Max & Iggor Cavalera are going back to their Roots on the Zippo Encore stage - playing the Sepultura classic in its entirety, marking the 20th anniversary of the album's release. Where did those two decades just go to?
So, then, no surprises for the set list that fills the overcast end of the site with relentless thrash metal. But there is addition at the end.
"We're gonna finish with a very special song for a special person," says Max, and the Ace of Spades is duly aired in tribute to Lemmy.
“Heavy Metal forever,” Max says, and then they are gone, taking their tribal beats and monstrous tracks with them.
Back on the main stage, A Day To Remember are packing a punch of their own.
This one is neither as meaty or as raw as the Cavalera choice, but the American players have one hell of an audience in place for their arrival.
Have Faith In Me is dedicated to the ladies tuning in.
“If you know the words I want you to sit on somebody's shoulders and sing it with me, help me out,” frontman Jeremy McKinnon – sporting a Tom Petty shirt - urges, as the female of the species begin popping up above the sea of heads.
The Floridian quintet want to party with us. The sky is grey, the first rain to fall has already hit the floor, but to hell with that, this is a festival – a crew is dispatched to dispatch beach balls among the audience.
Naivety, Bullfight and The Downfall of Us All keep the unison on form. It has been a pretty damn perfect set from the band, who have been playing Download for the past nine years. They've risen through the stages and earned their stripes during that time.
“It's insane they let us be the main support to a bad ass band like Bliffy Clyro,” Jeremy says, realising his slip of the tongue.
Still it has been an 'L' of a performance...
Devin Townsend – back on the Zippo Encore stage – is in a league of his own making. The prolific player and his band are exceptional today.
“How about a Canadian love song?” he asks, “We're part of the commonwealth right?”
And so, Kingdom is delivered to rabid response.
“Everything has been so grim lately but there's something to be said for a load of people participating In a type of music that is visceral,” he says.
The energy he brings to his crowd is just superb, and the audience respond accordingly. There is no-one else on the bill anywhere like this bald, black dressed man playing at the back. He's not in the pack, or ahead of the pack. He's beyond that. Higher is another prime example.
A short time later and Scottish 'erberts Biffy Clyro take pole position – polishing off the Saturday night stage. The band we once saw playing before an audience of 40 and the band who were far too off-kilt(er) to achieve mainstream success have moved on somewhat.
Some of their more flamboyantly technical, angsty early day deliveries have since been replaced by an altogether more commercial friendly sound, and it's those recent albums that have brought them to this level, and they've got a show to match the thirst for 'em.
Wolves of Winter opens, with Living is a Problem, Sounds Like Balloons and Biblical all sating appetites before we get our fill with 57.
There's Bubbles and Golden Rule and Simon Neil has transformed into the rock star frontman, all gyrating hips, playful faces and every now and then he gives a wee screechy 'Walk This Way' nodding to Sunday's headliners Aerosmith.
Meanwhile, Rob Zombie is headlining the Zippo Encore stage, and waxing lyrical about alien abductions.
As one does. Cue the arrival of a some plastic fantastic aliens which are tossed stage front.
Rob wants to see the green chaps bobbed all the way back to the food stands.
“Go ET, go ET go!'” he chants, as thousands of fans take his lead.
The Hideous Exhibitions of a Dedicated Goat Whore is our favourite title of the weekend, and the song is a mutha-rocker too. Aren't all Zombie tracks though?
He steps back to the White Zombie heyday and sizzles with the crowd pleasing Thunder Kiss '65, cracking it down the middle and inserting The Ramones classic Blitzkrieg Bop before bringing things full circle with the last kiss.
Then? Another choice cover from the shock rock vaults with Alice Cooper's School's Out. It's dark now, and the only time to see the Zombie at play,silver pants an' all.
Over on the main stage the Biffy boys are calling time on their momentous evening with Stingin Belle.
Day two at Download has been a blast. The party continues...
Pics: Al Hunter @imAl_73
