being blown away but then I don’t really know much material of either of them. I think Wolfmother would be good fun in a smaller arena with a crowd that knows all the stuff and whilst Velvet Revolver threw out a couple of Guns N’ Roses covers (It’s So Easy / Mr Brownstone), hearing Slash play guitar again was the high point and just made me pine for the good old days!

After this it was back to the Tuborg stage for HAYSEED DIXIE, which I enjoyed immensely. It’s the third time I’ve seen them and, yes, they are the same every time but it’s still just good fun and the old rock classics still sound great played on Banjo.

The main reason for turning up on day 1 though was for MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. The down side of the day was to see them bottled by festivalgoers who didn’t think they were big enough to headline. [If you don’t like them, just f*ck off to the bar or one of the other stages]. Despite that, I enjoyed MCR as much as I thought I would – I love The Black Parade and they played it virtually in order with very little of the older stuff thrown in and that was always a winner with me. Were they big enough to command the main stage as headline act? Possibly not quite but I don’t know who else there over the three days could have done a better job. The set was maybe 15 minutes short of what it could have been but another album the same standard as the Black Parade (not a given!) and they will truly belong – I for one will look forward to seeing them again.

Overall, Day 1 belonged to MCR and Megadeth – big acts who went a large way towards paying back the admission fee – and The Hedrons who proved it’s worth digging around the smaller stages to listen to new bands.

DAY 2
After sorting out the Burritos and Beer for starters it was off to the Dimebag Darrell stage for AS I LAY DYING. These sounded pretty decent but were just too damn heavy for my taste. ANATHEMA were next with an alarming brand of Ginger Rock accompanied by a woman in a floral print dress – very metal!

After seeing the first half of the surreal Anathema It was off to the main stage for BOWLING FOR SOUP. These were a great act for the main stage in the afternoon as they were just out to have fun and encourage the crowd to do likewise, including the welcome request for female flesh. Hooray for Boobies!!!

Over in Tuborg it was time for LEZ ZEPPELIN. The name alone told us these should be worth seeing. They were far above a novelty act, however, playing superbly and making you wonder whether Whole Lotta Love should have had a female lead in the first place. A definite must when the album comes out next month and the only criticism was that it wasn’t long enough – I could have watched these for twice as long.

Back on the main stage and it was time for MARILYN MANSON. I’m not a great fan and it’s more theatre than Rock N’ Roll but I enjoyed it all the same and he at least looked as if he believed he belonged on the main stage playing second fiddle to the main act, something Velvet Revolver and Evanescence never really managed.

Then came the hardest decision of the Festival. I chose MOTLEY CRUE over Linkin Park because I knew without doubt I’d enjoy it and was not disappointed. It was like a greatest hits album and although it may be due to the amount of beer, I can remember only one song released later than the early 90s (Sick Love Song). Great hits like Dr Feelgood, Live Wire, Home Sweet Home (Lighters out!) and Primal Scream – to name a few – came fast and furious and were only interrupted by the need for Tommy Lee to come out from behind the drums to encourage the crowd with more than a few well placed f-words. They finished with Girls, Girls, Girls and Kickstart My Heart and you just wanted more – I’d say these guys were “still Kickin’ Ass”. Critics may say they’re milking it for all they can and to be honest they looked as if they knew they were but they didn’t try new material – just hit after hit for the festival crowd. I caught the end of LINKIN PARK and they sounded as if they were pretty good and filled the main stage well enough but sadly I can’t be everywhere at once and I’m not disappointed with my decision.

THINGS THAT PASSED OVERHEAD ON DAY 2: More planes, a few nearly empty plastic bottles and my own arse when I went A.O.T. on the way out – still, it was dark so I’m sure no one noticed, I think I got away with it!!!

For me Day 2 was about Lez Zeppelin and especially the Crue – 15 years ago they’d have been headlining which I doubt they would have got away with now but the crowd still loved every minute and the smile never left Vince Neil’s face.

DAY 3
More Burritos and new Iron Maiden T-Shirts and we were all set for day 3, which for me started with PAPA ROACH on the main stage. If all the bands on the main stage had have worked the crowd like these guys it truly would have been an amazing festival. Tireless in their efforts to get the crowd going and playing fast and loud, these were definitely for me a band that have gone up more in my estimations than any other. I wasn’t a great fan before but now I’ll certainly make an effort to listen to them more as they just acted as if they belonged – a rare feat.

A number of bands then passed by in a bit of a blur. DEVIL DRIVER was interesting. They were full of energy and very entertaining, especially the stunt of moving the crowd back only to have them charge at each other when the next song started. Remember kids – “we’re all family, so if anyone falls, pick ‘em up”. Didn’t hear of any deaths but I suspect the first aid tents got busier. Next up was ORANGE GOBLIN who I only heard from a distance though Jon was impressed. I’ve already forgotten PARADISE LOST, they made that little impression and then it was just a wait for a band I really wanted to see.

What can I say about WITHIN TEMPTATION? I love the albums, expected them to be good live but it turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the festival. Technical problems reduced the set to 15 minutes and that just wasn’t long enough. I don’t think it was really their fault and there was enough evidence in the 4 tracks they played to suggest they are worth another chance. They return to the UK later in the year and I’m sure I’ll be there – it just didn’t happen today.

Then back to the main stage for the big two acts that I came to see. First let me say EVANESCENCE didn’t disappoint. The music was well executed and Amy Lee’s voice was clear and powerful. The downside was that they seemed aware of the fact that some of the crowd were only getting into position for Maiden and seemed daunted by it. Bigger acts than these have received worse treatment at Donington in the same position and I thoroughly enjoyed the music which is what I was interested in – if only some others felt the same.

THINGS THAT PASSED OVERHEAD ON DAY 3: More planes, an inflatable penis and, in the wait between Evanescence and Maiden, a million nearly full plastic bottles. I had to explain to the young girl next to me that there was really no need to sniff the contents of the offending bottle - the fact it wasn’t warm told her all she needed to know!

So last up, IRON MAIDEN. What can we say? They started off with a number of tracks off A Matter Of Life And Death, which didn’t really get the crowd off to the flying start they could have done. I suspect most Maiden fans know what they want to hear and I suspect, like me, it isn’t most of the new stuff. By halfway though we were at full pace and from then it was relentless until the end. I’d made up my mind years ago that Number Of The Beast was my favourite album so it was pleasing to see virtually everything off this album was played, excepting, bizarrely, 22 Acacia Avenue. Run To The Hills, Fear Of The Dark, The Trooper and 2 Minutes To Midnight are always going to be crowd pleasers and they finished on my personal favourite Hallowed Be Thy Name so for that I’ll forgive them the fact that they want to play their newest stuff early. Easily the only band of the three days that could truly carry the main stage with such force and makes you wonder if the days of the big metal bands like these is coming to an end. I loved it; the rest of the crowd seemed to as well although I suspect Billy Talent didn’t enjoy playing against them in the other arena – Maiden were PURE CLASS.

Day 3 – belonged to Maiden – enough said!

Top 5ish Bands of the Festival:
Iron Maiden – Awesome.
Motley Crue – The more I look back the more I realised how much these guys rocked.
Evanescence – Great music, just need more belief.
My Chemical Romance – No great depth of material but the stuff they played was always entertaining.
The Hedrons and Lez Zeppelin – small bands, smallest stage, great atmospheres.

EDIT 23/7/07: Here's a photo of the guest bloggers. Cheers guys!