Trivium / Bullet For My Valentine - CO-OP Live, Manchester 30.01.2025
Trivium
Bullet For Valentine
After being pulled pillar to post to collect my pass and gain entry, I got to see the inside of Manchester's newest Arena for the first time and fuck me, was it impressive. Offering the perfect setting to celebrate 20 years of BFMV's 'The Posion' and Trivium's 'Ascendancy', two albums that for me and no doubt many my age became the soundtracks of our formative years and two albums that later went on to define an era in Metal.
I sadly missed openers Orbit Culture to the aformentioned chore of getting into the arean but I've heard great things from friends.
The night really kicks off for me when BFMV take to the stage after a brilliant and quite touching intro video. Giving us a look into 'The Poison' years and what they meant to the band. Damn when I did I get so old. That thought is only fleeting though as the lads take to the stage and I am 16 again!
It would be hard to really portray how monumental a show they put on as I take it all in, firstly from the pit as I take photos and later from the side of the arena. I realise I am part of something very special tonight.
I won't do a track by track break down but highlights have to be hearing 'Tears Don't Fall' live for the first time. And I will always have time for 'All The Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me). Throughout the lads look like they're having the time of their lives and relishing in the celebration before them.
Next we have Trivium, a band that came to my attention as they took to the stage of Download Festival in 2005. And 20 years later they can still hold that attention and them some. Matt Heafy is a force and his vocals have never sounded stronger.
'Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr', 'A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation' and 'Like Light to Flies' blow me away just like I hoped they would. Much like BFMV before them they all look like they're having the tour of their lives and Matt in particular owns that stage. He posted during the tour that he knew this is what he was always meant to do. And there could be no arguments from anyone tonight.
To write more would have me blabbing on.
If you were there, you know.
If you weren't, I'm sorry. But you missed a piece of history.
I'll see you all at the 30th anniversay.
Photos & Review - Friswell Photography
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