A downpouring of bands for Download

WITH a career spanning over two-decades, New York’s hardcore rockers BioHazard are now confirmed to take to the stage at this year’s Download.
The band influenced generations as one of the initiators of ‘metal rap’, and will bring their New York cult metal sound to Donington.
After the success of their debut album All Our Kings Are Dead, and fresh from sell-out headline dates and touring with Bon Jovi and Lostprophets, UK rockers Young Guns are also ready to rock out at this year’s festival. They are joined by the mighty Skindred, known for their ‘ragga metal’ style mixing metal, punk rock and reggae.
Finnish death metal five-piece Children Of Bodom have also been added to the bill, who return to the UK to blast out some thrashing metal at Donington, and US punk rockers Anti-Flag, who are back on the cooler side of the Atlantic to heat it up at Download. Returning to Download for the second time is comedian Al Murray’s band T-34, as well as ex-Chiodos frontman Craig Owens’ hot new band Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S.).
The hotly tipped LA heavy rockers Letlive, who Metal Hammer proclaimed as “one of the most important bands to hit heavy music in recent years” will jet in fresh from their US tour to get the mosh pit really jumping at Download. American metal heads Sevendust have also been added, joined by British melodic-hardcore five-piece Lower Than Atlantis and fellow UK metal quartet Deaf Havana.
In tribute to the legendary Ronnie James Dio, the Dio Disciples are also confirmed to take to the stage. Featuring members of Dio, as well as former Judas Priest vocalist Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens and former Little Angels vocalist Toby Jepson, the supergroup will pay tribute to the legendary rocker’s dynasty.
Other additions include US alt rockers CKY, German country & western band Boss Hoss, funk-rocker Dan Reed and internationally acclaimed Taiwanese rockers Chthonic. Instrumental desert rockers Karma To Burn also join the bill, accompanied by gutter rock’n’ rollers Dear Superstar, British heavy rockers Malefice and Scottish post hardcore six-piece Yashin.
Roadrunner Records’ thrash rockers Baptized in Blood will make a UK stop straight from the US to play selected dates including Download ahead of their European tour. They’re joined by the Canadian Nickelback protégé My Darkest Days, pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal Sweet Savage, Swedish rockers Royal Republic, US post-hardcore rockers Silverstein, the Metallica / Killswitch Engage influenced Skeletal Damage and indie pop punkers The Dangerous Summer.
Also announced are former Static-X frontman Wayne Static, heavy metal trio The Rods, electronic goth-metallers Houston, Belligerence, who will be performing material from their new self-titled EP, UK-rockers The Dead Lay Waiting, melodic metallers The Morning After, off-the-wall punk rockers Oaf and post-apocalypse style heavy rockers October File. Bringing their soaring melodies and epic energy to crowds at Donington are Starseed, joined by heavy rockers TRC and Envy of the State who return to the UK from a triumphant tour in the US. Returning to Donington for the second time are LA-metallers Rock Sugar, Brit punk rockers Blitz Kids and the fantastic Heights. Finally, the truly international Illuminatus bring their Anathema-likened progressive rock to Download, as well as Danish rockers Kellermensch.
As always, a full-ish Spotify playlist of all confirmed Download bands is here for your listening pleasure.