It’s only been a couple of years since Download Australia kicked off, but the festival is going from strength to strength. This year sees the festival taking place in two locations, Sydney and Melbourne, and also welcomes possibly the greatest lineup yet. Here’s our pick of the ones that can’t be missed.
My Chemical Romance
Although it’s unlikely that they’re going to be winning Triple J’s Hottest 100, the headliner for Download Australia is winning every ex-emo kid’s heart. The return of My Chemical Romance has caused shockwaves the world over, so seeing them take the stage in Sydney and Melbourne will truly be a night to remember.
Lacuna Coil
True veterans of the metal circuit, Lacuna Coil will be taking to the stage only for the Australian shows. This group have been touring much less frequently over the past few years, so it truly is a golden opportunity to see them. Despite their fewer than normal shows, their angsty energy, melodious voices and moody riffs have not suffered a bit.
Jimmy Eat World
If you’ve not sung and danced along to ‘The Middle’ in the middle of a field, then have you really lived? Jimmy Eat World bring their infectious pop punk vibes to Download Australia this year and though ‘The Middle’ is arguably the song that got them to where they are, people who are new to their back catalogue should ready themselves for a set full of bangers. Rock fans will be longing for the hard hitting riffs of ‘Bleed American’, whilst pop lovers will have their fingers crossed for teenage favourites like ‘Always Be’.
Deftones
Another heavy hitter to the headliners list, Californian alt-rockers Deftones will be taking the stage this year. Having sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, these guys are guaranteed to draw a crowd this year. Their grungey vocals and aggressive guitars, combined with undulating, stirring basslines, are sure to see the whole of that crowd bouncing. Slower ‘shoegaze’ songs will be ones to watch out for, as often the set takes a dreamy almost psychedelic lull towards the second half, before another classic is fired out for the finale.
The Hu
If you fancy catching something a little different from the standard Download offering, then it’s well worth fitting in some time for The Hu. This four piece hail from Mongolia and use traditional Mongolian throat singing as a melodic basis for many of their tracks. Upon the release of their first couple of videos the band garnered enormous attention from the media for their totally unique style. Mongolian war cries and lines from ancient poems are incorporated into their set, creating an atmosphere unlike any other.