DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2025 REVIEW

Download Festival 2025 - KoRn

Download Festival 2025 took place from June 10th to 13th, featuring a powerhouse trio of first-time headliners: Green Day, Sleep Token, and KoRn.

This year marked Green Day’s long-awaited debut at the festival, finally bringing their legendary energy to Donington Park. Sleep Token made history as the fastest-rising act to ever headline a festival of this scale, while KoRn rightfully claimed a top spot after a decade-spanning journey at Download, having performed 10 times across a variety of stages and time slots.

A landmark year for Download, 2025 delivered unforgettable performances from three artists at very different stages of their legacy—each making their headline moment count.

It wasn’t just the headliners who made a lasting impact—this year, we set out with a clear goal: to catch rising acts we’re genuinely excited about and would love the opportunity to collaborate with in the future. Download 2025 gave us the perfect stage to witness their talent up close and shine a spotlight on some truly standout performances.

Friday 13th June -

The first act we caught at Download 2025 was SiM—a must-see on our list after their explosive performance in 2023. Admittedly, the first time we saw them, we only knew them through "The Rumbling" from Attack on Titan, but since then, they’ve firmly earned a place in our daily playlists. Their energy, genre-blending style, and stage presence have kept us hooked ever since.

This year, SiM made a well-deserved leap to the main stage, and they absolutely delivered. Their set was a powerful display of everything that makes them such a standout act—an unforgettable performance that proved they belong among the big names.

The final band we caught on Friday was Unpeople, performing on the Avalanche Stage. We’ll be honest—this was our first time checking them out. Their name kept popping up across our socials in the lead-up to the festival, and our curiosity got the better of us. Safe to say, we’re glad it did.

Much like SiM, Unpeople are absolutely a band to watch. Their performance was nothing short of spectacular—they hit the stage with confidence, precision, and an energy that made it feel like they’d been playing festivals like Download for years. They proved they belong, and we’re definitely keeping them on our radar moving forward.

A quick note from me — Scott O’Shea:

I live with multiple disabilities, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a herniated spine, and autism, which meant I unfortunately had to miss a number of acts over the weekend. This year, I spent a lot more time sitting down and pacing myself—but I refuse to let these challenges stop me from seeing the bands I truly love. Events like Download mean everything to me, and while I may experience them a bit differently, the passion and excitement never change.

Saturday 14th June -

One act we were especially eager to see was Kim Dracula, whose explosive 2023 debut album A Gradual Decline In Morale made serious waves. Their set at Download was nothing short of unforgettable—an electrifying performance that firmly cemented their place as one of the most exciting and boundary-pushing new artists in heavy music today.

After Kim Dracula, it was time for Currents—another band I hadn’t heard of before, but their name kept popping up on my socials. Naturally, we had to see what the hype was about—and they did not disappoint. From their powerful sound to their electrifying connection with the crowd, they absolutely owned the stage. We left the set as newly minted fans and will definitely be keeping an eye out for their future releases.

We spent most of the day camped out at the Opus stage, holding our spot as we waited for Polaris to make their appearance. That meant we caught a set from AWOLNATION—a band I honestly didn’t expect to see on the Download Festival lineup. The only track I really knew was SAIL, and even then, mainly because it was everywhere on UK TV adverts back in the day! That said, they put on a surprisingly fun show, getting the whole crowd dancing and singing along. I wouldn’t call myself a fan, but if they were on the bill at another event I was attending—and there were no clashes—I’d happily catch them again.

As mentioned, we were really there for Polaris. I’ve been following this band for a while now, and the last time we saw them live was back in 2023. I was a bit surprised to see them on the second stage this time around—I genuinely believe they’re worthy of a higher slot. That said, they delivered a performance I’ll never forget.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get any footage—the crowd was absolutely packed all the way to the back, and since I had to sit for most of the festival, filming just wasn’t possible. (If you have any footage of Polaris, please get in touch!)

Still, I can absolutely see these guys headlining the second stage very soon. Their set was nothing short of epic, filled with tracks that are already well on their way to being metal anthems. Even if you’re not a regular listener, there’s no doubt you'd recognize The Remedy the moment it kicks in.

After Polaris, we headed over to the nearby food vendors—and let me just say, the fully loaded fries were absolutely banging. I’m not sure they were quite worth the £15 price tag, but they definitely hit the spot and kept us fuelled for the rest of the day!

