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Naysayers and non-believers have sounded the death knell for rock music. But with some of music's finest rock acts returning to fold to conquer the summer, tis' the season to love all things heavy.
Download festival has one of the strongest line-ups of the summer, while Reading and Leeds packs one hell of a punch with slots from System Of A Down, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, Fall Out Boy, Bring Me The Horizon, Alkaline Trio, Gallows and many more.
For those about to rock, we salute you.
Here are 10 reasons to get those horns in the air and rock the hell out this summer
1. Queens of the Stone Age reign supreme
Nothing says summer like the scorching blaze of desert rock, and we at Gigwise think that Queens of the Stone Age may have released the best rock album of the year. In our review, ...Like Clockwork brought to mind 'horny monkeys', 'peacocks on MDMA', 'mushroom clouds' and a whole lot of fear, fury, sex and swagger. Seeing that played out on the main stage at Download festival ought to be pretty sweet.
2. Nine Inch Nails hammer it home
Dark industrial rockoverlord Trent Reznor bringing his Nine Inch Nails to Reading and Leeds festivals was pretty exciting, but announcing a new NIN album (and a "fucking great" one at that) just makes us want to turn this up LOUD and let things get ugly, in the most beautiful kinda way.
3. Slipknot return
The death of Paul Gray (RIP number #2) was a gutting shock to metalheads the world over, as many feared it would mean the end of the Godfathers of WTF. Put on your best pig mask and boiler suit and prepare to lose your mind to one of the best live rock bands in the universe as Slipknot return to their spiritual home and headline Download festival.
4. Rammstein bring the FEUER to Download
There may be no sunshine this summer, but you can certainly bask in the flames of everyone's favourite bat-shit mental, pyromaniac Germans.
5. Green Day back - and better than ever?
Green Day are back after Billie Joe's breakdown. He's better now. Enjoy these the original American Idiots bringing their pogo-friendly political pop punk to the Emirates stadium this weekend before a massive headline set at Reading and Leeds in August. Maximum crowd participation is a must. All together: "Ey-ooooooooooh!
6. Sharooooon! Black Sabbath back back back
The original head-bangers are back with the first album in 18 years. Sit back and mosh as Black Sabbath drop '13' and show the metal world how it's done. "Yer all foookin' mad!"
7. Metallica! The movie! In 3D! Baby! Yeah!
Some Kind of Monster gave us a very insightful peek into the inner workings of metal's favourite torture weapon, but Through The Never offers a 'concert movie like no other' as a fan gets caught on his way to a Metallica show when a surreal, trippy, insane and (most importantly) 3D adventure ensues.
8. Mon' The Biff!
Biffy spent years and years battling through toilet venues and obscurity to stand on the world stage as one of our fiercest and most successful rock band's. Watch them get exactly what they deserve and play among legends when they play the hallowed slot of headliner at this summer's Reading and Leeds festivals. NOTE: Shirtlessness is a must.
9. Kings of Leon - wait, give us a chance
Now, now, calm down metalheads. Put those burning torches down. We know you've fallen out with those hairy lads from Oklahoma ever since 'Sex On Fire' and 'Use Somebody' ruined your every night out. Their diluted stadium bilge hasn't sat too well with many, but Kings of Leon promise that their new record will have the feel of their early material 'but more complicated'. Here's hoping for some more Pixies-esque grunge with some high speed shredding, or at least something with half as much balls as 'Four Kicks'. Fingers crossed that they rock at V Festival.
10. Smashing Pumpkins bring a little melancholy to Glasto
True, their latter day material is a little hit and miss, and Billy Corgan's current line-up may seem a little too far from the 'true' Smashing Pumpkins, but there's no doubt they're behind some of the finest and chunkiest riffs of all time. Their operatic pomp grunge is a welcome addition to Glastonbury. Fearne Cotton's face when the Pumpkins kick into 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' or 'Zero' oughtta be a sight for sore eyes.
