Rituals to record EP and play Download Festival after winning The Deal
Congratulations to the Newcastle lads!
We’re delighted to announce that blisteringly heavy Newcastle metallers Rituals are the winners of The Deal 2023!
Launched shortly before Christmas, hundreds of acts entered The Deal competition before 50 finalists were whittled down for the public vote.
After five rounds of heats, the final 10 acts had their songs judged by a panel that included Marshall Records, Download Festival promoter Kamran Haq, and Kerrang! Radio’s Loz Guest, Alex Baker, Sophie K, and Amelia Clark.
Rituals emerged victorious with their crushing anthem ‘Oceans Subside’, and they’ll now record an EP at Marshall Records' studios that will also be marketed by the influential imprint.
The four-piece will also open The Avalanche Stage at Download Festival’s 20th anniversary extravaganza on Saturday 10th June, and they will receive on air plays and take part in a one-hour interview on Kerrang! Radio.
Additionally, Rituals will have a two-hour zoom consultation with Funeral For A Friend drummer Ryan Richards, who also works for Future History Management (Sleep Token, Holding Absence, Those Damn Crows & more), on how to make the most of this unique opportunity.
Commenting on The Deal win, Rituals said: “Words cannot describe how amazing it is to be winners of The Deal 2023. It’s the honour of a lifetime to play the 20th anniversary of Download alongside some of our favourite bands.
“We can’t wait to play our riffs for you all at Download and release our best music yet through Marshall Records! Huge shout out to Kerrang! Radio, all the bands involved in the competition, and lastly a massive shout out to all of our fans that voted for us and had our backs since the start.
“These four lads from Newcastle are eternally grateful! See you down the front.”
Massive congratulations to Rituals from everyone at Kerrang! Radio. We'd also like to thank all the bands who submitted entries, and to the many thousands of you that voted in the heats.
Read Rituals' biography:
Rituals formed in 2018 as a fun college project between guitarist Ewan Lee and vocalist Lewis MacRae. Fast forward to 2023, already strongly backed by a glut of industry tastemakers, joined by drummer Matt Dix and bassist Dom James, Rituals are unquestionably poised to break out this year.
Support for the foursome’s debut EP, Awake, placed the riff merchants on the map with Kerrang’s Alex Baker championing the band on his Fresh Blood show. Rituals’ live reputation is also soaring with the northern heavyweights supporting big names such as Skindred, As Everything Unfolds, Osiah, and a host of UK dates as part of a relentless touring schedule.
A standout appearance to a packed room at the inaugural Risefest cemented RITUALS as a force to be reckoned within the UK music scene.
The soaring metal crew set loose their breathtaking new EP, Show Me The Signs, in 2022 and it’s certainly the group’s finest work to date. The three-track release heralds the quartet’s growing songwriting prowess and musical maturity, with each track from the EP having its very own unique energy, element, and flow.
With a game-changing new EP on the way, backed by a raft of powerful singles, and prominent live appearances, Rituals are set to be your favourite new band.
Download Festival headliners through the years:
Iron Maiden: Download Festival 2003
If you're going to return rock and metal to its rightful home of Donington Park, then it only seems right and proper to get the UK's biggest heavy metal act to kick things off. And kick off they did!
Audioslave: Download Festival 2003
Proving that supergroups still remained a popular draw, this fusion of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell and the instrumental wing of Rage Against The Machine transcended their original bands to forge an identity wholly their own.
Download Festival 2003 poster
Linkin Park: Download Festival 2004
Promoting their second album, 'Meteora', Linkin Park brought their fusion of heavy metal and rap when they headlined the main stage on the opening night of Download 2004.
Metallica: Download Festival 2004
Having made "secret" mid-afternoon appearance on the second stage with no soundcheck the previous year, the behemoth that is Metallica took its rightful place at the head of the table. Despite Lars Ulrich being rushed to hospital minutes beforehand, Metallica ploughed on with their set with Slayer's Dave Lombardo, Slipknot's Joey Jordison and their drum technician, Flemming Larsen, filling in for Lars.
Download Festival 2004 poster
Feeder: Download Festival 2005
So overjoyed was he at Feeder's reception from the crowd, the band's singer-guitarist Grant Nicholls smashed his Fender Jazzmaster. We hate to think what he'd have done if it had gone badly.
Black Sabbath: Download Festival 2005
The origin of the species, Black Sabbath pretty much invented heavy metal with their eponymous debut album before refining it throughout the 70s. You can call this one a homecoming.
System Of A Down: Download Festival 2005
As one of the most important metal bands of the 90s and beyond, System Of A Down are genuine gamechangers and worthy headliners of this celebrated event.
Download Festival 2005 poster
Tool: Download Festival 2006
Promoting their fourth album, '10,000 Days', Tool displayed an effortless ability to take the main stage and own it.
