Ten years on from releasing their debut album and just over a year from unleashing the superb ‘That’s The Spirit’, Bring Me The Horizon’s highly anticipated arena tour rolls into Nottingham with Don Broco and Basement in tow.
With the arena floor slowing filling up, Basement opens the night in a respectable fashion. Their brand of melodic emotional alt-rock is much suited to intimate venues. Nevertheless, they have an arsenal of hooks that radiate through the available space despite the lack of response from the growing crowd. With highlights from their three albums to date (‘Earl Gray’, ‘Promise Everything’ and ‘Covet’), Basement produces a strong, favourable showing that was never expected to be a show stealer. (3/5)
For Don Broco playing arenas is slowly become routine having supported 5 Seconds of Summer earlier this year. Their style of catchy alt-rock quickly connects with the mass crowd through an energetic group of songs. Highlights come in the form ‘What You Do To Me’, ‘Priorities’, ‘Automatic’ and ‘Money Power Fame’ as the Bedford band stride through their set with confidence. While they’re not quite arena-ready headliners, Don Broco are heading in the right direction. (3.5/5)
Since opening the tour two days previously in London, social media had been buzzing about the spectacle Bring Me The Horizon had bought to the table. Their ascent to the top tier of UK rock and metal has been rough, continuously proving doubters wrong along the way with this tour giving them another opportunity to do that again.
Although the length of their set fell short of under an hour and a half, BMTH makes up for it by delivering a visually compelling show accompanied by a gigantic video wall. As expected, last year’s addictive ‘That’s the Spirit’ dominates. While on record songs such as ‘Avalanche’ and ‘Throne’ have an accessible shine, tonight they’re deservedly heavier not sounding out of place alongside older cuts such as ‘House of Wolves’ and ‘Go To Hell, for Heaven’s Sake’.
Admittedly the vocal work of frontman Oli Sykes is questionable, yet it’s clear bombastic songs like ‘Happy Song’, ‘Can You Feel My Heart’ and ‘Follow You’ are designed to be sung in unison by big crowds. Those in attendance tonight serve their purpose as they follow Sykes’ orders throughout.
The addition of ‘Chelsea Smile’ and ‘Antivist’ clearly shows they’ve not given up their metalcore origins. There’s something devilishly pleasing during the latter as the word “C*nt” boldly on display, eclipsing the band on stage. Bring Me The Horizon were never meant to get this far but here they are defying the odds.
Rounding the night off with the bittersweet ‘Oh No’ and the anthemic cry for help ‘Drown’, BMTH depart having conquered another city. Their unrealistic ascension to arenas has been successful, as they deliver a show that feels at home on such a stage. (4.5/5)
4/5
Words by Sêan Reid (@SeanReid86). Photos by Zain Zia and taken at Manchester Arena, Manchester – 8/11/2016.
