Oztix | News | Your Ultimate Guide To The 2019 Download Line-up

Metal and punk rock reign supreme on the huge 2019 Download line-up, and with the first announcement’s 23 acts having a collective history that could fill numerous novels, there’s a lot to unpack.

With the festival expanding next year and taking on Parramatta Park (March 9) before returning to Flemington Racecourse (March 11), here’s everything you need to know.

OZZY OSBOURNE

Heavy metal royalty. It’s as simple as that. The Black Sabbath icon will play his final shows in Australia at Download next March, celebrating more than five decades in the business. He’ll be joined by long-time collaborators Zakk Wylde (guitar), Blasko (bass), Tommy Clufetos (drums) and Adam Wakeman (keyboards).

Speaking with The Music, Osbourne said “the band is great and I’m singing better than ever”. He admitted he still gets nervous on stage, but that doesn’t stop him. “My job is to go on stage and give them the best hour or two of entertainment that I can possibly give them. I’ll give them my heart and soul.”

SLAYER

They’re the band who changed thrash metal forever. The headliners announced back in January they’d be calling it a day after a farewell tour, and the Australian leg of that goodbye comes in the form of Download.

It’s been a wild ride since they dropped their debut album, Show No Mercy, back in 1983, going on to release 11 other LPs and being dubbed one of the Big Four alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. Download will mark an emotional and brutal farewell.

JUDAS PRIEST

At this stage, it’s clear that Download spared no expense when it came to their headliners, with Judas Priest widely regarded as another outfit that helped shape not only heavy metal but punk rock over the past 40 years.

The English rockers set themselves apart in the ‘70s by being one of the first acts to exclusively wear leather and studs, and they haven’t slowed down since, recently dropping their 18th studio album, Firepower. It’s almost criminal that it was only last year the outfit scored a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination.

ALICE IN CHAINS

The influential US rockers return to Australia with their sixth LP, 2018’s Rainier Fog, in tow. It’s their first new release in five years and proves they’ve not lost their spark. Previous efforts have seen them top charts across the globe, claim multiple Grammy nominations, sell more than 30 million albums worldwide and more.

GHOST

Swedish heavyhitters Ghost made some big changes for their Prequelle album back in June. Its release signalled a slick and melodic return to form and saw them do away with the masked shtick.

The LP channels a wealth of different elements — from '80s rock vibes to dark and sombre undertones and even a saxophone solo at one point — all while staying true to the measured riffs and soaring vocals fans originally fell in love with.

RISE AGAINST

They might just be one of the greatest live bands of all-time. They’re tight, consistent and know how to fill a room with an infectious and uplifting energy. It was only back in February the Chicago punk rockers graced Australian soil in support of Wolves, but they always leave fans wanting more and their return for Download will be one to remember.

THE AMITY AFFLICTION

And now we get stuck into some world-class local talent. What separated Download 2018 from other heavy metal events in Australia over the years was a focus on emerging and established talent.

It was last month the Queensland-born metalcore legends dropped their acclaimed Misery LP, offering up another dose of passion, integrity and unflinching honesty; all of which translates impeccably well to the festival stage.

ANTHRAX

Another one of the Big Four! Anthrax are a band that know how to surprise fans and leave their mark on a wider audience. Described as “America’s hi-top wearing, riff-spitting, ear-thrashing answer to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal”, the I Am The Law hitmakers burst onto the New York scene in the ‘80s before selling more than 10 million records, collaborating with Public Enemy and more. They dropped their most recent LP, For All Kings, in 2016.

HALESTORM

Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, the Pennsylvanian rockers honed their live show to perfection by touring extensively alongside music icons Eric Church, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, ZZ Top and more.

With numerous awards under their belt under, the band dropped Vicious in July of their year which shot up to #16 on the ARIA albums chart, marking their highest Aus debut so far.

BEHEMOTH

A driving force behind the Polish extreme underground metal scene, the members of Behemoth are just as relentless as the band’s music. Since forming 27 years ago, they’ve helped shape death metal, all the while fighting the Polish government. In 2007, they were charged with tearing up a bible onstage and were again in hot water last year after using the Polish coat of arms on a Behemoth t-shirt.