About 45 minutes later, we made our way down to the Apex Stage (Main Stage) to catch Shinedown for the third time. This is a band we absolutely adore—we’d happily drop serious £££ to see them again and again. As expected, they proved exactly why they were booked as subheadliners this year, delivering a high-energy set that had the entire crowd buzzing in anticipation for Sleep Token. That said, with performances like this, Shinedown are clearly on the path to becoming future Download headliners.

One of the acts I was most excited to see in the lead-up to Download this year was Dayseeker. They’re a band we’d be honoured to have headline a future Novacaine Festival, so I was really eager to see how they held up live. Unfortunately, during Shinedown’s set, the heavens absolutely opened—the rain was relentless. By the time we made our way over to the Avalanche Stage, the tent was completely packed, with no way of squeezing in.

There was a screen set up outside where we could still watch the set, and from what we heard, they sounded incredible. But, soaked and freezing, we made the tough call to head back to the car to warm up and dry off. Still, Dayseeker remains firmly on our radar. I’ve got a strong feeling they’re on the brink of something huge—and when they blow up (which they will), we’ll be able to say we were backing them from early on. (If you have any footage of Dayseekers set, please get in touch!)

The final act for Saturday night was the almighty Sleep Token. Leading up to the festival, there was a lot of debate—myself included—about whether they were the right fit for a Download headliner. And while I do genuinely like Sleep Token (please don’t come for me!), I still feel they’re a slightly unconventional choice for this particular crowd.

We saw them in Manchester last year and were absolutely blown away by that performance. But Download is a different beast. While they did attract a solid audience, it didn’t quite match the massive turnouts we saw for Green Day or KoRn over the weekend. We ended up staying for about half their set—mainly because we’d already experienced them at their best in an indoor venue. In our opinion, their immersive, atmospheric style hits harder in a closed space than it does on a festival stage.

Sunday 15th June -

Sunday was supposed to kick off with Nothing More for us, but unfortunately, we got held up on the way to the festival and missed their set. I was honestly surprised to see them slotted so early in the day—12PM?!—and on the second stage, no less.

So, our first act of the day ended up being Jinjer, and once again, they absolutely blew minds. This was our second time seeing them at Download, and they somehow managed to top their last performance. The energy was unreal—the crowd was going absolutely feral—and their sound was loud, tight, and razor-sharp. Based on the turnout and their command of the stage, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jinjer headlining the second stage in the near future. They've more than earned it.

After Jinjer, we stuck around for Alien Ant Farm, hoping to catch their full set. Unfortunately, the sound on the Opus Stage (second stage) was seriously lacking. And to be clear—this wasn’t the band’s fault at all. The volume was so low that we could clearly hear both the Main Stage and the Dogtooth Stage bleeding into their set. It was actually quiet enough that I could have a full conversation with my mates without even raising my voice—which tells you everything you need to know.

It’s a real shame, because I have no doubt their set would’ve been a lot of fun under better conditions. But we ended up leaving halfway through purely because of the sound. Honestly, the second stage at Download this year was a big let down in that regard, and we were surprised they hadn’t sorted it after similar issues last year.

After that letdown with the sound at the second stage, we made a point to catch PRESIDENT’s debut performance over at the Dogtooth Stage. Much like what happened with Dayseeker, though, the tent was absolutely rammed—there was no chance of getting in. So instead, we joined the queue at the nearby merch stand (right up by the barriers, not in the middle!), which ended up being a pretty decent spot to take in the show from a distance.

Even though we couldn’t see the performance, we could definitely hear it—and it was nothing short of spectacular. PRESIDENT delivered a stunning debut that lived up to all the hype. As for the ongoing mystery around the vocalist’s identity, I have to admit—I love that it’s still a secret. Sure, there’s plenty of speculation about who it might be, but I’d honestly rather not know until they’re ready to reveal it—if they ever do. Even if it turns out to be someone already well known, the anonymity adds a unique mystique that makes the whole project even more compelling.

After PRESIDENT, we made our way back down to the Apex Stage—but not before grabbing a £5 ice cream, of course. I remember when it used to be called a Flake 99… now it’s more like a Flake give me your credit card, please!

Next up was Spiritbox, and seeing them live for the first time was nothing short of eye-opening. Watching vocalist Courtney LaPlante command the stage—and the crowd—was incredible. From where we were standing, we could see circle pits, mosh pits, and pure chaos in motion.

