Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium rocked Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, celebrating 20 years of their iconic albums with electrifying performances that thrilled their 13,000 fans.
Kicking off the evening, Bullet For My Valentine set the tone with a moody instrumental that teased what was to come. Without missing a beat, they launched into Her Voice Resides, a track that hasn’t had a live outing since 2017. Needless to say the place erupted, and immediately it became clear that this was going to be a pretty special night!
The stage set was nothing short of spectacular too! Taking a leaf out of Metallica’s recent tour, a circular catwalk extended into the crowd, giving frontman Matt Tuck and the rest of the band—guitarist Michael “Padge” Paget, bassist Jamie Mathias, and drummer Jason Bowld—plenty of space to engage with fans inside the ‘snakepit’. The visuals, complete with lasers, strobes, and archive video footage all added an extra layer of excitement to proceedings.
As they powered through their debut album, The Poison, the hits kept coming. 4 Words (To Choke Upon) had everyone singing (screaming) along, and when the opening notes of Tears Don’t Fall rang out, the noise was deafening. Energy levels rose with crowd surfers riding their way to the front and circle pits forming across the arena.
After a brief lull to let our ears recover, it was Trivium’s turn to take the stage. Beginning with the unmistakable riffage of Metallica’s Hit the Lights as their intro. In a playful twist, lead vocalist Matt Heafy suddenly appeared at the centre of the catwalk, catching everyone (especially this photographer) off guard. The band then piled into The End of Everything, setting the pace for a high-octane set.
Performing their album Ascendancy in full, the band delivered fan favourites like Rain, Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr, and Dying in Your Arms with precision and passion. Drummer Alex Bent was a powerhouse, his rapid-fire beats driving the songs forward and leaving the audience in awe.
Always eager to please, Heafy and guitarist Corey Beaulieu frequently meet on the catwalk’s edge for a spot of synchronised riffing, much to the crowd’s delight. A massive inflatable demon made an appearance during A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation, adding a touch of (comic) theatrical flair to the performance.
At the end of the night the over-riding conclusion is that both bands not only their confirmed musical prowess but also their genuine appreciation for their fans. Heafy taking time between songs to recount tales about Trivium’s early days in the UK and to thank their fiercely loyal fanbase. The camaraderie between band members and their interaction with the audience created a wonderful inclusive atmosphere that made the cavernous expanses of the Hydro feel intimate. That takes some doing!
As the final notes echoed through the OVO Hydro, it was evident that this concert was much more than just a trip down memory lane. This was a showcase of metal mastery, two decades in the making, a testament to the enduring power of music, and a reminder of the unbreakable bond between bands and their fans. You can’t take that away, here’s to another 20 years!
Words and pictures: Rose McEnroe @rosemcenroephoto