Metallica: Download Festival 2006
Returning to Download for their second headline slot and third appearance overall, Metallica celebrated the 20th anniversary of 'Master Of Puppets' by the playing the album in full. Fortunately Lars was in good health this time around.
Guns N’Roses: Download Festival 2006
After threatening to walk off after bottles were thrown onstage, both band and audience settled in for some hard rocking, with Axl Rose declaring, "I'm actually having quite a good time now! I couldn't have said that an hour ago!"
Download Festival 2006 poster
My Chemical Romance: Download Festival 2007
At arguably the highest point of their career, My Chemical Romance brought 'The Black Parade' to Donington Park.
Linkin Park: Download Festival 2007
Riding high on the back of their third album, 'Minutes To Midnight', Linkin Park returned to Donington Park for their second Download headlining set.
Iron Maiden: Download Festival 2007
With the end in sight for their massive 'A Matter Of Life And Death' tour, Iron Maiden returned to the UK for the first time since the previous December for their second Download headliner.
Download Festival 2007 line-up poster
Kiss: Download Festival 2008
Playing an epic 20-song set, Kiss brought their spectacular live show to this side of the Atlantic. Though perhaps the less said about Gene Simmons' bass solo, the better.
The Offspring: Download Festival 2008
The only punk band to have headlined the Download festival, The Offspring brought the pogo the headbangers. There's probably a song title there…
Download Festival 2008 line-up poster
Faith No More: Download Festival 2009
Returning for their first live shows in 11 years, Faith No More served to confirm just how much they'd been missed.
Slipknot: Download Festival 2009
Slipknot's first headline appearance at Download would also be their last UK performance with bassist Paul Gray before his death in 2010. Their performance was later released as the live DVD, '(sic) nesses'.
Def Leppard: Download Festival 2009
Since emerging from Sheffield as part of the New Wave Of British Metal, Def Leppard have gone on to become one of the biggest bands on the planet. Worthy headliners, indeed…
Download Festival 2009 line-up poster
AC/DC: Download Festival 2010
The only band to have brought their own stage to the Download festival, AC/DC delivered their full stadium show to create one of the most memorable headline sets ever.
Rage Against The Machine: Download Festival 2010
Bringing the revolution to Download, Rage Against The Machine detonated in combustible and explosive style just six months after claiming the UK Christmas number one with 'Killing In The Name'.
Aerosmith: Download Festival 2010
Headlining a day of torrential rain, classic rock overlords Aerosmith brought a touch of glamour to the otherwise sodden environs of Download.
Download Festival 2010 line-up poster
Def Leppard: Download Festival 2011
Having clearly enjoyed themselves just two years earlier, the NWOBHM juggernaut that is Def Leppard returned for their second Download headliner.
System Of A Down: Download Festival 2011
SOAD returned for another round of headline action at the Download festival.
Linkin Park: Download Festival 2011
Slotted in between the release of 2010's 'A Thousand Suns' and 2012's 'Living Things' album, Linkin Park made their third headlining appearance at Download.
Download Festival 2011 line-up poster
The Prodigy: Download Festival 2012
Fusing heavy metal with techno, The Prodigy lit up the Download festival after a wet start forced the cancellation of some acts.
Metallica: Download Festival 2012
For their third Download headliner, the metal titans that are Metallica elected to play the whole of their 1991 eponymous album – in reverse order.
Black Sabbath: Download Festival 2012
Despite being treated for cancer, Tony Iommi played as strongly as ever as Black Sabbath went through some of their biggest career highlights including 'War Pigs', 'Children Of The Grave' and 'Paranoid'.
Download Festival 2012 line-up poster
Slipknot: Download Festival 2013
Iowa's masked metallers Slipknot embarked on the The Memorial World Tour in honour of their late bassist Paul Gray, who died in 2010. As the scene of Slipknot's last UK appearance with him, calling in at Download was only right and fitting.
Iron Maiden: Download Festival 2013
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first Donington headline slot at Monsters of Rock as part of their 'Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour', the metal institution that is Iron Maiden returned to this hallowed ground.
Rammstein: Download Festival 2013
Does it get any more explosive than Teutonic titans Rammstein? Probably not, and so it be proved as Donington Park ignited in flames.
Download Festival 2013 line-up poster
Avenged Sevenfold: Download Festival 2014
Hot on the heels of their first transatlantic chart-topping album, 'Hail To The King', Avenged Sevenfold hit Download with the force of a Viking raiding party.
Linkin Park: Download Festival 2014
Following in the footsteps of bands such as Metallica revisiting their landmark records, Linkin Park played their debut album, 'Hybrid Theory', in full.
Aerosmith: Download Festival 2014
Back for their second Download festival headliner, Aerosmith brought this year's event to a spectacular close.
Download Festival 2014 line-up poster
Slipknot: Download Festival 2015
You can't keep a good band down as Slipknot return for their third Download festival headline slot.
