Another year, another summer and another chapter closes at metal's most revered festival. The Mecca of heavy music played host to another 150 bands - some new, some old and all united under the banner of downtuned guitars and multiple bass drums.
Friday began with Rise To Remain, who despite their enthusiasm and competence will forever be known as "Bruce Dickinson's son's band". The British metallers delivered an appropriately energetic and enjoyable set that appropriately set the trend for a day that was full of screaming guitars and vocalists alike. (4/5)
Asking Alexandria, led by newly sober and stubbly Danny Worsnop brought their Yorkshire metalcore to the main stage later in the day, with the highlight being the brutal "The Final Episode" - Worsnop's ashtray vocals gave the band's sound a more organic feel than the one's heard on the record. With a new album in the pipe line, a noticeable change in style may be on the cards. (4/5)
The winner of "pleasant surprise of the festival" award goes to Papa Roach, narrowly beating the moderately sanitized toilets and edible food to collect the prize. Jacoby Shaddix and his band pulled no punches, playing a set filled with hits including the excellent "Between Angels and Insects" and club favourite "Last Resort". Shaddix's announcement that the band had been going for 20 years was a shock to many, but the experience was telling from a group that clearly knew how to approach a music festival. (5/5)
After Papa Roach came a trip to 1986 to see Europe, who delivered a set that I can only say was 'A few tunes then Final Countdown'. Although 'Final Countdown' was brilliant. (3/5).
Re-visiting the Main Stage were Korn, who opened with classic "Blind" and immediately following into the outrageously manical "Twist" and the huge "Coming Undone". The Godfathers of Nu Metal re-affirmed their status as one of metal's big draws and confirmed that with excellent renditions of their newer stuff too - "Narcissitic Cannibal" not sounding out of place despite it's sonic uniqueness. (4/5)
Bullet For My Valentine followed with another set of precision and power - Matt Tuck's newly shorn locks almost emphasizing the bands comfort with their transition into a "big" band. Songs like "Tears Don't Fall" and "The Last Fight" were comfortable with the huge billing that was implied by their position on the line -up and once again - BFMV fail to disappoint. (5/5)
The stage was set for Slipknot to deliver a couple of hours of the brutality they've become famous for and they did just that - the curtain falling to Iowa hit "Disasterpiece" before launching into a set packed with chart toppers and under-the-radar gems (if a Slipknot song can be called that) like "Get This". There was a moment of genuine emotion when a giant "2" was unfurled to pay homage to fallen bassist Paul Gray but the sadness didn't distract from what was a truly enthralling performance.
The manic response from the entire crowd to the band was telling and was not replicated by any other during the festival. Slipknot, like Metallica in the 90's after 'The Black Album' was released have reached the top of the heavy metal mountain and are leering down at the competition with scorn. The 9 controversially dressed men from a small town in America are now part of this generations most universal metal band - and only after four albums. They may not have the history and the record sales of a Metallica or an Iron Maiden - those will come in time - but ask any 20 year old metal fan to name 5 Slipknot songs and they can. Ask them to replicate the trick with Maiden or Metallica it becomes a bit of a struggle. Like it not, Slipknot are the Kings of metal's 21st Century and Download 2013 was just another crowning moment. (5/5)
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