The highlight for me was Holy Roller—still my all-time favourite Spiritbox track—but their performance also introduced me to Soft Spine, which I hadn’t heard before. That song went off and left a serious impression. If you haven’t checked out Spiritbox yet, I can’t recommend them enough. Their live presence is next level, and once again, I would be honoured to be able to book Spiritbox for Novacaine Festival. (In my dreams!).

We decided to stake our claim at the main stage as our old-school hearts eagerly awaited Bullet For My Valentine. This marked the third time we’ve seen them live, and each time, they’ve never failed to deliver.

2025 also marks the 20th anniversary of their debut album The Poison—an iconic release for the band, especially known for the legendary track Tears Don’t Fall, which has firmly cemented its place in metal history. As expected, their set was unforgettable.

From catching them for the first time at Slam Dunk Festival a few years back, to seeing them subheadline for KoRn, it was incredible to witness just how much work they’ve put into perfecting their live performance. The difference was night and day—and it made this show all the more special.

Ya’ll want a single? F*CK THAT! The final band of the weekend was none other than the Nu-Metal legends, KoRn—and honestly, their performance blew every other act that weekend out of the water (sorry, not sorry—I’m a hardcore KoRn fan!). The adrenaline kicked in hard; we tossed the camp chairs back into the car and threw ourselves into the crowd for the entire set—headbanging, fist-pumping, and grooving like there was no tomorrow.

KoRn should’ve headlined Download Festival years ago, and their Sunday night performance made that crystal clear. The crowd they pulled was massive and absolutely electric, with everyone moving in unison. It was only my second time seeing them live—the first being back in 2022 when, bafflingly, they subheadlined Biffy Clyro. Even then, I couldn’t understand why KoRn wasn’t the headliner. This set finally set the record straight.

Overall, Download Festival 2025 was nothing short of perfection. Despite the rain and a few sound issues, the weekend was filled with nothing but smiles, unforgettable performances, and the kind of memories that stay with you long after the final note has rung out. Now back home—sunburnt, sore, and deep in the post-Download blues—we find ourselves wishing we were still out there in the crowd, experiencing the likes of Polaris, Kim Dracula, and KoRn all over again.

That said, 2025 marks our final year attending Download Festival as regular festivalgoers. While this year was one to remember, our focus is shifting. We’re now committed to supporting the scene from a different angle—prioritising smaller gigs, and most importantly, putting everything we have into building our own event: Novacaine Festival. If we ever return to Download, it’ll be as press, helping to spotlight the incredible smaller artists who deserve just as much attention as the headliners—because by now, we’ve ticked off nearly every major act we’ve dreamed of seeing.

Our journey with Download began in 2018, simply wanting to see legends like Avenged Sevenfold and Ozzy Osbourne. But it quickly turned into an annual tradition—a true addiction. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing giants like Slipknot, Tool, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Fall Out Boy, and Queens of the Stone Age. At the same time, we watched rising stars like Halocene, Dayseeker, As Everything Unfolds, SiM, BABYMETAL, Unpeople, and so many others take major steps in their careers. Download gave us more than just good music—it gave us lifelong memories. And if you’ve never been, we genuinely recommend attending at least once. It’s an experience that will leave an everlasting mark on you.

Looking ahead, we’re turning our attention to more intimate shows and festivals like Bloodstock, which we’ve yet to experience. But our main focus is Novacaine Festival—an event built on passion, purpose, and the desire to help artists thrive. We’re putting our blood, sweat, and tears into this project to help elevate the next wave of talent and breathe life back into the Sheffield metal scene.

In recent years, we’ve seen grassroots venues shuttering across the country. And in Sheffield—a city known for spawning global acts like Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, and more—that decline has been deeply felt. That’s why we chose Corporation as the venue for Novacaine Festival’s debut. It’s a place that still stands for the spirit of the scene, and we want to honour that.

If you haven’t heard of Novacaine Festival before, we’d love to welcome you to our debut event. Our mission is clear: to support, promote, and showcase rising talent from around the world. We want to give them a platform that captures the attention of festivals like Download, Bloodstock, Slam Dunk, Hammerdown, Radar, and beyond. But more than anything, we want to build a supportive, united metal community—and we can’t do that without you.

Get Tickets: www.novacaine.co.uk/tickets

Novacaine Festival 2025