Music
Review
Korn make history with their long-awaited debut as Download Festival headliners
It was a hard-hitting, career-sweeping set as the nu metal stalwarts topped the bill for the first time
“We have waited thirty f*cking years for this moment,” beams Jonathan Davis, a smile spreading from cheek to cheek.
Over the last three decades, Korn have become mainstays of Download Festival’s line-up. Headlining the site’s second stage and sub-headlining the Apex Stage a number of times, the nu-metal heavyweights have long skirted around the edges of headliner status, but on the final night of Donington Park’s 2025 celebrations, their time has come.
Throughout the weekend, it’s been hard to go even a few minutes without seeing a Korn shirt, and there are even an impressive amount of people braving the blazing sunshine dressed in giant corn on the cob costumes. A moment that’s been a long time coming, from the second Davis and his bandmates step onstage, there’s no denying the energy and love radiating through the 80,000 odd bodies gathered before them.
Wasting no time in dealing out the hard-hitters, the heavy bass rumble of ‘Blind’ and a one-two punch of sub-one-minute rager ‘Twist’ and 2002 single ‘Here To Stay’ get us started, the kilted Davis delivering his signature scats whilst bounding across the stage. Easily drawing the biggest crowd of the weekend, anyone doubting they had enough hits to pack out a 90-minute headline set is silenced, the danceable chugs of ‘Got The Life’ and the absolute belter of a breakdown in ‘Clown’ feeling perfectly at home here.
Production wise, there are little theatrics. Just lights, strobes and graphics on the side stage screens, the five musicians onstage are placed directly in the spotlight, the barrage of hits littered with instrumental jams to flex their skills. A formidable leader, Davis has the crowd wrapped around his finger. Orchestrating a huge singalong during the anthemic chorus of 2003’s ‘Did My Time’, busting out a bagpipe solo, and rounding out ‘Chutes And Ladders’ with a pummelling snippet of Metallica’s ‘One’, it’s clear that he’s enjoying every second onstage as much as those who’ve waited all weekend for this. Smiling in disbelief as he thanks the crowd after thunderous rendition of ‘A.D.I.D.A.S’ and ‘Dirty’, tens of thousands of middle fingers are raised into the air, each one of their owners screaming the repeated “F*ck that” refrain of ‘Y’all Want A Single’.
They may have waited three decades to be in this position, but it’s the definition of seizing your moment. An encore of cuts from 1999’s Issues and 1994’s debut self-titled album bringing one last shot of sweet nostalgia, there’s no better way to end a weekend of riffs, singalongs, and mosh pits than with a triumphant performance of genre classic ‘Freak On A Leash’, streamers fired out from the stage and covering the crowd.
“I will remember this moment for the rest of my mother*ckin’ life,” declares Davis, and as crowdsurfers still pile over the barrier after the band have walked off stage – all those waving goodbye to Donington Park for another year feel the exact same way.
Tickets for Download 2026 are on sale now here
