DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA // Drop First Epic Line-Up With Two Major Farewells

Download Festival Australia have released their first riotous line-up, entreating metalheads to dead set legends Ozzy Osbourne and Slayer as headliners on their last ever trips Down Under.

MORE: HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA: Your Guide To The Best Gig This October // DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2019: The International Acts We Would Love To See

Now set for destroying Sydney as well as Melbourne with neck-snapping riffs and fret-burning leads, the line-up is stacked with metal, punk, and hardcore luminaries. This will be the last time you’ll ever see Ozzy Osbourne and Slayer in the flesh in Australia—so fair warning: miss out and regret it!

Other highlights include Judas Priest, Alice In Chains, Ghost, Rise Against, and bean-spillers The Amity Affliction.

Remember this is only the first announcement—there’s plenty more to come!

We have the scoop on the entire line-up below in our EPIC Download preview!

Tickets for the general public will go on sale 26th September at 9am.

If you’re a member of Optus Perks, a special pre-sale will commence at 9am 21 September until 12am 22 September. Expect demand to be high—there’s a limit of 10 tickets per customer.

OZZY OSBOURNE

If heavy metal had a father cradle it into existence, it is John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne. The leader of Black Sabbath, the bat-decapitating, all-powerful snarl of Ozzy Osbourne was the first to give heavy metal its voice; and now he’s coming to Download as part of “NO MORE TOURS 2” a bittersweet finale to a successful and storied career. To send him off, he’ll have long-time guitarist Zakk Wylde, Blasko (Bass), Tommy Clufetos (Drums) and Adam Wakeman (Keyboards) as his full band. You’ll be a madman (or woman) if you miss out on a ticket to catch this last ever Crazy Train.

SLAYER

In January this year, the metal world shed tears they never thought they had—Slayer would be no more after one last massive hurrah. They’re choosing Download Australia 2019 which will send the most hardened of moshers into a category five maelstrom of titanic thrash terror. When it comes to extremity in fan devotion Slayer have few—if any—equals. Be prepared to carve SLAYER into your brains this March.

JUDAS PRIEST

THE METAL GODS RETURN! Hot off their incredible 18th album Firepower, the revitalised Judas Priest are bringing back their vengeance screaming, painkilling, turbo loving heavy metal thunder back Down Under for Download! Don’t get caught between the hammer and the anvil – be the metal and bow down before your Metal Gods!

ALICE IN CHAINS

One of the OG Washington-state grunge-rockers, they’ve amassed multiple Grammy nominations, sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and amassed a diehard international fanbase. They’ll be here to support new and acclaimed album Rainier Fog, plus play a selection of AiC classics.

GHOST

The clergy return to Australia for the first time in over four years, set to take their place at the Download pulpit. Taking an ecclesiastical excursion to spread the Word of fourth gospel Prequelle, these GRAMMY-nominated pop-gloomsters have made fans around the world—with one being other than Mr James Hetfield, natch.

RISE AGAINST

Stadium dominating, hardcore punks Rise Against are letting loose the wolves on the establishment and gatekeepers, none more vociferous than on 2017’s WOLVES album. The activist, straight edge, vegetarians are here to take the power back through none other than loud and proud rock ‘n’ roll.

THE AMITY AFFLICTION

This one you may have already known thanks to a cheeky slip by bassist/clean vocalist Ahren Stringer on triple j last month. But hey, with another Aria #1 record on their hands with Misery and a whole host of crowd favourites, we’re not mad about getting that present a little early. Want to know more about the latest record? We’ve got a chat with frontman Joel Birch here.

ANTHRAX

OY VEY! The thrashtastic mensches from Queens, New York are back on Aussie soil, forming half of the Big 4 of American Thrash at Download 2019. Don’t sit on your touchus, get up and experience the ripping sounds of Among the Living, State of Euphoria, and their latest magnum opus, For All Kings. There’s a reason why Anthrax are in the Big 4—now you can figure them all out from the pit! After a few circles round, you’ll be so verklempt you could plotz.

HALESTORM

Fronted by the unbridled rock fury of Lzzy Hale, Halestorm are lauded as one of the most versatile hard rock groups in the world circuit. Just look at who they’ve toured with: Eric Church, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, ZZ Top and Evanescence just to name a few. Winning a GRAMMY in 2013 and a coveted Dimebag Darrell Shredder of the Year Golden God award in 2016 for Lzzy, there’s no telling what’s in store for Aussie fans in a full festival set-up.

BEHEMOTH

The undisputed masters of blasphemous black metal return to the depths below, this time with hands raised to Satan on upcoming album I Loved You At Your Darkest. Often chased out of their native Poland for crimes against the all powerful Catholic Church, we embrace their Eastern European darkness, clergy glowering before apostasies in guitar and word. Frontman Nergal is a force unto himself. Metalheads, punks, all—do not miss Behemoth’s raw power.

ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES

Comprised of Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape on the guitar, Scott Shiflett (Face to Face), on the other guitar, Lagwagon drummer and Fat Wreck utility superhero Dave Raun on the skins, and rounded out by Jay Bentley (Bad Religion) and incomparable crooner Spike Slawson (The Re-Volts, Uke-Hunt and Swinging Utters), MFATGG (wat) are a punk rock supergroup with an epic rotating line-up, outlandish outfits, and always a riotous good time. Grab a beer, settle in, and go nuts!

I PREVAIL

Haven’t heard of I Prevail? Well their first headlining set over here sold completely out … from their debut record Lifelines without any giant promotion. We’re not just talking “200 cap venue, three date sellout.” No this is “add two extra shows in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, and sell THEM out too” territory. Real word of mouth, those in the know type promo. Scars is your best bet for those currently without a clue. If you missed it the first time round, this is your chance to get on the bandwagon.

CONVERGE

Every member of Converge has been there since the 20th century. For vocalist Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou, it’s been 28 years since they first started. Hell, they’re older than about 90% of our crew and they’ve still got the ferocity that bestows them the title of metalcore pioneers. The Dusk In Us dropped last year (their 9th studio record for those counting), and it’s been five years since they’ve hit our shores. Believe us when we say they’re a legacy act that’ll blow some of the freshest faces off their own stage.

FRENZAL RHOMB

Meat Pies. “Yeah, Nah.” Frenzal Rhomb. There’s nothing more Aussie than a bit of Frenzal. It’s fitting that these workhorses of Aussie punk rock take the and at Download Australia 2019 stage with over nine albums of in-your-face material. At this point, Frenzal classics like Punch In The Face, Mr. Charisma and Mum Changed The Locks are woven into our cultural fabric like a pissed and dreadlocked Waltzing Matilda. Don’t be a disgrace, if you have a horse in this rock race, always put your money on Frenzal Rhomb.

LUCA BRASI

Here’s an offering you can’t refuse; Tassie’s heart-on-sleeve punks Luca Brasi are taking Australia—and the world—by storm with their raw, authentic, and captivating brand of punk rock music. Latest album Stay shows their versatility within rock ‘n’ roll, drawing in audiences from across the plectrum-based spectrum. A couple songs in, and you’ll be clamouring to join the family.

CODE ORANGE

Laying down aggressive punk tracks since their tender teens, Code Orange have made themselves a band to watch in the 2018 metal scene. With three albums and a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance under their belt, this hardcore group from Pittsburgh aren’t afraid to take you back to the filthy days of old school Hardcore Punk. Plus you should know that CODE ORANGE. IS. FOREVER.

ANDY BLACK

Always eager to advance himself as an artist, Andy Black maintains a stellar career as frontman and founder of Black Veil Brides whilst simultaneously pursuing his solo ventures. Using his distinctive vocals, modern melodies and delving into pop culture, ‘unique’ doesn’t come close to describing the musical experience he creates.

THE FEVER 333

Born out of the current divide amongst citizens in the United States, The Fever 333 combines hip-hop and punk influences with heavy instrumental shreds to create a sound you can’t skip over. The Fever 333 are sending everyone a message and using their creativity to ensure we are listening.

WAR ON WOMEN

There’s nothing shy about War On Women. They know what they want and they’ll make damn sure you know about it. Their confronting and in-your-face lyrics, paired with heavy riffs and melodies, will leave you panting for social justice and an encore.

HIGH TENSION

High Tension is returning to the Download stage in 2019. Revelling in the success of their third LP Purge, High Tension have continued to invoke creative chaos around the country with their mix of brutal instrumentals and shocking lyrics. There’s no escaping their heavy grasp once you’ve been drawn in.

OUTRIGHT

Melbourne local hardcore group Outright know what it takes to bring the crowds in. Already an exciting addition to Halloween Hysteria 2018 line-up in Brisbane, the band’s heavy hitting bangers are riling up the pits all over Australia. With a fire inside them that burns for heavy metal and social justice, this Hardcore band takes no prisoners—it’s time to bang your heads and join the revolution.

RUINS

Creating a darkness that we can all relate to, Tassie band Ruins isn’t afraid to show their true colours. Earning a reputation in Tasmania as being one of the most distinctive, dark and heavy acts in the country, it’s nothing short of a wild ride listening to the bangers this band has created.

ALIEN WEAPONRY

If you’re looking for a band that’s truly one of a kind, then Alien Weaponry is the answer. Combining classic thrash metal sounds with their native Te Reo Maori language has put Alien Weaponry on everyone’s radar. Drawing record breaking numbers to shows across Europe and the UK, these teens are going from strength to strength all over the world!

OZZY OSBOURNE
SLAYER | JUDAS PRIEST | ALICE IN CHAINS

PLUS LOADS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

Saturday March 9th // Parramatta Park 18+ event
Monday March 11th Flemington Racecourse // 18+ event (Labour Day Public Holiday)