LIVE REVIEW: In Flames @ The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent

“Can they do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke?” The question may be synonymous with the world of football, but the question is a valid one as IN FLAMES roll into the Midlands city. Originally scheduled to take place in 2020, before…well you know what, much anticipation has been building since the Swedish melodeath veterans arrived on our shores and with a sold-out crowd awaiting the band at Stoke-on-Trent’s The Sugarmill, the excitement as to whether the band can in fact do it on a cold, albeit dry, night in Stoke is almost at fever-pitch.

Homegrown newcomers DEFECTS have the audacious task of kicking off proceedings and despite The Sugarmill being far from its sold-out capacity, as punters are still piling through the doors as they kick off their set, the confidence this young quintet exude during their short but impactful time on stage is mightily impressive. Spearheaded by a energetic Tony Maue, who spends more time parading the barrier and into the crowd than actually being on stage, the band ebb and flow from riff-leaning metalcore (with dual guitarists Luke Genders and James Threadwell deploying tasty riffs aplomb) to anthemic alt-rock that seems made for stages bigger than what they are currently performing on. A mightily impressive performance indeed.

Rating: 8/10

As one of the bands to truly emerge during the pandemic, UK firebands VEXED are arguably one of the hottest names in heavy music right now. They ooze attitude and have an arsenal of killer riffs to boot, and this evident right from the off at The Sugarmill as the band’s one-two punch of Ignorant and Hideous is absolutely killer. The riffs from Jay Bacon swing with malicious intent whilst the density of the bass from Al Haper and thundering drums from Willem Mason-Geraghty adds plenty of oomph to the band’s already massive sound. Then there’s Megan Targett. A natural performer, Targett oozes attitude as she prowls the stage and is animated from the first thundering riff to the last, all the while dispatching her fantastic range of growls and cleans to a phenomenal standard.

For all that VEXED ooze class and energy on the stage, it’s downright disappointing that the now-swelling crowd do not reciprocate as much. Whilst each song is met with applause, that is about the extent of the crowd interaction with many in attendance here for one thing only: IN FLAMES. Perhaps being a mismatched billing and playing to a crowd that do not particularly vibe with VEXED‘s brand of metal is the root cause, but at the end of the day the band shrug off the mute response with the utmost class and give a truly thundering performance; one that reinforces their status as one of the most exciting young bands to break through in heavy music.

Rating: 8/10

Despite a career spanning over two decades, it’s somewhat surprising that 2022 marks the first time that IN FLAMES have graced Stoke-on-Trent but given the fact that The Sugarmill is absolutely packed to the rafters when they take to the stage implies that their presence has been a very long time coming. And given the thundering reception that greets them as they roar into opening number Everything’s Gone, it seems that the wait has been worth it.

Whilst recent studio outings have seen the band approach a more commercial approach (much to the disdain of their hardcore fanbase), tonight, IN FLAMES are on stupendous form as they take their faithful fans through a whistle-stop tour of their discography. Pinball Map sounds as thunderous as it 22 years ago, Cloud Connected sees expertly dispatched riffing from guitarists Björn Gelotte and Niclas Engelin that has the crowd bouncing and having Take This Life as the final song of the night, one in which Anders Fridén delivers with the utmost authority, proves to be a masterstroke, ensuring that from the first note to the last, IN FLAMES are in absolute control.

Despite the more lukewarm reception to more recent outings like I, The Mask and Battles, the placement of newer tracks like Call My Name or The End benefit from being placed alongside more distinguished cuts from the band’s decorated discography and they more than hold their own in the live environment. If anything, tonight, IN FLAMES more than showcase just why they are considered one of the most respected bands in metal – a masterful performance and one that rewarded the Stoke faithful with a night to remember. “Can they do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke?” Damn right they can.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Stoke-on-Trent from Serena Hill Photography here: