Bullet For My Valentine @ o2 Academy, 7th December 2016
It’s a cold night and one filled with much anticipation, having known Bullet For My Valentine from my growing up years, I’m hoping that my favourite songs will be played tonight. They have a two night residency here in Birmingham and many of the previous tour dates have sell-outs. It’s evident the band is very popular in our area with the first night selling out and tonight showing an impressive turnout.
The usual West Midland traffic nightmare meant that I missed most of the set by newcomers Cane Hill. The bit I did see showed the crowd wild, at least from what I could see through the clouds of smoke and the flashes of bright white lights blowing everything out.
Following Cane Hill we are well entertained by Americans, Killswitch Engage. These guys having been around the circuit for a good while and have appeared at many festivals over the pond, and here in the UK, always leaving a well pleased crowd. Tonight is no different. Starting off with My Curse and Until the Day they see the crowd off to a wild start, with many heads banging away and fairly angry looking faces. This continues into Rose of Sharyn with fists punching away angrily in the air.
Jesse Leach, the lead singer has the more obvious metal look though and the perfect scream accompanied by devilish stares. But it is Michael D’Antonio that is of great interest to me; how he rocks around the stage making full use of it and giving us some high action to watch as he leans out to the crowd with fists pumping, targeting the front row. We see a fine performance from start to finish, with hits My Last Serenade and The End of Heartache. They finish with the crowd going berserk to an old favourite In Due Time.
Bullet For My Valentine need no introduction although they have been off the circuit for some time. When first hearing about the shows I was as excited as many of you. After a slight delay we have the intro to Poison and we’re off to a heavy start with Her Voice Resides and 4 Words followed by easily my favourite of the night, Tears Don’t Fall. This sounds so good, the vocals are great, with lots of energy on show, and the image still fairly the same as previous.
My only complaint is that the lights and the smoke are too heavy. At times it is so cloudy and impossible to see though this is no way detracts from their abilities or musical talent. Matt Tuck is sited mostly behind the mic with his guitar, and only the odd move to each side of the stage gives any semblance of a stage show. Spit It Out is another of the great tracks setting the crowd into a frenzy, followed by The End, where the band leaves almost immediately to the crowd chanting several times over before they re-take the stage.
Finishing tonight is a three song encore with an intro tape and some of their newer content, No Way Out, Your Betrayal and a well rounded great finisher Don’t Need You. As expected the show is an absolute pleasure to be at and definitely something I wished I’d done sooner.
Bullet For My Valentine set list
“The Poison” Intro
Her Voice Resides
4 Words (To Choke Upon)
Tears Don’t Fall
Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)
Hit the Floor
All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)
Room 409
The Poison
10 Years Today
Cries in Vain
Spit You Out
The End
Encore:
Intro
No Way Out
Your Betrayal
Don’t Need You
Review and photographs: Chris Bowley