Wednesday 18th November 2009 @ Academy, Bristol
With Support From: August Burns Red, A Day To Remember

A massive line-up, a packed out room and a raging crowd ready for the show. First to hit the stage were August Burns Red who totally killed the show. The 5 Christian boys from Pennsylvania did not stand still throughout the whole set, their bodies moving simultaneously to every beat of their catchy riffs. The whole room was moving to their insane breakdowns that pounded through the floor. They didn’t get the reaction they deserved though as most people were too focused on the headliners.

Next up were A Day To Remember who I saw play an amazing show in Yeovil last year; tonight, sadly, was nothing compared. The band were sloppy and all over the place and didn’t look to know what was going on! People still gave them a huge response though because they are so well known but I was entirely disappointed with their performance because I know how good they can be.

Headliners, Bring Me The Horizon, are one of those love them or hate them bands but I have been a fan ever since they released Suicide Season. As they came out onstage I was nearly defend by the high pitch screaming of nearly every girl in the room as they caught a glimpse of frontman, Oli Sykes. The band opened the set with one of my personal favorite songs, Chelsea Smile, while huge letters - B M T H – flashed constantly behind the drummer. By the time Sykes had sang the opening line, “I have a secret…”, the crowd had broken into a mass frenzy which infected the whole bottom floor.

Bring Me The Horizon showed that they are very accomplished musicians with an exciting, energetic set. They too were a little sloppy but Sykes worked the crowd well and a one point got down off the stage and sung along with the front row as they waved their arms around to touch him. Next he encourage the floor to open up and perform a wall of death; the room parted and then crashed back together as the song dropped into an intense beat down. Half way through their performance there was a gap which was suddenly filled with heavy dub step which brought everyone up again as it was so diverse from the band playing on stage - everyone loved it!

www.myspace.com/bmth

Chloe Jackson and Gareth Bowden