Words and Pictures: Dave Martin / (C) Faversham Photography
Bleed from Within
The Scottish metalcore band Bleed from Within took the stage as openers for headliners Slipknot. They kicked off proceedings with their 2024 release, “Hands of Sin,” which was met with a warm reception from the crowd. They continued with “Pathfinder” from their album “Fracture” and then “I am Damnation.”
After the third song, Scott Kennedy announced, “We are Bleed from Within from Glasgow!” to which one very vocal Scottish audience member cheered loudly. Kennedy then interacted with the crowd, stating, “Slipknot’s first album is why we are a band. If you’d told 13-year-old me I’d be on stage with them, I’d tell you to fuck off.”
The Glaswegian five-piece delivered a strong performance, met with energy from the crowd in the form of cheering and moshing. They were an excellent selection to open the event. I have only listened to the group occasionally, but following this performance, they will become a more regular staple to my musical diet.
Setlist:
Hands of Sin
Pathfinder
I am Damnation
Into Nothing
Sovereign
Levitate
In Place of Your Halo
End of All We Know
Slipknot
The masked men from Iowa returned for a second night at the O2 to deliver a nostalgic edition of their debut album, which took the music world by storm 25 years ago. While lineup changes and the scale of their popularity have evolved over the years, their ability to put on a captivating show remains unwavering. Having seen them perform at Ozzfest in 2001 and multiple times since, I’ve always been in awe of their stage presence. It’s unsurprising that they have risen to the higher echelons of the metal world.
Adorned in their trademark jumpsuits and masks, the band took the stage to a thunderous welcome from the London crowd. The crowd was a sea of jumpsuits, painted faces, and masks, with many “maggots” paying tribute to the late Joey Jordison with their face markings.
The group performed their debut album in its entirety, albeit in a different order. They opened with “(sic),” and soon, the first individuals were climbing over the barriers, keeping the security staff busy. Justin commented that over 100 people had climbed over the barriers the previous night. The stage design was very industrial in appearance, featuring beams of light, large, enclosed fans, and a raised section housing the drums and DJ decks. They followed “(sic)” with “Eyeless,” leading to the highlight for me: “Wait and Bleed.” This track is a firm UK favorite, and the band received some backlash years ago when it wasn’t included in their setlist, a fact acknowledged by Corey Taylor when headlining Download later that year. Personally, standing about a meter in front of Taylor while singing along and photographing him during “Wait and Bleed” was the highlight of my gig-going life.
After “Wait and Bleed,” Taylor told the crowd, “London, it’s like coming home. We are just getting started.” He explained how good it was to be back in the city they love and that it was fitting that the last show of the year was in London.
As expected, the energy in the building was electric, and the crowd was in full voice throughout the set. A large mosh pit formed in the center of the floor, and even those in the seated areas were soon on their feet.
During the set, there were a couple of interludes with Sid Wilson on the decks and another mid-song drum solo by Eloy Casagrande. Shawn Crahan oscillated between vocals and alternate percussion, and all the members were highly animated on stage.
As the set drew to a close, Taylor asked the crowd, “Are you still with us out there?” to which the crowd erupted. Taylor was momentarily distracted by the sight of Santa in the crowd. He promised the audience that Slipknot would give them another 25 years and called London “a home away from home,” showcasing the band’s affection for the city. He then asked, “Would you like one more? Only one?” to chants of “No,” the band played “Only one.” At the song’s finale, the members left the stage before returning for an encore that commenced with the fan favorite, “Spit it Out.” This song reignited the mosh pit and further energized the crowd.
Overall, it was an extremely successful trip to the UK shores for the metal superstars. Not many bands can sell out the O2, let alone do it two nights in a row, demonstrating the continued popularity of the band a quarter of a century after their debut. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them achieve the same feat in 25 years due to their charisma and stage theatrics. The nine-piece band is now taking a well-earned break and will resurface in Australia at Knotfest in Melbourne in late February.
Setlist
1. (sic), 2. Eyeless, 3. Wait and Bleed, 4. Get This, 5. Eeyore, 6. Me Inside, 7. Liberate, 8. Purity, 9. Prostethics, 10. No Life, 11. Only One, 12. Spit it Out, 13. Surfacing, 14. Scissors
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