Sonisphere Review - Sunday and Monday

Day one of Sonisphere festival had gone awesomely and I expected the same from day two. And to kick off my review of Sunday I cannot for the life of me remember anything (musically) about the first two bands that we went to see. The one and only thing I can remember is the lead singer of Paradise Lost saying "Have you had breakfast yet? I have. I had a do-nut. Cost a pound. Fucking joke". Priceless. Clearly the quote of the weekend but that's as far as my memory of Paradise Lost goes. Sorry Buckcherry and Paradise Lost but I cannot remember you guys. I don't think it was alcohol, it could be the big delay in writing this review but I think it's because I wasn't too bothered about seeing you guys. I'm not saying that I dislike Buckcherry and Paradise Lost, no, I just cannot remember you. Sorry.

During Paradise Lost I realised I had lost my wallet with £80, drivers license and credit cards. Damn! I had been stupid. During Buckcherry I had taken it out of my back pocket when I sat down and put it between my legs on the floor. I got up and totally forgot about it unless a few songs into Paradise Lost (probably why I don't remember them much). So I ran back to where I had been. It was gone. I tried lost and found but it wasn't there. This put a down on the day for a bit but there wasn't anything I could do then except check lost and found again so I just continued on with the day.

Well great start to the Saturday's review and for next artist it's not going to get much better. Lamb of God was next and they are almost everything I don't like in a rock/metal or whatever genre you want to class them under. For me one of the most important things in a band is being able to understand the majority of words they sing. Lamb of God didn't tick that box. Neil, however, loves them more than the air he breathes. I cannot see it myself but they must be doing something right as they had a good crowd following and not long finished supporting Metallica on their US tour.

Now on to the highlight of the weekend for me. After unsuccessfully trying to catch up with my cousins on Saturday I was now in touch with my auntie. She met up with us and took us to the real VIP area. In there we're got into the K2 tent and I finally found my cousins who had mad a den behind the sofa. After my cousins, the best bit about the K2 tent for the open bar. We just had time to have a Mojito and a Texan before heading off to see Feeder. But before Feeder we bumped into the legends that are Blass of Glory! These crazy Dutch guys were a laugh. One of them even drag Matt over to their van to get a photo. Great guys.

I personally was looking forward to Feeder, as were the rest of the guys. They didn't disappoint. It was a quality performance that made my some what drunk friends dance and sing like fools, which is always fun. Once again the best song was played last. Just a Day. This song is one of those songs that just make you feel good and like summer has only just begun. It sounds as fresh as it did when it was first released. As you can see from the video it was great.

Machine Head or Limp Bizkit? For me Limp Bizkit all the way. As I've not mentioned Machine Head you can safely assume I didn't see them but I have earlier in the year when they supported Metallica and also a few years back at the Black Crusade. Both times I had no interest and at the Black Crusade they insulted Linkin Park. Machine Head are nothing to me. Machine Head and Limp Bizkit don't seem to like one another and this was the reason that was floating around for why Machine Head weren't going to be there. By pulling out they show they are petty and in my opinion by showing up after pulling out is just a ploy to to make them look good. They didn't fool me. Limp Bizket were next and were on form. There had been rumours going around that Fred Durst was ill and was going to miss the set. He didn't look the best on stage all wrapped up in a track suit (not the red hat and white top we're all used to) but all credit to him he put on a great show and so did his band. The show was great and they played all the songs I was wanting to hear - Faith, Break Stuff and Rollin'. Fred did mention Machine Head (and also Nine Inch Nails who are another band they aren't supposed to get along with), saying how it was good they don't give a shit but really I think and hope it was a bit of a piss take. The only negative thing about Limp Bizkit is that their set was pretty much the same as it was at Download. Other than that I was thoroughly pleased.

After another break it was time for Nine Inch Nails. Again I was looking forward to this but they were a let down. Not because they played bad but just because the last half of the set was purely ballad based. Hearing Hurt live like they performed was great but seeing as it was their last UK date ever I feel it should have ended with more of a bang. From what I've heard from other reviews I'm not the only one who feels this way. A shame really.

Avenged Sevenfold where the penultimate band and I've never been a fan. In all they were OK and the songs that I knew from past trip to Mosh sounded all right. Again this was a Neil band. While they were on I checked lost and found again but with no more luck.

The finally of Sonisphere and the headline act needed no introduction. Metallica were fantastic as ever and with the fireworks and massive flamethrowers they couldn't go wrong. Fuel, Mast of Puppets, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman and the final song Seek and Destroy. It was the definition of awesome. I started feeling a little sick towards the end of the set and as I'd had this exact feeling the weekend before which resulted in my puking out of a car window I had to get out and drink something. Needless to say I was always in sight of the stage. It was actually quite interesting to be at the back of 60,000 people as I've never been there before but given the choice I'd have been back up near the front. After the encore they guys came back on the stage give thanks as often happens. The day happened to be James Hetfield's birthday and for that he got caked in cream pies. Now that's not something you see everyday. After a rendition of happy birthday it was all over. Can't image what it would be like to have 60,000 fans sing happy birthday to you but I bet it's a good feeling.

So Sunday's music was a bit of a mix bag for me and losing my wallet wasn't fun. In all it still was a great day and was about to get better. I went down to lost and found. I queued up for what must have been half an hour. I had hope when I was told to take a seat. A couple minutes more and I had my wallet back! That was such an awesome feeling. To really add to the happiness nothing was missing! Everything was there. I had already accepted the money would be gone. Unfortunately, there wasn't a record of people who had handed in the items so I had no one to thank. To whoever it was THANK YOU SO MUCH.

The rest of the evening was spent cooking the last sausages, drinking some beers and keeping warm by the BBQ. Our neighbours were being a little dangerous with their disposable BBQ and that provided some good entertainment. Including a steward trying to put out the fire once but all succeeding in making everyone choke on smoke. After the stewards finally got them to leave the fire we gained a few more bodies around ours. All I can say is that they were interesting. This old Aussie woman ended up giving some sexual favours to some random guy for a cigarette. So to all guys out there, smokers or not, bring cigarettes next year! Everyone but Neil ended up staying up all night and by 8am we'd got. With about an hour drive ahead I was probably going to kill all of us all because I was feeling sleepy. Sensibly I stopped off at the first services, grab a Red Bull, waited 20 minutes and then I was buzzing! Rage Against the Machine on the way back and a 3 hour Red Bull high. Awesome. Weekend complete!