Download Festival 2021 Lineup Review

Download Festival 2021 Lineup Review

It was no surprised that Download 2020 was cancelled, with the epidemic going on it was obviously impossible for the festival to go on but today they released the lineup for 2021, so that's what I'll be looking at today. I've not been to Download yet, although I am extremely tempted to buy a ticket for this year's festival, but I've been looking back through the lineups... God the bookers need some variety, there's not been a band headlining for the first time since 2017... and that band is back to headline again. I know that metal and rock tend to suffer a bit from not as many bands quite making the qualification for headline status, especially considering Download is the biggest metal festival in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe, but still, there are definitely bands that could be given a chance. If The Offspring can headline 2008 why can't they come back and headline again? If Lostprophets can headline, why can't A Day To Remember, if Faith No More can why can't Bullet For My Valentine? I get that Download need to pull in the punters and having Maiden headline for a fifth time (average of every 3 years) will likely do so, but that doesn't mean every day has to have a boring and old headlining act, I mean seriously Maiden have done it 4 times, this will be System's fourth and KISS' 3rd. Download should look to do something similar to what Post Malone and Twenty-One Pilots did at Reading last year by having two bands not quite at headline status co-headline, e.g. Architects and Bring Me The Horizon. Anyway, mini-rant over, on a separate note if you want a playlist for this year's lineup here's the official playlist, as well as a fantastic playcast of last year's lineup by Jack Webb (definitely worth checking out on Youtube). Let's get into the rundown.

Headliners

KISS

I mean I partly even question what they're doing headlining the festival at all, let alone because it's their third time doing so without any music out since 2012, they're a fairly tame Hard Rock band who are (let's face it) irrelevant musically and in terms of their whole shtick, masks and facepaint aren't new anymore and there's doesn't compare to the likes of Slipknot, Insane Clown Posse and the majority of the Black Metal scene. They're cheesy, ageing and honestly dull, maybe they put on a good show and they'd be good for a sort of legend's homage slot or it may be okay if they were headlining for the first time but really? Again? The only justifying factor is that they are on their farewell tour so it sort of makes sense, but still a bit naff

Biffy (fuckin') Clyro

This Scottish band is kicking up a lot of hate on Twitter, with one guy saying that only 16-20 year olds like the band... little bit narrow minded considering how well their tours and albums sell and that they have been going longer than how old that supposed audience is. I won't lie I absolutely love the band, I can't wait for the new album this month and to be honest one of the main reasons I'm considering heading to Download is to see them (if I can't get tickets for their Cardiff gig). I heard some people say that the 2017 set was pretty empty crowds wise, and it does seem a little soon to be going again, although having a new album out (as well as a soundtrack) since then justifies it. Sure they're not metal, but then again neither are KISS and who cares? They're fantastic and have plenty of bangers.

System Of A Down

Again a band who are a little old and out of date by now, with their last album coming out 15 years ago and they're biggest songs (Toxicity and Chop Suey) coming up 20 years old with only rumours of new material on the horizon. However, they're nowhere near as cheesy as KISS and still have fairly relevant songs. Despite that, I can't help but feel that a fourth time for System would be better exchanged for a headline slots of one of the bands lower down the bill. Saying that, I love System and would absolutely be in the crowd for the set and they're not the worst booking if you're not going for anything new. 

Main Stage

Friday

A Day To Remember Supporting KISS seems like an odd choice, ADTR are likely to pull in a lot younger (and moshier) crowd, but anyway that is a brilliant choice, they're maybe one album away from co-headlining the festival and are just such a good band for a festival setting with some massive songs and a fairly innovative blend of Pop-Punk and Metalcore. Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes is an absolutely brilliant booking and should be headlining either the Second Stage or be one slot higher, they put on an insanely good live show and would be perfect at that time slot as the sun begins to wind down. To be honest I've never really listened to the last three artists on the bill besides their top songs on Spotify but Black Veil Brides are a pretty iconic band with a decent following so seems like a decent choice. Theory (Of A Deadman on everything besides this poster) seem like a fairly un-unique but pretty decent quality band for a good early slot on the main stage, with Wayward Sons rounding out the billing with a Classic-metal-with-a-twist touch.

Saturday

I've never quite got into Deftones but I respect them as a band and know how important and big of a band they are, it surprises me that they've not headlined to be honest, they're massive. But anyway, they produce some absolutely massive songs and will definitely put on a good show. Gojira are a little outside of what I normally go for in metal, Metalcore and Heavy Metal is generally my preferred genre, but something about the French Death Metal band have always captivated me, their song Magma is one of my favourite metal tracks of all time and I would absolutely love to see them live, especially after seeing how converted Coachella-goers were after their surprise performance. The Pretty Reckless and Those Damn Crows seem like fairly average bands to once again round up the lineup and will probably be a good ease into the day considering that they're a lot lighter than the bands that follow. 

