“Download festival, it’s time to turn up the heat,” grins Jeremy Michael, earnestly. With a cool breeze beginning to blow through, a little fire is exactly what the Avalanche tent is crying out for, and Nevertel deliver in spades. It’s the dualities of the Tampa crew that thrill the most, though. You have the contrast between violent delights like SYM and offerings as unexpectedly sensual as Everything In My Mind, or how Jem’s melodic vocals break against those of harder-edged co-vocalist Raul Lopez. Despite the early slot on Download’s third stage, the whole set feels remarkably slick, too, with tastefully minimalist visuals and the pulsating sound of Sacrifice and new song OTHERSIDE landing perfectly. The relatively mid-paced Criminal feels like a strangely unspectacular place to leave off. But, then again, these lads are clearly still just getting started. (SL)
