SATURDAY
The rise and shine of Saturday is met by a few cans and the long walk to the arena. However, on the plus side, seeing as a friend found £20 in the mud, its a free pint for four of us once we get there. First on the agenda for the day is the Pepsi Max Stage and Earthtone9 who, when we arrive, already have an overflowing tent before their set has even begun. It could be a result of the shower, but the crowd doesnt even slightly dwindle when the sun returns soon into their set. Their hypnotic grooves and progressive riffs keep the crowd entranced and many a bearded head bobbing. The Red Bull Stage has a similar crowd victory thanks to the rain, for Black Moths performance, and once again the crowd remains intact even when the rain stops. Its not hard to see why with the bands blend of stoner riffs, doom heaviness and garage rock fuzz. A combination that could get bogged down, but this band manage to keep it energetic and even catchy, especially topped with Harriet Bevans distinct vocal and can swilling stage presence. Mastodon grace the main stage like cavemen cometh, though not in their often uniform black band t shirts and jeans attire. Originally planning to miss Mastodons set, having seen them previously on The Hunter tour and being a little disappointed, I stick around anyway because I do love a number of their albums. Unfortunately though, it seems like much of the same again; a very by the books, business as usual performance, and sure the majority of the songs are classics, its just not an exciting or engaging performance. Over to the Pepsi Max Stage again for Empress, who offer the first new music for me this weekend having been at least a little familiar with everyone caught so far. Watching on the recommendation of a friend, Im kind of expecting a stoner band; on account of their name and current logo. However, what I get instead is a really tight and energetic young band who deliver a blend of hardcore and post-hardcore, with hints of post and progressive metal that could see them considered in the same breath as bands like Devil Sold His Soul. Even though a fair portion of the crowd turn up to the Zippo stage to see Lit on the basis of two songs, which they only get one of. Lit go some way to prove that they are not a band who should be taken as a two hit pony. Especially as they seem to bring genuine cheer to a crowd more than a little downtrodden by temperamental weather, but it is My Own Worst Enemy that can claim one of the joyous moments of the weekend. Its off to the Pepsi Max Stage for some loitering, and falling off my friends shoulders into the mud for all to see during Bury Tomorrow. Speaking of whom, offer a tight set that earns an emphatic response from the crowd gathered with their melodic spin on metalcore that leaves a more lasting impact than their main stage counterparts in Rise To Remain and Asking Alexandria. Plus, as said, it got me covered in mud always a good sign. During a quick departure for food we catch Motorhead in the background, closing their set with Killed By Death and Ace of Spades, which you can't ask for more than as you scrounge food. http://youtu.be/6ngDWnP2akE Eagerly awaited curiosities Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats dont disappoint, and certainly dont kill the cat either, with a solid but flowing set of psychedelic, doom, garage jams. Theres quite a crowd gathered on the strength of the buzz steadily surrounding them, and the crowd seem to move in unison to an appreciative groove as drawn out guitar wigouts fuzz from one to the next. We slip out a little early though, and head for the main stage. Its unfortunate we miss out on Chthonic, as Id been really looking forward to seeing them live Im informed by one of our neighbours later on that they were brilliant. However, I just cant say no that ginger giant and his Queens of the Stone Age; they were brilliant at Reading 2008, and theyve just released one of the albums of their career. True to form they do not disappoint, and even though theyre on earlier than they should be (and god knows Id love to see them lay siege to dingy club), their opting for more of a best of retrospective set, than a touring the new album set, leaves the crowd suitably seduced and intoxicated. Kvelertak on the Pepsi Max Stage is one of the sets Ive been really looking forward to, aside from past loves of course, and though sunshine and booze leaves me almost asleep in the grass as we wait for their set to begin, theres nothing quite like their set to rouse you it seems. Its high octane song after high octane song as their blend of black metal, rock n roll and punk gets the crowd dancing as much as it gets them headbanging and playing air-guitar. Think how High On Fire are Motorhead meets sludge metal, then imagine Motorhead meets black metal, then imagine it better than what you just imagined. Plus, one of their guitarists uses his fingers to play lead guitar and manages to slap and finger pick solos and riffs out of it insanely. Oh, and for the humour of it, another guitarist spits and has it land back on his own head, while the vocalist manages to spit in the air and catch it. Multi-talented this lot. http://youtu.be/DbrtS8E0kpY Now, this might cause an uproar and earn me a backlash, but; I didnt go and see Iron Maiden headline I instead watched The Hives. Ive seen Iron Maiden twice, back when I was much younger, and a Maiden fanboy, when they toured Dance of Death and A Matter Of Life And Death respectively. The first time was brilliant, and the second time was incredibly disappointing, but there we go, I opted out of Maiden because Id seen them before and I dont really listen to them anymore. Sure, The Hives dont have a Spitfire ready to buzz the crowd (admittedly Idve loved to see that) but they do have undeniable charisma, rock n roll urgency and an artillery of tunes primed to get the crowd dancing. In spite of not being your more Download inclined band, theyve got an impressive crowd considering their in competition with Maiden and they ignite it like a fuse, then Tick Tick Boom (ahem) youve got one of the most fun sets of the weekend. http://youtu.be/1M02bAWDFkI