Muse: Download Festival 2015
Playing and headlining Download festival for the first time, Muse's frontman Matt Bellamy – a man fond of conspiracy theories and fearful of state surveillance – lashed out the facial recognition software that had been employed the constabulary: "F*** Leicestershire police for scanning your faces!"
Kiss: Download Festival 2015
Was the police's facial recognition software needed for Kiss? And would they be able to tell the difference between say, Tommy Thayer and Ace Frehley?
Download Festival 2015 line-up poster
Rammstein: Download Festival 2016
It may have been one of the wettest Download festivals ever – perhaps it should have been re-named 'Downpour'? – but Rammstein still managed to bring their explosive live show.
Black Sabbath: Download Festival 2016
Embarking on their 'The End' farewell tour, Black Sabbath called in for one last time at the home of heavy metal.
Iron Maiden: Download Festival 2016
Topping the charts on 24 countries with their epic 'Book of Souls' album, Iron Maiden delivered the goods once more at Download.
Download Festival 2016 line-up poster
System Of A Down: Download Festival 2017
A third headline appearance for System Of A Down – no mean feat for and that hasn't releases an album since 2005's 'Hypnotize'.
Biffy Clyro: Download Festival 2017
Celebrating their second No. 1 album in the shape of 'Ellipsis', Biffy Clyro headlined Download for the first time.
Aerosmith: Download Festival 2017
Aerosmith have got to be doing something right if they've been asked back for their third Download headline appearance.
Download Festival 2017 line-up poster
Avenged Sevenfold: Download Festival 2018
Dedicating a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' to the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, Avenged Sevenfold also played a blistering career-spanning set.
Guns N’ Roses: Download Festival 2018
'Epic" doesn't even begin to it as Axl Rose reunited with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagen for a mammoth three-hour set. And yes, they really did cover Glen Campbell's 'Witchita Lineman'.
Ozzy Osbourne: Download Festival 2018
Amazingly, it's Ozzy Osbourne's first solo headline slot at Download that sees him delivering the hits and a few dips into the Black Sabbath back catalogue.
Download Festival 2018 line-up poster
Def Leppard: Download Festival 2019
Sheffield's prodigal sons topped the line-up for a third time at Download 2019 where they performed their seminal 'Hysteria' album in its glorious entirety, alongside other gems.
Slipknot: Download Festival 2019
A decade on from their first bill-topping performance, Slipknot headlined Download Festival for a fourth time in June 2019 in support of their sixth studio album 'We Are Not Your Kind'
Tool: Download Festival 2019
The Los Angeles alternate metallers closed Download Festival 2019 with an audio-visual spectacular!
Download Festival 2019 line-up poster
Download Pilot line-up
The one-off Download Pilot line-up featured 40 UK based acts with Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Enter Shikari and Bullet For My Valentine headlining. The 10,000 capacity event was held in June 2021 as part of the second phase of the Government's scientific Events Research Programme during the Covid pandemic.
KISS: Download Festival 2022
After three long years away, Download Festival returned in June 2022 with KISS topping the bill on the Friday night as part of their End of the Road World Tour. Whether it's their last ever UK show remains to be seen.
Iron Maiden: Download Festival 2022
The mighty Iron Maiden brought their spectacular Legacy of the Beast World Tour to Donington Park in June 2022. The Saturday night performances marked the fifth time Maiden had headlined Download Festival.
Biffy Clyro: Download Festival 2022
Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro brought Download Festival 2022 with a hit-packed set in front of a sparsely-packed field.
Download Festival 2022 line-up
Download Festival 2023 line-up
Taking place over four days for the very first time, the 20th anniversary of Download Festival in 2023 was headlined by Metallica (twice), Bring Me The Horizon and Slipknot.
Metallica: Download Festival 2023
The biggest metal band in the world, Metallica brought their mind-blowing M72 Tour stage setup to Donington, playing two completely different sets on Thursday and Saturday respectively.
Bring Me The Horizon: Download Festival 2023
After years of steadily larger arena tours and headline slots, the much-mooted Bring Me The Horizon finally stepped up to the headline position on Friday 9th June at Download Festival 2023. They brought a shedload of pyro, and a shedload of joy to their army of fans.
Slipknot: Download Festival 2023
Returning for their fifth headline slot at Download, the Iowa metal machine chewed up the adoring Sunday night crowd and spat them out, with a ferocious barrage of riffs.
Download Festival 2024
Headlined by Queens of the Stone Age (Friday 14th June), Fall Out Boy (Saturday 15th June) and Avenged Sevenfold (Sunday 16th June), Download Festival returns to its traditional three-day format following the extended four-day 20th anniversary event last year. Other bands performing across the weekend include Black Stone Cherry, Pantera, The Struts, Tom Morello, Those Damn Crows, Royal Blood, Kerry King, Mr. Bungle, Corey Taylor, Limp Bizkit, Florence Black, and many more.