ME FIRST & THE GIMME GIMMES

Seriously fun. The US supergroup – featuring Lagwagon’s Joey Cape (guitar), Face To Face’s Scott Shiflett (guitar), Lagwagon drummer Dave Raun, Bad Religion’s Jay Bentley (bass) and Spike Slawson (The Re-Volts and Uke-Hunt) on vocals – covers everything from Motown, country, show tunes, Japanese pop and so much more.

I PREVAIL

Detroit post-hardcore outfit I Prevail can do no wrong – just listen to their viral cover of Taylor Swift’s Blank Space. They burst into the global spotlight with their debut EP, Heart vs Mind, only four years ago and haven’t slowed down since. The EP sold more than 100,000 copies, which led to tours with Hollywood Undead and Crown The Empire and the eventual release of 2016’s acclaimed Lifelines. See what all the fuss is about at Download 2019.

CONVERGE

Massachusetts metalcore legends Converge are quickly approaching their 30th anniversary. Carving their path in the ‘90s with debut LP Halo In A Haystack, the band’s aggressive music style was captured perfectly on 2001 seminal LP Jane Doe. The genre icons dropped their ninth LP, The Dusk In Us, last year.

FRENZAL RHOMB

With the Gimme Gimmes confirmed alongside local punk royalty Frenzal Rhomb, you can be assured Download 2019 is going to be one hell of a (Fat Wreck) party. The local punk rock heroes always deliver the goods, with a setlist that usually does a pretty good job of covering hits, b-sides, new songs, covers and more.

LUCA BRASI

The local love continues with Aussie punk rockers Luca Brasi. The Tassie four-piece released album number four, Stay, back in June, which debuted at #10 on the ARIA charts. Stay signals a change of pace; while it’s still loaded with “contagiously feel good bangers”, things become more personal for frontman Tyler Richardson, and you can really hear it in the tone of his voice, which takes Stay to the next level. Prepare for epic singalongs!

CODE ORANGE

Back across to the US, we have Pittsburgh hardcore punk outfit Code Orange whose unique brand of furious, doomy, abrasive punk has established them as one of the genre’s best live bands over the past decade.

They got into the game early, playing gigs at only 14, before signig their first record deal at 18. They now have three studio LPs and a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

ANDY BLACK

You probably know Andy Biersack from Black Veil Brides. The solo project for the frontman “carves a brash new path for a bold singer”. Black continues to push the boundaries of modern rock with his debut solo LP, The Shadow Side, as well as BVB’s new release, 2018’s Vale. His prolific schedule results in one hell of a tight live show.

THE FEVER 333

Californian hardcore punker The Fever 333 is the brainchild of vocalist Jason Aalon Butler (ex-letlive.), drummer Aric Improta (Night Verses), and guitarist Stephen Harrison (ex-The Chariot) and they’re channelling all their frustration for the current US political climate into blistering hits. The supergroup formed last year and released their debut EP, Made An America, back in March.

WAR ON WOMEN

Baltimore co-ed feminist hardcore punk band War On Women don’t hold back, singing about rape culture, street harassment, the gender wage gap, transphobia and more with driving big riffs and in your face vocals. The release of debut self-titled LP in 2015 saw them embark on extensive touring and their live show is now better than ever.

HIGH TENSION

Local outfit High Tension were so good at this year’s festival that Download invited them back for a second round. Since their appearance back in March, they’re dropped their acclaimed third LP, Purge, and further mastered thrash punk while taking things in an even heavier direction.

OUTRIGHT

Another rising Melbourne outfit, Outright is led by Jelena Goluza, who is “totally unrivalled in her thirst for strength, equality and justice”. The local outfit will bring their new EP, Holler, to Download in 2019.

RUINS

Tassie outfit Ruins have navigated their way through dark, heavy and extreme music well since forming in 2014. They’ve already claimed a reputation as being one of the most distinctive, dark, and heavy acts in Australia, and after catching them at Download 2019, you’ll know why.

ALIEN WEAPONRY

New Zealand thrash metal band Alien Weaponry took the scene by storm earlier this year with the release of ‘Tū back in June. The three-piece introduced a unique take on the genre with their blend of thrash metal and their native language, Te Reo Māori. They’ve already taken on the European festival circuit this year, so they’ll be right at home at Download 2019.