Slipknot are hardly throwing out the rule book with this performance, but the familiarity doesn't diminish how utterly thrilling the band are, still very much firing on all cylinders as they approach the 25-year anniversary of their debut album.Īs the pool of legacy Donington headliners dwindles ever lower, Slipknot prove that Download's greatest strength has always been its ability to offer new acts an apotheosis to the same status as the rock and metal gods of yesteryear.

'A lot of bands never even get to headline this thing once, so first of all, thank you - thank you so fucking much.'įrom there, it's almost pre-ordained what will happen: members bounce around the stage and jump off platforms, a keg gets the ever-loving shit beaten out of it with a flaming baseball bat and everybody gets down and then jumps the fuck up for Spit It Out. 'This is our fifth time headlining fucking Download, dude!' Corey exclaims. By the time he does speak, introducing live rarity Left Behind, it feels like Slipknot are taking a well-deserved victory lap.

If Taylor is struggling with his voice, it hardly shows and matters even less when the crowd are roaring along in their thousands.

Download nine to 5