There was still much rocking to be done on the final day of Download, and as the sun's rays lifted spirits a handful of early acts rocked harder than most.
"It's been two days already; have you got any energy left?" asked Hacktivist's Ben Marvin of the sticky, pungent tent he and his furious grime-laced hardcore outfit filled. The answer was emphatically affirmative.
Other early stand-out's included Red Fang with their chunky, stoner metal, and Leicester's own Surrender The Coast, singer Andy Connelly earnestly thanking everyone who attended their relentless set between each bruising number.
30 Seconds To Mars were billed as one of the highlights of the weekend, but their weak formula (think U2 with more hair and fewer tunes) saw fans of sturdier stuff stampede to sample A Day To Remember's prime-grade metalcore and intriguing Londoners Modestep, who prompted that rare sight: metalheads dancing.
Closing the Zippo Stage fell to festival favourites Limp Bizkit, singer Fred Durst commanding the ocean of arm-wavers to "party like it's 1999" before his band burst into Rollin' and the last 14 years did indeed seem to evaporate.
Headliners Rammstein announced their formidable yet preposterous presence with fireworks (hint: they're more effective when it's actually dark) and piled on the pyrotechnics as their leather-laden riff kitchen ground into action.
These jaw-dropping Germanic beat creatures, with their flamethrower masks, bowel wobbling bass and stadium-sized sturm und drang, had to be seen to be believed, though preferably from a distance so as not to get singed.See the links below for more video/pictures and words from Download: • REVIEW: Download day three • INTERVIEW: Leicester's Surrender The Coast prepare for Download • INTERVIEW: Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson on his flying charity • PICTURES: Download 2013 - bands and fans on Saturday • PICTURES: Download 2013 - more bands and fans on Saturday • PICTURES: Download 2013 - bands and fans on Friday • INTERVIEW:Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson ready to bring the noise • REVIEW: Download day two • REVIEW: Download day one • PICTURES: Download 2013 - fans arrive at Donington Park • ALMOST READY TO ROCK: Campers rock 'n' roll up for the Download festival• PREVIEW: The top acts to see at Download Festival
See the slideshow for some more festival highs (and lows?)