Sunday

Ah Korn, one of the few genuine gems of Nu Metal and bands that survived that sinking ship (somehow Papa Roach and others are still around??), again a band that I'm surprised haven't headlined or at least co-headlined but there we go, they haven't. Again a band I've never really got into yet but have released some fantastic albums and thoroughly deserve the spot. I'd not listened to VolBeat before this review... and I won't again... dull. Rise Against are a bit of a classic band in Pop-Punk even though they're on the slightly more punk side of things. They've strayed from their roots a little, bit too pop for my taste, but would be absolutely fantastic to see live. Alestorm are part of the subgenre Pirate Metal... ah good old metal you weird bastard. They wouldn't be a band I'd check out on Spotify but yes please to seeing them live. I know neither of the last two bands but both seem pretty interesting to be honest, I can see myself exploring them more and definitely trying to listen to more of their music, seem like fun fresh bands to round the day out.

Overall the Main Stage is actually pretty damn good, the sub-headliners are quality, there's enough fresh bands on there and plenty of variety.

The other stages

I don't know enough of the bands to do a stage-by-stage run-down so I'm just going to pick out a couple names

Friday

There's a missing band on the second stage which I see being filled by Architects, they've not been at Download for a little while. they're massive, brilliant and I want to see them so badly and they would make that day so much better (by giving me an alternative to KISS). The Distillers are a fantastic long-running punk band who fit very well in that slot and will put on a fantastic show, even if they're a little... standard. Myles Kennedy is extremely talented and a fantastic booking, playing both this slot and later on in the weekend an acoustic set. I've recently discovered Sleep Token... they're weird but kind of awesome and make for a fantastic booking. Hot Milk, Press Club and Wargasm make a good pop-punk trio even if they're a little dry bunched together like that. Tiny Moving Parts is a criminally underrated band that I hope are propelled by this booking and definitely fit in well on that stage, would definitely be trying to see them if possible. Rounding out the day is one of the heaviest bands of all time: Electric Wizard, their album Dopethrone is absolutely legendary simply because of its density and it's surprising to see them on such a small stage, probably just a little too niche for the main crowd. 

Saturday

Killswitch Engage and Mastodon is an absolutely massive duo which is so shocking to see so low down, Killswitch pioneered and shaped Metalcore so massively so it seems fitting that they have a stage-headlining slot. What really surprises me is Mastodon supporting them, I always thought their place in alternative, sludge and stoner metal made them a much larger band than one such as Killswitch but oh well, I imagine they would both be incredible shows. Poppy is an interesting entry on the billing, she's clearly trying to fully enter the heavy scene after her decent album 'I Disagree' and it's probably a fairly divisive name on the lineup. To me the standout name on the other stages on Saturday has to be Funeral For A Friend, on their reunion tour this band will definitely be putting on a fantastic show of classic and iconic early 2000s songs with that signature emo twist. The Dogtooth Stage is particularly heavy on Saturday with Brazilian Sepultura, Dying Fetus, Obituary and Lotus Eater, I have no particular love for any of the bands specifically but would definitely make my way there at some point for a look-in.

Sunday

The Second Stage seems to be 3 bands that are almost famous for being just utter crap, Steel Panther have missed the memo that being a parody metal band whose only joke is being a power metal band isn't funny, The Darkness thrive on being shit and Skillet are stuck in the 2000s with their unoriginal song structures. If you want a bit of fun and an easy going afternoon that could be good... otherwise avoid. I can't really speak for many of the other bands on the Saturday really, Of Mice And Men are a fairly decent Metalcore band who definitely get the moshes going, The Hara are a fairly run-of-the-mill band and Cemetery Sun are a fun Pop-Punk band with a cool vibe and with the great 'Piece Of Shit'.

Missed Opportunities

There are a handful of bands I really feel they missed out on:

Enter Shikari literally never fail to put on a good gig

Fontaines D.C. Could have switched things up on the Avalanche Stage

Sports Team are so up-and-coming it seems insane not to have booked them, even if they are a bit indie

Beartooth would have been such a strong pick as always

Dogleg are an incredible new punk band that would have been perfect for the festival

Architects seemed to be an obvious choice for the festival this year, but maybe we'll see them next year with a new album

Bring Me The Horizon may have drifted from their heavy roots but still would have been perfect for the festival as a headliner

The Hotelier are still going and should be playing this festival soon

Against Me! Seems like such an obvious choice for the political climate

Rage Against The Machine again seems to be insane to not have booked as a headliner due to the current political turmoil

My Chemical Romance... They're back... why aren't they headlining? enough said

Verdict

It's a pretty good lineup considering contractual obligations bands will have made stopping them playing 2021 as well as forcing them to play 2021, as well as some bands probably playing 2022 stopping them playing 2021. I still think the headliners are pretty dead and that there needs to be some fresh meat added to keep the genre going, we've seen quite a few last ever shows hit Download recently, surely that's a sign to bring in new headliners. Oh well, it's a good lineup and has me wanting to go get drunk and knocked in the head. 

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