Rage induce White Riot at Download 2010

30 Seconds To Mars, Deftones and more play day two

United Kingdom | 13 June 2010

It was a White Riot at Download, as Rage Against The Machine capped Saturday night at Donington, with a set that talked as much to the mind as the body and heart.

Zack de la Rocha was beaming from ear to ear throughout, as the band stomped through 'Bulls On Parade', 'Bombtrack' and of course a cover of the aforementioned Clash classic. The choice of cover was given double meaning, as the concerned band stopped the set twice to allow security to rescue crushed people on the barrier.

De la Rocha also used the set to talk about Israel's actions in Gaza, as well as what Simon Cowell represents to them before finishing with their Christmas number one hit 'Killing In The Name'.

Fellow 90's metal survivors Deftones had prepared the way in style, 'Diamond Eyes' and 'Knife Party' amongst the highlights of a set that proved more impressive than jack in the box frontman Chino Moreno's attempt at an English accent.

Over on the Dio stage, 30 Seconds To Mars put up strong opposition to the main stage headliners, in an inclusive set which saw them handpicking 20 audience members to form an onstage choir for closer 'Kings and Queens'. Moreno also joined the band onstage for 'The Kill (Bury Me)', and the Dio stage headliners used their set to reveal they'll be back in the UK this November and December.

Over on the main, Atreyu have a few problems winning the crowd's sympathy, Alexander Varkatzas' humourous request for a circle pit "as big as possible - that's what she said" not just falling flat, but on deaf ears. Their earlier than billed set also left some fans disappointed who turned up instead for a dull performance from Flyleaf.

It was up to Five Finger Death Punch and Lamb Of God to rescue the main stage with a pair of thrilling sets, one allowing LOG frontman Randy Blythe to live his dream of being flipped off by 100,000 people.

Saturday at Download Festival was a great day for covers, Him leading the charge on the Dio stage. Their takes on Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game' and Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell' punctuated an otherwise subdued set from the Finnish band.

Fresh from their earlier acoustic stage set, The Blackout pulled out all the stops, bringing half of fellow Welshmen Kids In Glass Houses, and two giant middle fingers on the Dio stage. They also teased with extracts of covers of the Main stage headliners, 'Back In Black' (AC/DC), 'Walk This Way' (Aerosmith) and 'Killing In the Name' (Rage Against The Machine).

Cancer Bats thrilled with the likes of 'Hail Destroyer' and their cover of 'Sabotage' by Beastie Boys. Meanwhile, the covers-less Rolo Tomassi managed to both enthral and confuse punters at the Dio stage.

Download Festival 2010 concludes today with sets from Aerosmith, Motorhead, Billy Idol and more.

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