Avenged Sevenfold at the O2 | Review

It’s been several years since Avenged Sevenfold unleashed their melodic metal in Ireland; a larger venue greets them this time too, as the O2 plays host to one of the heaviest mainstream bands from across the pond.

Metal is still popular, you may struggle explaining that to any doubters but if they could see the crowd in attendance for this act, they would doubt no longer. A relative decrease on radio, absolutely, but irregardless of that it’s still huge. Metal fans are (in this reviewer’s opinion) the most staunch and willing fans. The kind of fans who wipe sweat from their brow, and blood from their nose.

Lead by singer M Shadows, the group unveil themselves from behind a stage-high theatre curtain. They erupt into new release Shepard Of Fire from this year’s ‘Hail To The King Album.’ Imagine an artillery training exercise whereby thousands of mortars are put to use; you’d come fairly close to the ground-shuddering wall of sound achieved in the O2. Critical Acclaim, from the band’s fourth album follows up with just as much extremity and precision. The signature opening organ notes combine well with Synyster Gate’s waling guitar, before evolving into a complete car crash of 100 mile-per-hour drums and riffage. Yep, this is metal.

A mixed mid-section moves along a little flatter. Perhaps the band weren’t to blame for the crowd’s slight concede however, as they are known to include pyrotechnics as a primary element in their show and were prohibited from doing so in the O2. Unfortunate, but the music and energy on display from the group more than makes up for it. Songs like Hail To The King, Buried Alive and Fiction come to pass, the latter written by the late, James Owen Sullivan, founder and former drummer of the band. Known fondly as The Rev, his death in 2009 landed the band in a difficult period of limbo. Now, with Arin Ilejay behind the drums, playing Sullivan’s track is a fitting tribute for a drummer of once, distinguished talent.

The five piece from Huntington Beach, California, have truly become a permanent name in metal, and are perhaps en route to hall-of-fame status, similar to genre-leaders Metallica and Iron Maiden. They wrap things up just in time for curfew with two songs from the ‘Waking The Fallen’ album; Chapter Four and the classic Unholy Confessions. The crowd react as many would expect; circle pits, fists raised and all-round positive anger bound into their being. The band are late to leave the stage and generously donate any items on-hand to those in the crowd. Most likely as a gesture in relation to the pyro. See, metal ain’t so bad after all.