As the weekend draws to a close and the smell of the mob rises to dizzying new heights of festering putridity, Download festival continues in its newly developed tradition of a quieter (well, less intense) wind-down to end the weekend. Classic, almost mythic groups like ZZ Top and Whitesnake rise from the mists of the time to close out festivities on the main stage. [MG]

Having played a storming set at last year in support of their debut album ‘Silver spoons and Broken Bones’, Stone Gods’ return was eagerly anticipated. The band, formed from the ashes of The Darkness, are, Dan Hawkins, Robin Goodridge, Richie Edwards, and Toby MacFairlane. They blast out ‘Burn the Witch’ and favourite “I’m with the band” to an enthusiastic crowd that grew quickly once the music started. This band is likely to have a very bright future.

Sacred Mother Tongue who hail from the Midlands take to stage two first today and on offer here is a tight rhythm section of Bass and drums that churns out the beat.

Rising upstarts, Trigger The Bloodshed launch into a bludgeoning attack of raw growling vocals, asking the crowd if they are ready for some death metal whilst Suicide Silence open their first offering; a mixture of alternating light and shade as singer Mitch Lucker dances like a demented seagull and the pit degenerates into a high speed express train. These guys who hail from California go on to play ‘Wake up’ a song from the new album, also featuring are ‘Girl of Glass’ and ‘No pity for a coward’ and finishing with “Unanswered” from their 2007 offering ‘The Cleansing’.[HK]

In the shelter of the Tuborg Stage The 69 Eyes get underway after what must have been some nerve-wracking technical problems. Hailing from Finland these guys are playing an energetic (if simplistic) stylised glam-rock kind of thing, all leather, black floppy haircuts and pounding 80's rhythm. The long established Therapy? Follow with a much more genuine feeling set. An even mixture of well-known tunes and new material punctuated by light hearted banter had the Irish trio winning the hearts of the few present who weren't already devoted to the slightly punk-tinged hard rockers.

While Shinedown and Clutch kept everyone at second stage awake with bouncy no-nonsense American rock, Dream Theater graced the main stage to take things a little further. The kingly James Labrie rang out fearlessly as the band improved upon their previous Download showing by mixing in crowd-pleasing mainstays like 'Metropolis Part 1', acknowledging their faithful fan base as well as new recruits with a confident set.

Returning to Donington after 23 years was emotional for monsters of rock Def Leppard and they used this emotion to great effect. It must be gratifying for them to get this sort of reception from such a mixed audience and those on the fence who did stay to check out some of this set of inimitable classic rock will unlikely have been disappointed. Thus ended an eclectic weekend that called to more walks of life than any previous Downloads. Same time next year? Although not on the tracks anymore, Download isn't going far. [MG]