Ghost Cult’s Duncan Evans chatted with music legend Ville Valo (ex-HIM) about his debut solo album – “Neon Noir” under his new project VV under his own label Heartagram Records. Ville discussed the end of HIM and finding new inspiration to start his solo career. In addition to revealing his creative process, Ville discussed creating the new album on his own, his return to touring as well as major festival plans, and much more!
My Saturday at Download began over at the main stage where I caught the retro new wave of classic rock act Those Damn Crows, a band who have amassed a significant following in Wales thanks to appearances at the likes of Steelhouse Festival and other rock-oriented affairs. Possibly one of the smallest acts to perform on the main stage this year, the band spared no expense offering a fantastic wake-up call with some unremarkable if solid hard rock tunes. The day’s proceedings then continued firmly in the rocky territory with a southern, slightly heavier twang with Black Label Society, in their first festival appearance on UK soil since 2015, and with less of Zakk Wylde’s expectedly lengthy and tiresome soloing. Don’t get me wrong, Zakk was still doing his usual thing, but with a much-needed addition of percussion, making the moments of instrumental wankery much more palatable than usual.
After a prolonged absence from the British metal scene courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic (save for a scaled-back pilot event in 2021), Leicestershire’s iconic summer rock, punk, and metal weekender, Download Festival returned to Castle Donnington in a maximalist blaze of glory, packing in a full-scale 5-day experience with some familiar favorites, hotly tipped up-and-comers and some of the best international acts that rock and metal scene has to offer.
The last two years have been a hell of a ride for Heriot, the English Post Hardcore/Extreme Metal band who have experienced a rebirth of sorts and are firmly riding the crest of a wave on a distinct upward trajectory. They started life in 2016 as a three-piece, consisting of Jake Packer (vocals/bass), Erhan Alman (guitar), and Julian Gage (drums), but in 2020 drafted in former Dead Hands guitarist Deb Gough, applying depth to their musicianship, while also adding a new voice for the band to share vocal duties with Jake, enabling an intriguing expansion of their sound.
Following their massive headline set at last year’s Download Pilot event, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes will be joining this year’s Download festival, alongside four other new additions, including Napalm Death, PENGSHUi, and Aniilmalia. Download 2022 is the big reunion of the rock community, as the festival makes its highly anticipated return with the first full-scale Download in three years and a gargantuan line-up of the world’s most exciting bands in rock, pop punk, hardcore, metal and much more. The three-day festival takes place on 10-12 June 2022 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets are now on sale now at the4 link below.
Spiritbox has added an additional second headline concert in London, due to overwhelming demand, after their Download Festival performance. Their debut headline UK performance on Monday 13th June last week, the show promptly sold out in under a minute. The band will now perform at the O2 Academy, Islington, on Tuesday 14th June as well. Age restrictions for both shows are 8+, though under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. There will be no pre-sales for the second night and fans will be restricted to purchasing 2 tickets each only. Tickets go on sale at 10am GMT this Friday 4th March at the link below.
Download Festival 2021 is postponed to summer 2022, but the fest has wasted little time stacking the bill. Already headlined by Iron Maiden, KISS, and Biffy Clyro, seventy new bands have been added including Deftones, Korn, Megadeth, Steel Panther, The Ghost Inside, Funeral For A Friend, Descendents, Electric Wizard, and Sepultura. Watch a video teaser with the updated poster and buy your tickets now!
Halestorm will stream their entire 2019 Download Festival Performance tomorrow afternoon, at 4 PM EST. The band made the announcement on Facebook offering the stream as a balm to fans since there are no shows to attend at present. You can set a reminder for the stream at the link below. Continue reading
Download Festival, the UK’s premier rock event, will air Download TV this weekend only via Download Festival’s official social channels, and YouTube across 12-14 June 2020. Tune in or miss out. Joining headliners KISS, Iron Maiden, and System Of A Down, as well as acts such as Korn, Deftones, Babymetal, Alter Bridge, The Darkness, Volbeat, Creeper, and more, are the incredible Biffy Clyro who headlined in 2017 alongside System Of A Down. Fans can subscribe to Download TV on YouTube here now, to see them and a long list of exclusive content in the evening. This can only be watched at the time of broadcast! The weekend will be split into day and evening, where the day will be everything that celebrates the spirit of Download Festival, and the evening brings hours of tailormade programming where Downloaders can tune in and rock out. The day will have host Sophie K guiding us through the packed out programme, whilst the evening will have Download favourite Kylie Olsson.Continue reading
Download Festival was one of the first major festivals in the heavy music work canceled due o the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Now we are getting a virtual festival set to take place. Mark off June 12-14 for some prime rock and metal viewing, with many top acts taking part. The Download TV weekend will be split into day and evening programming, with tailor-made shows featuring Iron Maiden, System of a Down and KISS leading the way. KISS will headline the Friday (June 12) festivities, with a replay of standout moments from their huge 2015 headline set. Iron Maiden head up the Saturday (June 13) programming with nostalgic performances, “Legacy of the Beast” snippets, as well as “something just for Download TV.” And System of a Down will close out the virtual festival on Sunday (June 14) with footage from their performances in 2005, 2011 and 2017. Among the other bands appearing are Alter Bridge, Alestorm, Alter Bridge, Babymetal, Baroness, Bush, Creeper, Deftones, Disturbed, Employed To Serve, Fozzy, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Gojira, Killswitch Engage, Korn,Lacuna Coil, Mastodon, The Pretty Reckless, Twin Temple, Volbeat and more. Watch the trailer and see the full list below. Continue reading