LIVE REVIEW: Bullet For My Valentine @ Eventim Apollo, London
Remember remember the 5th of November. Not only was it Guy Fawkes Night, but it was also the release date for BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE’s self-titled album. With the impromptu rescheduling of the album launch, the Welsh quartet found themselves celebrating their massive achievement with a show at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith.
After a blistering set at this year’s Bloodstock Festival, there’s been a sizable buzz around BLEED FROM WITHIN. The Glaswegian quintet show no signs of this phasing them as they bowl onto the stage. Fuelled by a chorus of cheers, the first note of Into Nothing brought the crowd to life. The energy coming from the almost instantaneous mosh pits provided massive sustenance for this metal band. Scott Kennedy’s screams of “this is not a war, this is a victory” almost suffocated within the audience’s catharsis. Throughout their six-song set, Kennedy was every inch the front man, calling for circle pits, the first wall of death for many in two years, and throwing himself into the crowd as well. From the slower anthem, Fracture, which tugged at the heart strings of all who yelled along with the choruses, to the frantic End Of All We Know, BLEED FROM WITHIN were an absolute force to be reckoned with. The only downside to this raucous affair was the band’s volume being a little too low. Aural technicalities aside, BLEED FROM WITHIN are rightly a band to be watching.
Rating: 8/10
The choice to slot a progressive metal band into a bill of bordering on metalcore in nature was a bold one. One which had been receiving mixed reactions from the die-hard fans of the headliners. Taking it all into their stride, TESSERACT walk into the room to a lukewarm crowd. Light sticks littered the stage for dramatic effect, yet the rest of their light show was incredibly dark, making it hard for the band to be seen from further back. What hindered TESSERACT further was the impression their opening trio of songs blended into one. With little interaction with the crowd in the beginning, it became a case of waiting for an obvious end to a track. It cannot be said that Daniel Tompkins isn’t an impressive vocalist. Switching from melodic cleans, to the rasp of a growl, to an instance of a surprising metal scream on the turn of a dime is something to be marvelled. On a bed of juicy riffs from James Monteith and Alec ‘Acel’ Kahney, this band has some serious musical chops. With little to no crowd interaction and a short supply of things for the audience to sink their teeth into, the set left many wondering how long it would be before they could retreat to the bar. Musically, TESSERACT is a good band, this night however didn’t set off any fireworks for them
Rating: 6/10
With a career spanning just over two decades, it was imperative BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE created a setlist with a perfect balance of old and new material. Almost as if having that in mind, the audio montage which opens parasite from their recently released self-titled album surged through the room. Matt Tuck’s vocals, though slightly aged, held their own against the barrage of explosive riffs and licks from Padge. If the new album promoted “Bullet 2.0”, this live show cemented it. Less was certainly more with a scaled back production drawing the crowd’s attention into the vacuum of the show. Your Betrayal rumbled through the Eventim Apollo with a renewed ferocity. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE compiled their set list to elicit carnal reactions from their fans and they were given it in spades. The bassline of Knives cut through the floor as Tuck’s visceral scream rattled against the walls. The line may be “to cut and divide” but this anthem of division became one of unity in that moment.
Having had two years away from the live area has served BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE well. They’ve emerged more refined versions of themselves. Not only do they continue to embrace the classics of Tears Don’t Fall with the utmost reverie, but usher in the new age with Rainbow Veins’ breakdown being one of the densest of the evening. Closing out with Waking The Demon from 2008’s Scream Aim Fire, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE watched their crowd become unglued, revelling in the rabid screams of a title which could well be applicable to the band themselves.
Rating: 8/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Karolina Janikunaite here:
