Heading to the hallowed grounds of Download Festival next week? Join us as we sound off on some of our top acts you cannot miss over the weekend…
Words by Josephine Best | June 8, 2025
It’s almost that time of year again – when we make the pilgrimage to Donington Park for another round of Download Festival. Come rain or (wishful thinking) shine, get ready for a weekend of pure chaos. With a line-up this stacked, featuring heavyweights like Green Day, Sleep Token, and Korn, the only real challenge will be choosing who to see when those inevitable schedule clashes hit. Whether you’ve already got your set times planned to the minute or you’re just here to scream your lungs out in a muddy field with thousands of strangers, we’ve got you. Here are 10 unmissable acts that might not be on your radar – but absolutely should be – at Download Festival 2025.
Static Dress
Blending early 2000s emo nostalgia with modern aggression, and redefining what post-hardcore can be in 2025, Static Dress are sure to deliver a set that feels more like an emotional exorcism than a gig. If you’re after raw intensity, big hooks, and a performance that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, catching them this year is seriously non-negotiable.
Harpy
Harpy is truly the embodiment of raw, unapologetic power, born from London’s goth and fetish club scene, channelling industrial-pop, nu-metal, and alt-pop into a performance that’s unpredictable. Catch her set this year and you can expect to be hit with anger, desire, disgust, and exhilaration. It’s emotional combat wrapped in leather and latex, and exactly the kind of dark chaos that’ll cut through the festival noise.
House Of Protection
If you’re chasing some heavy-hitting chaos this weekend, look no further than House of Protection. Made up of Stephen Harrison of Fever 333 and Aric Improta of Night Verses, these two know exactly how to command a stage. Together, they’ve formed one of the most exciting new duos around – blending post-hardcore with electronic rock in a way that feels both fresh and ferocious. Their live shows are already turning heads, packed with explosive energy, whether it’s a packed venue or a festival crowd. A serious undercard gem, swiftly on the rise.
Dead Pony
Hailing from Glasgow, Dead Pony are one of those bands with a vibe that screams “on the verge of blowing up.” Their sound fuses nu-metal, electronic elements, and massive sing-along moments – wrapped up in a live show that’s all fire, attitude, and unstoppable energy. Unapologetic, electrifying, and built to get crowds moving even if you are hungover from a night out in the village.
Venus Grrrls
This fierce five-piece channel serious riot grrrl energy, blending gritty goth-grunge with synths and raw, powerful vocals. With songs that are deeply personal and empowering, Venus Grrrls are shaping music that’s as resilient as it is darkly beautiful. On stage, they’re an absolute force to be reckoned with, delivering a live set that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. If you’re after a rising act with something to say and the sound to back it up, Venus Grrrls are a must-see at Download this weekend.
Spiritual Cramp
If you’re after something that cuts through the noise at Download this weekend, Spiritual Cramp are a band not to be missed. Mashing up punk, hardcore, and even adding a bit of reggae into the mix, they have created a sound that’s chaotic, catchy, and totally their own. With a monster of a debut album under their belt and a growing reputation for blowing bigger bands off stage, they’re one of those acts you’ll be glad you saw.
Amira Elfeky
Calling all the early 2000’s goths and emos! Amira Elfeky is yet another star on the rise and is set to bring a fresh yet nostalgic heavy-hitting experience at Download Festival this weekend. Blending 2000s nu-metal with orchestral and gothic rock elements, she’s carved out a sound with a depth and intensity that’s both emotionally raw and technically flawless. Plus, having toured with heavyweights we know and love like The Used and Evanescence, she’s already tight on stage, and we can’t wait to see her bring that energy to Donington.
UNPEOPLE
With their self-titled EP having been hailed as “UK metal’s most promising debut of 2024,” unpeople are a band we all need in our lives. Fusing pop-punk melodies with heavy riffs and a no-holds-barred energy, they straddle genres without losing any bite. Whether you’re into sharp hooks, heavy breakdowns, or just want to lose your mind in a pit that feels both chaotic and cathartic, unpeople have got you covered.
Zetra
If you’re down for something goth-soaked, atmospheric, intense, and utterly unique, Zetra are the dark horses of the weekend. Fusing eerie synth-pop, goth-metal riffs, and shoegaze vibes into an otherworldly, cinematic sound that’s as haunting as it is heavy. If you’re into bands that push boundaries and create an experience, not just a live set, Zetra are one of the most intriguing acts on the lineup this year we sure won’t be missing.
Kim Dracula
Ready for a show that’s equal parts dystopian theatre and head-banging metal? Then be sure to catch Kim Dracula this weekend. Rising to TikTok fame with a viral cover of ‘Paparazzi’, they’ve since dropped their debut album, showing everyone they’re a force to be reckoned with. Their sound is a genre-stretching cyclone; nu‑metal, trap, industrial, even some Latin rhythms and jazz here and there, all tied together with insane 6‑octave vocals. They’re unpredictable, electrifying, and rapidly carving out a reputation as one of the most thrilling new voices in alt‑metal.
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