The final day of a festival is always just as upsetting as it is exciting. Many fans want the festival to last forever, while some are eager to return to their beds and loved ones after a long yet enjoyable weekend. Download Festival made it hard to want it to be over, however, with a stacked lineup from top to bottom.
Our first taste of excitement was from the Scottish powerhouses Bleed From Within, who brought the fire (literally) to the Apex stage bright and early Sunday morning. Opening with “Hands of Sin”, the festival was once again ablaze in its infancy. Pyro shot out, filling the backdrop of the Apex stage while Bleed From Within laid down a serious beatdown early Sunday morning. I Am Damnation saw a massive mosh pit erupt almost out of nowhere, and this was a clear sign that the festival was once again alive and well. Closing out their set was the fan favourite In Place Of Your Halo, which saw the crowd screaming the words back at the Scottish Metallers before their final note lingered in the hearts and minds of those who experienced it
Scorching sunshine helped the late bloomers in camp blossom, and as the final hangovers were being nursed by water or, more likely, another beer. Download Festival’s final day was already shaping up to be one to remember. From punk rock classics being blasted out of the Opus stage from Alien Ant Farm to relentless hardcore from House Of Protection, there was no denying how great the energy felt once more in Donnington Park
Chaos incarnated may be the best way to describe a House Of Protection set, as right from the off, the dynamic duo bring nothing but energy and personality to the stage. “Pulling Teeth” set the tent into overdrive, and that was the very first song. The quickest and maybe most energetic mosh pits of the whole weekend took place during this set, which was only aided by Stephen Harrison taking his guitar and mic stand and planting it firmly within the circle pit during “Learn To Forget“. This is the kind of energy that can’t be taught. At no moment did the band feel uneasy within the crowd, and the fans themselves were respectful yet chaotic to the music being produced. Nothing quite cures a hangover like some non-stop partying, and House Of Protection may have stolen the show!
The Apex stage shone brightly today, however, with a huge contrasting bill. The prog masters Meshuggah captivated the audience with a mesmerising soundscape that transported Download into its demonic world before Courtney Leplante and Co. dazzled the masses as Spiritbox made their biggest appearance on the hallowed turf to date! Courtney commanded that stage, coming out in an all white and lace dress, which was not to fool you into thinking they were soft. All I can say is what a vocal ability she has, phenomenal talent.
Deathcore got a new lease of life when Lorna Shore dropped “To The Hellfire”,… and their growth since then has been truly exceptional. Finding themselves as second from the top of the Opus Stage is something most fans of the extreme genre probably thought would never happen, but here we are! “Sun//Eater” opened up the set, and the roar that came out of the thousands in attendance was something that just had to be heard to be believed. Will Ramos’s vocals only seem to ignite fans’ primal instincts as the mosh pits here were brutal in nature and design. When the break in “To The Hellfire”… (Yes, the zombie-sounding one!) The entire Opus stage became a warzone for beatdowns! One thing Lorna Shore now has that very few bands do is the ability to play one more song and deliver a 3-part epic! “The Pain Remains” tracks allowed fans to feel every kind of emotion you can during a live performance. Despite part II having to be stopped due to a safety concern, the band quickly got back to business and delivered a close-out of their monumental performance in a literal blaze of glory.
Korn
The day would end with the Nu Metal juggernauts known as Korn, who blasted Donington away with the first note strike of “Blind”. Dropping bangers such as “Here To Stay” and “Clown” very early on meant the mosh pit crew were in full force and were dancing the night away as if it was day one all over again. Not many metal bands can pull off a set of bagpipes, but Korn always does it with style!
The intro to “Shoots And Ladders” echoed around the festival before dropping into pure chaos and pandemonium once the song truly kicked in. “A.D.I.D.A.S” caused excitement while “Y’all Want A Single” turned the packed Donnington Park into a choir hall with attitude. An encore of “4 U”, “Falling Away From Me“, “Divine”, and finally “Freak On A Leash” was exactly what the doctor had ordered for those about to go home with festival blues.
Download 2025 came to a close, and the final day was the cherry on top of an already beautifully decorated cake. It had some incredible highs and didn’t seem to suffer from many low,s which meant all in attendance would make their journeys home the following morning with a new lease on life and memories they will cherish forever.