What’s the essential Down tune you need to know for Download? What’s the best song that Tesla ever put out? It’s all inside our guide to the best songs from Download’s new additions! Get your Download tickets!

Down

It’s no exaggeration when we say, even amongst the mega announcements Download have made this year, Down are one of the best bands to be added to the bill. Phil Anselmo was on the form of his life the last time the band hit the UK and Down will slay at Donington. There’s a chance this mob will steal the weekend. We don’t bet against it.

Check out Stone The Crow by Down.

Tesla

I know what YOU think. YOU think Tesla are another shite hair metal band. Just because they released records then. Think again, they are simply a huge rootsy metal hard rock outfit with tons of soul, energy and the ability to write amazing songs. Which is why they’ve survived to play Shepherd’s Bush Empire while shite 80s hair bands like LA Guns and Faster Pussycat have to cancel shows at the 600 capacity Underworld because they couldn’t shift tickets. As Whitesnake and Thunder have done, so Tesla survive because they are more than ephemeral rock fad fodder – put simply, they rock. And rather well.

Check out this live version of Edison’s Medicine by Tesla.

Journey

Seeing as we have to work at the Golden God Awards the day after, Journey’s addition is a bit of a sore point in the Hammer offices. Por quoi? Because we’re all going to have no voices left when we shred the fuck out of them during Don’t Stop Believin’! Hammer scribe Dom Lawson has already given you his essential ten track guide to Journey, but click the track below for the world’s ultimate ballad!

Check out Don’t Stop Believein’ by Journey!

Papa Roach

The nu-metal revival is on! Durst has already signed on to kick ass at Download for the 1st time, but Jacoby Shaddix and his baggy-trousered crew are Download veterans. the last time they played at Donington, they were surprisingly one of the bands of the weekend. Let’s face it, Last Resort is always a giggle too.

Check out Last Resort by Papa Roach, live at Reading.

Chris Cornell

Alright, we’ve all had a pop at Chris ‘crunk’ Cornell lately. Even Trent Reznor has had a word or two to say about the man’s new urban direction but tCornell was ace once upon a time. If he’s pulling out some of the old Soundgarden material, we’ll still be throwing the horns in his general direction. Just leave the do-rag at home, Chris.

Check out this old school live video of Soundgarden blasting out Jesus Christ Pose.

Clutch

They’re the reason we don’t trust white men driving black van’s (because they’re saving all of their voodoo just for you, innit), they know what cornbread smells like when it’s done too well and we are beyond stoked that Clutch are going to be storming Donington Park. Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ Rawhide!

Check out Profits Of Doom by the mighty Clutch!

Black Stone Cherry

One of our favourite classic rock revivalists, Black Stone Cherry will be bringing the taste of the deep south to Download. Not many bands will bring soul to Download but the Black Stone boys combine heart and heavy with effortless ease. Bring it on!

Check out this awesome Black Stone Cherry live footage.

Lacuna Coil

It’s a big year for Lacuna Coil with a new album on the horizon. Are the Italian goth-metallers still up to it? Only time will tell…

Check out Lacuna Coil playing Swamped at Download in 2006.

Karma To Burn

Karma To Burn were one of the most acclaimed stoner rock bands of the late 90s. Their self-titled debut album probably rates among the all-time classics. Though the only vocalist [Bata] that ever worked for them went loony and was committed shortly after recording their debut album – not even Kyuss’s John Garcia worked out as a replacement – the trio continued as an instrumental act building a reputation as one of the tightest and most mesmerising bands on the live circuit. They split amongst a haze of drug abuse in 2002, but now they’re back to reclaim their stoner rock crown.

Check out Five from Karma To Burn!

Architects

One of the key reasons why we’re all raving about the British rock scene in 2009, Architects Hollow Crown album is sure to be one of the best things to be released this year. They’ve already got a sell-out UK tour under their belts this year and they’re sure to be worth checking out at Donington.

Check out the Architects track Early Grave!

Parkway Drive

Australia’s finest should have a new album out by the time they next reach us. Every single time they’ve been on British soil, we’ve been nothing short of blown away. When they bring their thunder to Download, you best believe you should be there.

Wrap your eyes and ears onto Parkway Drive’s Boneyards.

Skin

No, not the shaven-headed siren who used to front Skunk Anansie. We’re talking about Skin, the mid-90’s band that specialised in hard rock ala Thunder. Big hair and bigger chorus’s, Download will be the reunited Skin’s comeback show. Not quite as big as Faith No More’s but it’ll still be a blast.

Check out the video for Skin’s Look But Don’t Touch.

Download will take place on June 12th – 14th at Donington and will feature sets from Faith No More, Slipknot, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, The Prodigy, Limp Bizkit, Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson, Korn, ZZ Top, Down, Journey and many, many more.

Click here for all of the very best Download news!

Get your Download tickets!