10 Bands You Need To See At Download Festival 2017

Arguably the biggest annual rock n' roll gathering in Europe, if not the entire world, Download Festival is a mythical beast of an event. For many metalheads, the annual pilgrimage to Donington in the middle of June is a rite of passage - a ritual that demonstrates your love of and dedication to heavy music.

However, due to the entire festival being comprised of four stages over the course of three full (and probably wet) days, it is also an environment in which it is easy for fans to miss a true gem of a rock group. This list hopes to rectify that, naming ten performers that every one of this year's Download attendees should definitely check out if possible.

It is worth saying, though, that while you should undeniably experience acts like Opeth, Slayer, System of a Down, Steel Panther, Aerosmith, Alter Bridge and Mastodon, the immense fanbases that these bands have mean they're already very likely to draw a huge and dedicated crowd.

This list is more for the unsung heroes of Download: the "smaller" or more underrated showmen that you could very easily miss, but owe it to yourself to witness.

(N.B.: Shout-outs to Coheed & Cambria, Kvelertak, Fozzy, Exodus, Alestorm, The Contortionist, RavenEye and more. Check those guys out over the weekend if you can.)

Southampton's very own melodic punks, Creeper, clock in low on this list because, quite simply, they're playing the main stage on the Saturday of Download, so they will very likely draw at least something of a great crowd.

However, the Gothic up-and-comers are performing only the second slot of the day, so consider this list entry something of a reminder to crawl out of your tent in your inevitably hungover state and check these guys and girls out.

The perfect blend of massive riffs, catchy choruses, energetic speed, sombre keyboards and pure charisma, there's definitely a reason why Creeper is one of the fastest-rising rock bands since Slipknot.

And with what will doubtlessly be a passionate and engaging set (as they always deliver) at Download, it probably goes without saying that the band's high-profile slot will give them at least a couple of new fans to help along the way.