The final installment of Riot Fest followed in the footsteps of the prior when it came to hosting the hugest and most significant artists representing several angles of the underground at Douglass Park.

Topping the bill was none other than Nine Inch Nails, the industrialized icons who’ve maintained a constant presence since putting out “Pretty Hate Machine” in 1989 and always stayed ahead of its time, right up to 2020’s pair of freely distributed pandemic projects, “Ghosts V: Together” and “Ghosts VI: Locusts.”

Founding front man Trent Reznor, latter multi-instrumentalist/programmer Atticus Ross and their backers came across as ferocious as ever, giving an audience of practically any age an overview of both their multi-platinum monsters and more experimental moments.

That meant everything from “Closer” to “The Perfect Drug,” “The Hand That Feeds,” “Head Like A Hole” and tons more alternative staples, all of which came across agelessly in their pulsing, pounding, punishing glory.

Equally influential in gangsta rap circles was former N.W.A. member turned solo artist and “Boyz N The Hood” actor Ice Cube, who brought a no-nonsense personality and politically-charged messages “Straight Outta Compton.”

He of course delivered that defining moment, along with other major players from an unbelievable playbook, including “Check Yo’ Self,” “Bop Gun (One Nation)” and “You Know How We Do It” as practically every phone aimed towards the action.

After a nine-year recording hiatus, Karen O, Nick Zinner and Brian Chase, otherwise known as the fully reunited Yeah Yeah Yeahs, shook off the dust and picked up right back up on the same page, thanks in part to exceptional indie rockers from the upcoming collection, “Cool It Down,” their garage beginnings, plus the danceable “Zero” as inflatable eyeballs bounced around.

Power pop/rock mainstays Jimmy Eat World previewed “Something Loud,” maintaining the tradition of instantly contagious hooks, alongside the colossal “Bleed American” cuts and beyond, though it was a shame the sound couldn’t quite travel far enough to reach the immensely overflowing crowd.

The most humongous hit of the party was probably Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” who also hyped up the afternoon audience with “Fantastic Voyage” and others from his unstoppable streak in the 1990s, all backed by a smooth and soulful band.

Believe it or not, ska lifers Less Than Jake just turned 30, but getting older didn’t slow down the horn-heavy blasts a shred as the group breathlessly cranked out one sunny groove after the next, while the Evolution Kid mascot threw swag and the crew sprayed toilet paper to truly throw down for the final date of the “Back For The Attack” Tour.

Another reason to show up sooner than later was emo/alt-rockers The Juliana Theory, led by singer Brett Detar (soldiering through sickness) and guitarist Joshua Fiedler, who brought epic anthems and substance-filled songwriting in what was coincidentally the exact same timeslot as veterans Jawbox, one of their primary influences.

Nonetheless, the recently restarted act impressed with a sample of the EP, “Still The Same Kids Pt. 1,” the pop perfection of standalone single “Can’t Go Home” and a handful from the heroic “Emotion Is Dead,” culminating with the chilling “Constellation,” marking yet another example of Riot Fest’s uncanny ability to connect the past to the present.

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For upcoming Riot Fest announcements, visit RiotFest.org.