Playlist: Archers’ 10 Must-Hear Download Festival 2025 Songs

After forming a decade ago, Wisconsin-based band Archers have been honing their brand of melodic metalcore by playing shows alongside the likes of Asking Alexandria, Catch Your Breath, Magnolia Park and Imminence. Despite a proven flair for delivering meaty riffs, the quartet aren’t afraid to utilise soaring pop hooks.

Their new EP, ‘Temporary High’, sees the Midwestern four-piece cook up massive melodies. Pairing it up with destructive breakdowns, Archers‘ love for pop and R&B shines through on ‘Wide Awake’ and ‘Better Off’. The energy rarely lets up during its five tracks, as ‘Never Enough’ pulsates with ambient electronics brilliantly clashing with an assured metalcore crunch. Meanwhile, EP closer ‘Crooked Smile’ crushes with Ben Koehler’s riffs, Grayson Mesarosh’s thunderous drum work, and Oscar Porter delivering a groove-laden bassline. That’s not to say Archers are constantly going full speed ahead. ‘Safe Now’ builds in a balladic manner, elevating Nathanael Pulley’s cathartic vocals.

If ‘Temporary High’ does anything, it epitomises Archers‘ decade-long determination, passion, and authenticity. It is that same persistence that has led the band to cross over the Atlantic this weekend as they make their Download Festival debut. As well as being a massive opportunity for the quartet, it also gives Archers the chance to watch some of their favourite bands perform some classic songs.

Before they head to Donington, we asked drummer Grayson Mesaros to compile a list of 10 songs to witness at Download Festival 2025.

PRESIDENT- In The Name of the Father

I am all in on this band. I love the image, love the music. I’m thrilled that we get to play Download on the same stage and day as them for their first show ever. I will definitely be watching!

Spiritbox – Soft Spine

I’ve been a huge Spiritbox fan for a long time, and I’ve never gotten the chance to properly see them live. ‘Soft Spine’ is my favourite song from their new record,d and seeing them play it in a festival setting like Download would be nuts!

Sleep Token – Damocles

‘Even In Arcadia’ has been on repeat since its release, but even before the album came out, ‘Damocles’ has been in constant rotation on my Spotify. Seeing them play such an emotionally driven song live for their first time headlining Download would be such an insane thing to witness in person.

Shinedown – Unity

Shinedown has been one of my favourite bands since I was a kid, and even though ‘Unity’ is kind of a deep cut. It’s definitely one of my favourites and I feel like that song would be such a cool moment in the middle of a festival set. I’d be singing every word for sure!

Nothing More – House On Sand

I’ve been wanting to see Nothing More live since I heard this song for the first time and discovered the band. We’re lucky enough to be playing the same day at Download as them, so I’m really hoping to catch their set and meet the guys before we hit the road in North America with them in 2026!

The Funeral Portrait – Holy Water

The Funeral Portrait are some of our best friends we’ve ever made through music. Seeing them play such a badass song on a MASSIVE stage would be so sick. We love those boys!!!

Polaris – Overflow

Polaris is one of the best live bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I’ve not gotten to see them rip a festival set yet, though, so this would be the perfect opportunity!

Dayseeker – Neon Grave

I’ve really connected with this song in the past few months, dealing with the loss of someone really close to me. Being able to sing this song along with the massive crowd Dayseeker is bound to play in front of at Download would be such a cathartic experience.

KoRn – Rotting In Vain

KoRn kicks ass. This song kicks ass. There’s not much more to it!

The Haunt – Masochistic Lovers

I first heard this song on Octane and immediately fell in love with the chorus! It’s just really good rock and roll, and I’d love the opportunity to see it live.