6. Tenacious D
Some might say that the shtick is wearing thing now - that the Greatest Rock Band in the World skit has run its course - but on the evidence of this epic, crowd-pleasing performance, there is still more than enough good feeling towards the dynamic duo and more than enough in their show itself to suggest they aren't going anywhere. They are technically impressive, commanding a cleverly chosen rhythm section and engineering a much grander sound than two guys with acoustic guitars should ever be able to manage. You can read our full
review of Tenacious D's Saturday performance here. Here's their interview with the Lowdown before they took to the stage. Never noticed before, but how much does Kyle look like a young (ish) Harold Bishop?! http://youtu.be/NIgSI79MWag
5. Biffy Clyro
Like Metallica, who followed them in the running order, Biffy Clyro are one of those bands whose live experience often trumps their recorded material. This year was no exception, with the Scottish rockers entertaining the crowd with their usual gusto through a set including favourites from three of their five studio albums (mostly from Puzzle and Only Revolutions), as well as a couple of tracks from upcoming double-album release The Land at the End of Our Toes/The Sand at the Core of Our Bones that suggest the new material from the Biff is going to be as mighty and as infectious as everything we've loved so far. Their show is slick and well-conceived, the slower numbers that led to something of a dip in crowd energy at last year's Sonisphere mostly cut in favour of more uptempo numbers that distracted from the grey skies and formed the perfect base for Metallica to sweep in after and give their own masterclass. That Biffy held their own in the second most important slot of the day says a lot about their ability and they fully deserved the prestigious accolade.
Next Up: A genuine walking guitar rock icon and more thrash metal royalty.