Hell awaits, DL’ers as metal royalty Slayer will be making their final UK appearance at Download 2019! After 37 years of wreaking mayhem the age of Slayer is coming to an end (sob), but not before the thrash legends play one last set at Donington Park for the DL Family. Start practising your circle headbanging now as it’s going to be a celebratory set crammed full of classics.

Today is the greatest as The Smashing Pumpkins will be making their first appearance at Download Festival next year. The alt-rock grunge legends have been blowing away audiences on their 30th anniversary tour with their inimitable sprawling back catalogue. Their just released Rick Rubin produced tenth album, Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun., is a euphoric return that perfectly orbits their universe of infectious supernova rock. With front man Billy Corgan now joined by original members James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, it’s going to be an unmissable set that’s the talk of the #DL2019.

After a decade away we’re thrilled to have Dream Theater back in the Download fold. The prog-metal titans have been at the top of the game for 33 years inspiring us and countless other bands along their storied career. Their groove-laden metal is sure to get you moshing out with your mates at #DL2019. Whilst the chugging riffage of metal behemoths, Lamb of God, will see the circle pit erupt. And, Eagles Of Death Metal will get you singing and dancing to their riotous rock n’ roll revelry during their second ever performance at Download.

Metal fans we really are spoiling you as the prodigally powerful Maori-metal trio Alien Weaponry and heavy-metal legends of Anthrax are also coming to Download 2019. For all your brooding rockers out there, hotly-tipped band Badflower will have you holding your Zippo lighters in their air for their haunting single ‘Ghost’. Whilst, noise-punks Black Futures, who have been making seismic waves with their intense industrial soundscapes, will have you scaling unknown rock terrain.

You’ll get to go shotgun with Atlanta southern rockers Blackberry Smoke who’ll be on hand to serve up a truck load of raucous country-infused good times. Detroit post-hardcore band I Prevail will have you screaming out to their anthemic metalcore and Los Angeles natives, The Interrupters, will have you bouncing hard to their brilliant ska-punk. Whilst Ukrainian tech metallers Jinjer, led by their incredible frontwoman Tatiana Shmaylyuk, will be bringing an intense performance to Donington.

Also, jumping on board are Man With A Mission with their pulse-racing hooks, riffs and giant wolf heads in tow. Plus, fellow genre-melder nothing,nowhere. who has taken the world by storm with his hybrid emo-rap, pushing both genres forward as the most exciting force in this ever-growing scene. New Hampshire’s Our Last Night, with riffs as heavy as their emotive melodies, continue their rapid rise to success by joining the #DL2019 bill. Closer home Riding The Low featuring Paddy Considine on vocals will be making the pilgrimage from Burton-on-Trent to Donington with their catchy classic rock.

Also making a welcome return to Download are Swedish sensations Royal Republic with rock n’ roll anthems as slick as their freshly pressed suits. Whilst pop-punk front-runners State Champs, who’re fresh off the back of the release of their third album ‘Living Proof’, will get fists punching to the sky. Rising Nepalese metal disruptors Underside will turn up the volume and are in good company with the well-oiled deathcore machine Whitechapel who will steam roll in to lay waste to the fields of Donington.

Australian up-and-comers Yours Truly will also be flying in with a freight of huge choruses with them, and last but not least Floridian party starters Zebrahead are bringing bundles of fun, anthems and antics to get you jumping.

With 40 bands now coming to Download 2019 and many more to be announced, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out the rock and metal party of the year on 14th-16th June 2019 at #DL2019.