Download Festival 2015 kicked off to a very loud and wet start, with Slipknot headlining in a heavy downpour at Donington Park last night (Friday 12 June).
After a few days and a morning of scorching and glorious sunshine, the sunburned masses of Download Festival soon found themselves in the grips of torrential rain, as heavy showers began in the late afternoon without relent well into the early hours of the morning.
Despite this, the sodden rock faithful still flocked to the main stage in their hordes to see an epic, pyro-laden, career-spanning set from the menacing masked metallers, Slipknot.
Opening with 'Sarcastrophe' before tearing into fan anthems 'The Heretic Anthem', 'Psychosocial' and recent favourite 'The Devil In I', Slipknot brought flames, fear and devotion to the hallowed fields of Donington - often pausing to thanking British fans for 'making them feel like home' as Taylor prowled the stage and gangway, inciting the entire crowd to get down on their knees before leaping into the sky.
It was the first time the band had headlined the festival without legendary drummer Joey Jordison, but the true power and presence of the group remains intact, pulling off a performance that will certainly go down in Download history.
Slipknot played:
Sarcastrophe
The Heretic Anthem
Psychosocial
The Devil in I
AOV
Vermilion
Wait and Bleed
Killpop
Before I Forget
Duality
Eyeless
Spit It Out
Custer
Encore:
(sic)
People = Shit
Surfacing
'Til We Die
Earlier in the day, rock legends Judas Priest stormed the main stage - proving why they're a force of such monolithic influence, while Dragon Force took to the Maverick Tent, packing it out with fans streaming well out into the field, interrupting their set of classic-tinged metal to invite BABYMETAL to the stage for a performance of 'Gimme Chocolate'.
Download Festival continues today with performances from Muse, Faith No More, Marilyn Manson and more. Heavy rain is predicted throughout the day and evening, with temperatures around 12 degrees celsius.
