Black Sabbath @ British Summer Time - Hyde Park, London - July 4 2014 (Live Review)

Of late, it's become commonplace for UK festival-goers to either miss early bands entirely or saunter over in a hungover, zombie-like state and utter a giant 'meh'. This changes today.

In what can only be described as the most hilariously inappropriate booking known to man, Soulfly serenade an audience consisting mainly of cucumber sandwich-eating, 'I like that Black Sabbath song in the Iron Man film, what's it called again?' types with the groove-laden Prophecy.

Largely shunning their later, deathy material in favour of the nu-metal stylings of the band’s early days, Max Cavalera incites mass singalongs (to be fair, most of the choruses only contain one repeated phrase) from the get-go. And, for the actual fans in attendance, the inclusion of former Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera during the inevitable Roots Bloody Roots leaves no head un-banged.

Following that, it's a little heartbreaking to witness Motörhead limp through a greatest hits set. Musically, the veterans sound as gruellingly visceral as ever, but watching Lemmy fight his way through the classics is painful. The guy obviously isn't back to full health and it shows. By the time he's soldiered through Overkill, you're hoping there's a nice bed waiting for him off-stage.

Having not released new music in almost two decades despite being embroiled in an on/off reunion for the past five years, Faith No More are a bit of a weird one. Then again, Faith No More have always excelled at being anything but normal. Striding onto a stage adorned with flowers dressed in vicar outfits and continually quoting The Excorcist, Mike Patton's gang of oddballs smash through a collection of gems.

After an anticlimactic, wobbly start with Zombie Eaters, the band hit their stride with the impeccable From Out Of Nowhere and, of course, Epic. Heavier cuts like Cuckoo For Caca terrify and delight in equal measure while two new tunes also manage to puzzle even the most hardened fan. But maybe that was their plan all along...right?

While Soundgarden bore the shit out of the Main Stage crowd, Gallows absolutely level a tiny little tent. Never mind the ridiculous, closed-off setting in which it happens - the smaller stages need to be sorted out next time - Gallows are incredible. Guitarist Lags spends the entire set jumping about like he's receiving an electric shock to the bollocks, Wade MacNeil’s bullish vocal performance accentuates the hooks of Orchestra Of Wolves and Misery and everyone just goes bonkers. New single Chains goes down an absolute storm, and it begs the question: why aren't Gallows the biggest punk band on the planet yet?

Speaking of big bands, Black Sabbath are absolutely colossal. Not only are they the godfathers of the heavy metal genre, they have also sewn themselves into popular culture. Everyone knows who Black Sabbath are and tonight, they’re here to destroy.

Everything about this band is just inimitable. Geezer Butler's badman bass skills defy belief, Tony Iommi is the personified image of metal and Ozzy Osbourne is off his rocker - they absolutely tear through the iconic riffs of War Pigs, Iron Man, Into The Void and Snowblind.

Ozzy's banter is hilarious, as usual, and even ditties from last year's '13' cement themselves in the set with no trouble. If, as Iommi suggests, this ends up being Black Sabbath's last show, then it's one bloody brilliant way to bow out: nearly two hours of the best songs ever written played with the same unholy dedication that crafted them. You win, Black Sabbath. You win.

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