Download Festival 2023 – Friday. Bring Me The Horizon have come a long way since their humble beginnings in Sheffield. World tours, massive audiences and now this huge milestone of headlining Download. They’ve earned every step, though, the hard work and commitment to their craft and fans showing in every moment of a dazzling set.
The most striking thing about tonight is their ability to communicate to every single soul of the massive crowd. Extending beyond the massive video screens and huge sound, they spoke to hearts.
Today was a great opportunity for the band to announce a UK and Ireland tour for 2024, and a new album, Post Human: Nex Gen, which will be released later this year.
From the opening chords of AmEN! BMTH grasped the opportunity with both hands and ran with it like their lives depended on it. The House Of Wolves and Parasite Eve rocked with an almost indecent passion, Oliver Sykes, a natural showman making the most of the stage.
Despite the singer’s abundance of confidence, this wasn’t about ego though, and the obvious joy of having guests Nova Twins for 1×1 and Amy Lee for One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death and Nilhist Blues shone with respect and appreciation.
Emotions ran high for DIE4u, as the crowd sang along to its huge chorus and when an acoustic Follow You’s declaration of “I’ll follow you” rings out, you could hear thousands of broken hearts mended.
Closing the night in a welter of flame for Can You Feel My Heart, Sykes was yet again in the crowd, the human physical contact made with the barrier crowd as they sang side by side with him reaching out to touch even the farthest away watching the spectacle.
Bring Me The Horizon have shown they’re royalty in the new generation of rock. Long may they reign.
Take Part: Are you at Download this year? Who are you looking forward to see? Want to get in touch and tell us how it’s going? Email MetalTalk Editor Steve Ritchie to tell us how it’s going for you. Download@MetalTalk.net.
Download Festival 2023 was a record breaking year.
MetalTalk Download 2023 coverage can be found at MetalTalk.net/tag/download-2023
Download 2023 will see the festival celebrate its 20th anniversary with an additional day, meaning four days of live music in total.
This year’s MetalTalk team is:
Photography:
For Download 2022, visit MetalTalk.net/tag/download-2022
