The Offspring close day two at Download

But Bullet and Pendulum steal the show

15 June 2008

With little in the way of stage pomp, the Californian rockers certainly weren't trying to outdo KISS' efforts from the previous night, but they still managed to produce a set peppered with hits.

Their number one hit 'Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)' provoked the biggest reaction, aside from Noddles announcing that he has a massive boner. 'Bad Habit', 'Hit That' and 'Self-Esteem' catalogued their 23-year history in a 90-minute set, but the band even had time to play some new material from their latest album 'Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace'.

Despite playing their classics the crowd, which at best could be described as healthy compared to the opening night, reverberated the rather sobering atmosphere around this year's site. Though a legion of devotee mohsers continued bouncing until the final track.

However it Bullet For My Valentine and Pendulum who proved to be the true highlights of the day.

The Welsh rockers announced that they were here for "One reason and one reason only – to rock!" And that's exactly what they did playing fans favourites 'The Poison' and 'Scream Aim Fire' during their hour-long set.

The entire band were dressed in black from head to toe as they performed a set that was peppered with tracks from both of their albums. Lead singer Matt Tuck even found time to spilt the crowd in half before encouraging them to run at one another.

Australian dance supremeos Pendulum were as equally well received, despite initial reservations from Download die-hards. Playing live the drum n bass group stunned the second stage with a set that included 'Slam' and a remix of The Prodigy's 'Voodoo People'.

The main stage's penultimate act Incubus rolled out their hits during their 75-minute set on the main stage set including 'Drive', 'Megalomaniac' and 'Are You In'. However the American rockers only managed to pull in a small crowd by the main stage standards with their show dogged by sound problems.

Annoyed fan, Marco Baldanza, told VF: "I wish I stayed up at Pendulum. You can't even hear [Incubus'] guitar."

Elsewhere, Saxon amassed a huge crowd in the third tent before thrash kings Testament took to the stage for a very loud finale. HIM closed the second stage with a hectic show that prompted bras to be thrown at singer Ville Valo.

Earlier on in the day Madina Lake unleashed hundreds of black and white balloons filled with tickertape into the crowd during their performance and Alter Bridge's Miles Kennedy performed at the festival, despite celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary.

Skindred pulled a massive crowd early on the day despite rain pelting down for the second half of their set. They also took the honours for the first circle pit of the afternoon, a pit that vastly outshone Job For A Cowboys' minutes later.

At the start of the day ex-SkiTh frontman, Justin Hill, joined Malefice on the second stage for a rendition of set closer 'Dreams Without Courage' with Sign and Gibson and Olympus LS-10 Unsigned Bands winner Verra Cruise kicking off the other stages.

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