Supports: Black Tide, Bleeding Through and Lacuna Coil; Venue:013, Tilburg (Netherlands)
By: Elvira Visser
With only knowing a few tracks from Bullet For My Valentine and recently hearing their latest album I wanted to see them live. Tonight they played in the Netherlands, in a venue that was sold out a few hours before the doors would open. Tonight there were more bands on stage getting us ready for Bullet For My Valentine. The only thing I was expecting was a young audience, especially in front of the stage.
| The first band tonight was Black Tide, a band from the States. All being under their 20s and signed with Interscope. That is what amazes me, they are still so young, but have released a great debut album “Light From Above”. The singer Gabriel is only 15, but Black Tide sounds so much better than just a high school band. They are very promising, is what I think. They have listened very well to Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pantera and Guns N’ Roses and created a good sound for their own band inspired by through these bands but adding a 21st century attitude. |
| Second band up on stage was Bleeding Through, maybe a little weird in the line up because they play metal but with a good dosis of the energy of hardcore. The band surely brought a lot of energy on stage and got the crowd pumped up as well. Asking them to raise their fist in the air, jump up and down or make a circle pit. The crowd wanted to do this but sadly there was a group of security guys that thought a little movement was beyond limits tonight with those young girls around. A bit sad, because that is what makes those shows of hardcore bands so energetic. |
| The last band to get the crowd ready for Bullet For My Valentine was Lacuna Coil and even though they have been around for many years they have never impressed me, that is, live. I do like a good share of their tracks, but somehow I lose my interest when I see them live on stage. Tonight they yet again did not live up to my expectations. Andrea and Christina dressed up nicely but they paid less attention to their vocals. The complete sound of the band lacks, and makes me even wonder if Christina was lip-syncing. There was not much left to spontaneous actions, things seemed quite practised. On their setlist was a good share of tracks from different albums like “Closer”, “Swamped”, “Heaven’s A Lie” and their cover version of “Enjoy the Silence”. |
| Finally it was time for Bullet For My Valentine and as soon as the Welsh guys set foot on stage the girls in the front rows were screaming like madmen. What can be seen as a plus, or at least something contributing to the atmosphere at the gig was that most people knew the songs and many of them were singing along. The interaction with the audience was good: they the guys smiling friendly when the people in the first rows were screaming. Not only the older tracks like “4 Words To Choke Upon”, “Tears Don’t Fall” and “Hand Of Blood” but also tracks from their latest album were sung along like “Scream, Aim Fire” and “Eye Of the Storm”. I pretty much liked the guitar work from the band live on stage. The guys definitely delivered a good show together with a nice light show. Standing on boxes with lights in it for special effects and light bars in different colours to gave the show a little extra. I enjoyed myself throughout their setlist and they could have played a couple of songs more. Sadly the what older people in the audience who were ready to build a pit every now and then were not allowed to do so. But I for sure am going to see another gig of Bullet For My Valentine. |
More pictures of this gig available at photographicretentions.nl
Links:
Bullet For My Valentine MySpace
Lacuna Coil MySpace
Bleeding Through MySpace
Black Tide MySpace
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