The best from the rest of the bill with Beez!

If you’re a Metal Hammer podcast listener, there’ll be no prizes for guessing who I’m going to start this section with.

Most times it’s the bands that make you walk away raving about how good the last hour of your life was, but in the case of Limp Bizkit’s set, it went one further than that. This was an event, made by the people around us and the feeling created by 50,000 people losing their minds to a band who were once upon a time the biggest hard rock/metal band around. They showed why from the off.

Kicking off with ‘Break Stuff’ into ‘My Generation’, the field lost the plot. Who’s that next to me screaming about how this might be the best thing he’s ever seen? Aled from Kids In Glass Houses. Who looks at me square in the face as we scream “get the fuck up” from ‘Faith’ at each other? It’s Scuzz TV presenter Alex Herron. Who’s that all in a line doing the rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ dance? About 20 respected members of the music industry. Incredible.

Hell, even the people pretending to not like it were mouthing every word! We know you loved it too, just join the party! Nice work, Fred and co. Good job in receiving the plaudits you deserve.

DevilDriver’s circle-pit was as big as expected but we didn’t count on there being a barrier that meant there would be two of the bastards! The punk rock energy the band play with and the overall ferocity expressed throughout…DD are on fire right now. Wait until you hear the album. It’ll destroy you.

Biggest unexpected triumph of the weekend comes courtesy of Hatebreed. Jamey Jasta and his wrecking crew throw everything that they’ve got into this one and, Slipknot aside, claim the Saturday. Ending with a huge ‘Destroy Everything’, they leave such an impression that I head straight to the merch counter afterwards. They’d sold out of smalls. Bastards.

Korn pulled it out of the bag in spectacular fashion too. Dark and heavy, it was a tough ask following the good time vibe of Limp Bizkit but the boys did well. Jonathan Davis looked like a man with the bit between his teeth and the world at his feet again. Korn are having Ross Robinson produce their next record. I’m excited about them again. Job done.

Other quick shouts must be given to A Day To Remember (far less melodic and nice than on record), Hardcore Superstar (how are they not bigger!?), Down (Phil Anselmo. ‘Nuff said.) and Whitesnake (I’m not a fan but tell me you didn’t grin like a motherfucker in ‘Here I Go Again’).

Obviously, I couldn’t be everywhere at once. Who did I miss?