Download 2026: Our must-see bands

Our dream festival headliners

What makes the perfect festival line-up? In this episode, we build our ultimate festival bill made up of our dream headliners - alive or dead - and the opening acts we'd choose to kick off the each day of the biggest weekend in rock and metal. From stadium-filling legends to rising stars ready for their breakthrough, we debate who deserves the top spot and which bands would set the tone from the very first note. Expect big picks, controversial choices, and plenty of discussion about what makes a truly unforgettable festival show. Whether you're a fan of classic metal, modern heavyweights, or the next generation of bands, this episode is packed with hopes and dreams, nostalgia, and enough metal talk to get you pumped for your next live show.

Guilty Pleasures

Every metalhead has them. Those bands, songs, or albums they secretly love but would never admit to it. In this episode, we reveal some of our heavy metal guilty pleasures and dive into the tracks that somehow found their way onto our playlists. From unexpected pop influences to cheesy anthems and controversial favourites, nothing is off limits. Expect laughs, questionable music tastes, and a reminder that sometimes a great song is just a great song no matter how un-metal it might seem. Sam also gives his hot take on Australian metalers Speed's recent UK run.

Our rock and roll hall of fame 2026 picks

Who deserves a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026? We make our picks and dive into the artists we believe have earned their spot in music history. From legendary metal pioneers to hard rock icons and overlooked favourites, we debate who should get the nod, who’s been snubbed for too long, and which bands truly changed the face of heavy music. Expect passionate arguments, controversial takes, and plenty of love for the artists that shaped the soundtrack of our lives.

Download 2026: Our must-see bands

Download Festival 2026 is going to be massive, so we decided to break it down for our first ever episode. We've taken a look at our top five must-see bands for this year, from iconic heavyweights we know will bring the party to the breakout acts ready to make waves over the weekend, we've picked the sets you absolutely can’t miss. Expect strong opinions, a few disagreements, and plenty of hype as we dive into who’s worth your time and who might surprise you. Whether you’ve got your ticket or you’re just watching from afar, this is our list of the essential acts of the Download weekend.