TORONTO - After taking a hiatus in 2007, Edgefest returned this year with the hope of bringing back some bite to the annual day-long event.

And with a new venue in Downsview Park and a combination of Linkin Park and a reunited Stone Temple Pilots, there was reason to believe that there would be a bit of an edge to the proceedings.

However, both bands at times seemed a bit dull, resulting in a show that sometimes figuratively and literally rained on the rather large crowd's parade.

Having stopped in town last year during its Projekt Revolution tour, Linkin Park began its set in a very timid fashion, far removed from the blood-curdling yelps of vocalist Chester Bennington and angst-fuelled, rap-rock brawn. Opening with a lightweight rendition of Breaking The Habit featuring just Bennington and Mike Shinoda on keyboards, the band forged on with Pushing Me Away that once again had the crowd wondering if the other members showed up.

Fortunately they appeared to finally break out of the malaise with What I've Done as a large banner with their name emerged behind them as Bennington worked the stage when not letting the crowd take the lead vocals.

"Thank you!" Bennington said prior to the militaristic, rat-a-tat-tat drumming which drove No More Sorrow along quite well with fans near the front energized. The momentum continued thanks to Lying From You and Somewhere I Belong but the latter felt just a bit like they were going through the motions.

Soon afterwards Shinoda dedicated Points Of Authority to those in the pit before once again slowing the show down with Leaving Out All The Rest and the uplifting pop nugget Shadow Of The Day which kicked off the homestretch featuring Crawling and In The End.

Probably the biggest problem Linkin Park had was trying to fit everything in with a hard curfew looming after Stone Temple Pilots took the stage 30 minutes late. Led by Scott Weiland, the reunited quartet almost upstaged the headliners with a hits-drenched set.

The ever-controversial Weiland, having parted company with Velvet Revolver on less than amicable terms earlier this year, sounded quite raspy on Big Empty and Wicked Garden and hinted that Bennington was welcome to come on stage and sing. Dressed in a dapper suit and being bare-chested a few songs later, Weiland fared better on the mid-tempo Lady Picture Show and the still stellar Vasoline.

Tossing in quick snippets of David Bowie's TVC 15, Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side and Queen's We Will Rock You, Weiland called Stone Temple Pilots "the first band that invented the sonic journey" prior to Sour Girl. He also teased the audience by hinting they were writing new material and had a "new song" called Plush, the group's breakthrough hit from 1992's Core debut.

Other memorable moments from the band's slot included the strong Interstate Love Song, Sex Type Thing and the encore Dead And Bloated before Weiland left the stage, probably to leave sarcastic phone messages on Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum's answering machine.

Earlier in the day, Sam Roberts wove his own Can-rock magic with Brother Down, Chemical City and the single Them Kids over roughly 45 minutes. And dance-rock band The Bravery braved the huge downpour to make the most of the moment with This Is Not The End and Every Word Is A Knife In My Ear.