You may remember the bands as recommended by fans of Download and readers of RAMzine alike. A list by the fans, for the fans. Great. Here at RAMzine, we have some more bands in mind that you need to see at the extremely stacked festival this weekend. As you can imagine the people who put together RAMzine day-to-day have very mixed tastes so I guess there’s something for everyone here. Any bands you think we have missed? Let us know in the comments. In no particular order, here are our picks!
Sumo Cyco
This is a given for most RAMzine readers, we’ve covered them a lot on these pages and if you haven’t caught them live yet, now is your chance! Think Gwen Stefani meets Skindred. Speaking of which, with Benji Webbe on site – the band could do their collaboration ‘Move Mountains’ properly this time. Now campaigning for a third album, this is a must-see for anyone who is curious to hear the Canadian punk-metal collective.
Recommended by writer/editing assistant Neale McGeever and editor/founder Victoria Purcell.
Catch them on the Avalanche stage at 13:50, Friday. As well as their acoustic set at Danish Quarter at 15:00pm, Saturday.
Lovebites
This band pretty much hit us out of nowhere in the past couple of years, and their star is rising. If you were at Bloodstock last year, you would have noticed they were upgraded to the main stage (switching with Suicidal Tendencies, who were running late) and drew a pretty big crowd. To describe how they sound? Imagine a female DragonForce. Like all female, not just the vocalists. Hailing from Japan, they make the kind of music you usually hear from Europe to introduce it to a different crowd. I can imagine them supporting Iron Maiden in the near future.
As recommended by writer and presenter Hywel Davies.
Catch Lovebites on the Dogtooth stage at 14:40pm, Saturday.
Last In Line
Following the death of the legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio, the talented musicians who played with him in his namesake band decided to carry on as Last In Line. Now joined by vocalist Andrew Freeman (previously of Lynch Mob and The Offspring) and bassist Phil Soussan (replacing the late Jimmy Bain). As you can imagine these rock as hard as any band of any generation on the bill. This kicks off the ‘Monsters Of Rock’ style line-up of Last In Line, Tesla, Slash, Whitesnake, and headliners Def Leppard on Friday.
Recommended by writer Laurence Todd and photographer/writer/editing assistant Ash Crowson.
Catch Last In Line at 13:00pm on the main stage, Friday.
Power Trip
This band was recommended by our writer James Paul Matthews, and well, this is how he put it:
“Power Trip is the perfect marriage of hardcore punk and thrash metal, equating to an unrelenting crossover sound that will absolutely dominate the main stage on Saturday! If you haven’t heard these guys – get acquainted. After their unbelievable show at Camden Underworld and Bloodstock Festival last year, Power Trip is soon to be your new favourite band!” …well said!
Catch Power Trip at 13:10pm on the main stage, Saturday.
Municipal Waste
Similarly, James recommended MW:
“The perfect energy burst to close the festival before you go off and see Tool! What else can be said about the greatest party-thrash band on the planet? Oh yeah… MUNICIPAL WASTE IS GONNA F**K YOU UP!!!”
If they can beat their record they set at Bloodstock for most crowd surfers, in a tent like the Dogtooth stage: that is worth seeing alone.
Catch Municipal Waste on the Dogtooth stage at 19:50pm, Sunday.
Red Hook
Like me, you may not have heard of Aussie rap-metal-punks – or as they call themselves: Screaming rap-rock electro pop mutants fighting against the forces of darkness inside our own heads – until recently, but they are certainly a curiosity. Like Sumo Cyco they are playing Avalanche and The Danish Quarter. They have made waves in their home of Sydney, and now its time for the UK to embrace their stylings.
Recommended by writer/ editing assistant Neale McGeever.
Red Hook are on the Avalanche stage at 11:00am, Sunday, and 12 noon at The Danish Quarter, Saturday.
