The sun has made a surprise guest appearance for the third day running this weekend as Indian nu metal sensations Bloodywood arrive on the Apex stage for their second ever Download appearance. Having opened the festival's main stage at its humungous twentieth anniversary edition in 2023, the Delhi crew have jumped up a few spaces this year, their enthralling mash-up of millennial metal riffage and powerful traditional Indian folk music deemed the perfect early afternoon gear change.
Turns out it's a spot-on call: the six-piece's irresistible groove sees a sunshine-drenched Donington kick up a storm, full-throttle circle pits opening up from the second they bounce on stage. Bloodywood's energy and earnest excitement is infectious, and it's nigh-on impossible to avoid damn near banging your head off as the likes of Gaddar and Aaj throw out riffs so bouncy they'd make Godzilla's knees wobble.
