Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine Draw 20,000 for Sold-Out O2 Show

Metal Titans Pack O2 Arena for Historic 20th Anniversary Sellout Show...

Words and Pictures: Dave Martin / (C) Faversham Photography

 

 

I was eagerly anticipating this coheadline tour celebrating the 20th anniversaries of the two bands’ debut albums. This marked the fifth time seeing each band, having followed them since their inaugural releases back in 2005. Playing the albums in full, the evening was expected to be nostalgic, and the two groups supported by Orbit Culture did not disappoint.

The Poisoned Ascendancy tour offered the UK faithful multiple dates starting in Bullet’s home country of Wales before visiting Scotland then several dates in England, finishing with this sell-out gig at the O2 arena in London.

First to the stage were Swedish melodic death metal band Orbit Culture. The band are no strangers to the UK shores, having played festivals such as Bloodstock in the past. The 4-piece from Eksjö delivered a powerful half an hour whipping the crowd up with energetic participation from those in attendance. Headbanging and mosh pits aplenty created an electric atmosphere as the band delivered several tracks from 2023 album Descent as well as their most streamed track “North Star of Nija“.

Setlist: 1. “Descent” 2. “North Star of Nija” 3. “From the Inside” 4. “While We Serve” 5. “Vultures of North

Next up were Florida’s own Trivium. The Orlando natives have been performing in the UK since 2005, playing their first gig at The Garage in London before being signed to play Download later that year. They have frequented these shores regularly ever since and have a truly faithful following this side of the Atlantic. They have gradually increased the size of venues they play in London, and this marked their first sellout crowd at the 20,000 O2 arena. Having been front row at their performances at smaller venues like the O2 in Brixton and Leas Cliffe Hall, I was keen to see if their performance would scale up, and they did not disappoint. Making use of the extended walkway erected in front of the stage, the band members, particularly Matt Heafy, moved around the area giving more of their faithful a close experience, none more so than those standing in the enclosed area between the walkway and main stage. At one point, bassist Paolo Gregoletto was seen high-fiving crowd members in that area, giving them an unforgettable evening. For those that have seen the band multiple times, Matt Heafy’s interludes have a regular theme: that of being humble for their opportunities and grateful for how the UK has embraced the band before whipping up the crowd by telling them how the previous fans were the best crowd on the tour so far. The band are known for the number of mosh pits at their gigs, and this was no different with one even coming in the small enclosed area by the stage during the group’s performance of “Like Light to the Flies“. The first Trivium track I heard was “Dying in Your Arms“, and this remains a firm favourite with many fans singing in full voice, which was only eclipsed by an unexpected encore performance of “In Waves“. The band delivered a blistering performance that was met with a standing ovation at the close. The group’s performance combined with the staging and lighting led to a show that many will remember for years.

Setlist: 1. “Rain” 2. “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr” 3. “Drowned and Torn Asunder” 4. “Ascendancy” 5. “A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation” 6. “Like Light to the Flies” 7. “Dying in Your Arms” 8. “The Deceived” 9. “Suffocating Sight” 10. “Departure” 11. “Declaration” 12. “In Waves

Last to the stage were Welsh metallers Bullet for My Valentine. As with Trivium, the group delivered their first album in its entirety with a couple of added bonuses. Kicking off with “Her Voice Resides” before the pyrotechnics start during the second song “4 Words“, the band had a spectacular set design that had media-style video playing across the backdrop and podia that had been erected on the stage. Matt Tuck started singing “Tears Don’t Fall” unaccompanied by the band but soon found support from the crowd who lent their voices and clearly moved the singer before the rest of the group rejoined to complete the track. The visual display was enhanced when lasers were used in songs such as “The Poison“, combining with the highly effectual video displays. The band were clearly enjoying themselves, and Tuck acknowledged those gathered, telling them that this was one of the “best days of our lives, no bullshit”. As the set developed, the crowd were more and more vocal, singing along with the band. Following the last album track “The End“, the band left the stage guitars aloft to rapturous applause only to return for two encore tracks, the last of which “Waking the Daemon” saw the crowd moshing as they had done during the Trivium set before the confetti went off to mark the end of the evening.

Setlist: 1. “Her Voice Resides” 2. “4 Words (to Choke Upon)” 3. “Tears Don’t Fall” 4. “Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)” 5. “Hit the Floor” 6. “All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)” 7. “Hand of Blood” 8. “Room 409” 9. “The Poison” 10. “10 Years Today” 11. “Cries in Vain” 12. “The End” 13. “Knives” 14. “Waking the Daemon

For those of you who are familiar with all the bands’ work will know the quality of their musicianship, and this shone through on this evening. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and getting to see two of my favourite bands play together is a rarity that I will long remember.

The bands now continue on the rest of the European tour with dates through the rest of the month.

 

https://www.trivium.org/

https://bulletformyvalentine.com/

 

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