We've been hinting that Sonisphere looks like being the metal festival to attend this year, mainly due to the incredible line-up they've announced (I mean, come on - 'the big four'!). But now Download organizers have only gone and announced twenty additions - "what a 'fac*in' liberty" as one Catherine Tate character might well exclaim.

It is Download's 9th year and to celebrate this landmark, Bullet For My Valentine, Pendulum, The Gaslight Anthem, Alter Bridge and Thin Lizzy head-up this decidedly wide-reaching assortment. Bullet last played the UK at around Christmas time while Pendulum pretty much guarantee an ear-splitting time. All the interest in Thin Lizzy's catalogue seems to have snowballed after the recent BBC documentary, Gaslight Anthem never seem to stop gigging (and this has to be one of their biggest slots yet) while Creed offshoots Alter Bridge are busy putting the 'rock' back into, well, rock.

Other big names include horror-rocker Alice Cooper, established heavy-metal in the form of Masters Of Reality, Danzig, Korn, Mr Big and FM plus the most monstrous ensemble ever, GWAR!. It's good to see The Cult on the line-up as well.

Tickets can still be purchased from £145 (weekend, no camping), £170 (weekend, 3 nights camping) and £180 (weekend, 5 nights camping).