Download's greatest ever weekend finally comes to a close

With the weather stubbornly choosing to remain as epically hot as ever, the much hyped 'classic rock Sunday' holds much promise for old farts and young whippersnappers alike. One imagines that it'll be more of the latter breaking their necks to Trigger The Bloodshed as they bring their death metal antics to the second stage to a swarming rabble of bodies, but who's to say there isn't an OAP or two in there giving it some as well? Suicide Silence follow on soon after to more of the same, and while their own brand of groove-laden deathcore is not quite as gut-rippingly heavy as their Reading-based cohorts, there are enough hooks to grab the attention of a few hapless passers-by.

Esoterica bring the prog to the Tuborg tent a full ninety minutes before Dream Theater are anywhere near a stage, and though its metal of a somewhat heavier persuasion, it still leaves many a fan stroking their chin in subtle appreciation. Of course, where some bands are best enjoyed with a casual round of applause and an approving nod, others demanding ball-splittingly loud audience participation at every possible opportunity. Journey are one such band, and with relatively new vocalist Arnel Pineda in tow – a man whose lungs seem to be bigger than he is – they provide one of the most memorable moments of the weekend courtesy of an emphatically-received 'Don't Stop Believin''.

It's probably not too snidey to suggest that Dream Theaterr can't really be expected to fit much of their material into a fifty minute slot, but they do their best, and their best is a hypnotic showcase of their bombastic, genre-splitting groove in all its ridiculous glory. It makes for a fascinating contrast to the no-frills approach of ZZ Top who, despite the presence of some nifty mic stands and a beasty LED screen, present little in the way of showmanship and plenty in the way of straight-up rock 'n' roll. An awesome final run of singles including 'Legs', 'Sharp Dressed Man' and 'La Grange' makes it difficult for even the most jaded cynic not to get his boogie on.

After the furious injustice of having bitch-rock scene-jumpers Lostprophets headline the much-coveted Sunday slot at last year's festival, few better tonics could be offered to heal those still-fresh wounds than a double whammy of Whitesnake and Def Leppard. Neither band can match the hysteria surrounding Faith No More's return or the pure spectacle of Slipknot, but they provide two sets that, in all honesty, could never have been anything other than awesome.

The Lep outdo both Mötley Crüe and ZZ Top in the big shiny screen stakes, but it's the introduction of drummer Rick Allen, 23 full years after his first show post-accident at Donington, that provides the highlight of the evening. Another immense round of cheers, a few lumps in throats and a rollocking 'Let's Get Rocked' later, and Download's greatest ever weekend finally comes to a close. Short of resurrecting John Bonham for a full Led Zeppelin reunion in 2010, it's difficult to see how these past three days will ever be topped.

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