Live Review: Avenged Sevenfold Obliterate Birmingham

Thursday 5th December 2013 - Avenged Sevenfold @ Birmingham LG Arena Words: Sophie Sparham

Storming to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with their critically lauded sixth album ‘Hail to the King’ and already confirmed as headliners for both Hell Fest and Download 2014, it’s pretty clear that Avenged Sevenfold have stepped up into metal’s premier league.

Tonight they finish off their UK tour in the home of metal itself and more than prove they’re worthy of brushing shoulders with the big boys.

The huge A7X logo is unleashed and church bells chime as one by one the band slowly step out onto the stage playing the dramatically intro to ‘Shepherd of Fire’. Sinister, Shadows, Vengeance, Christ and IIejay have arrived; it’s going to be one hell of a night.

Emotions are high as A7X tear apart the stage with their epic theatrical performance; fireworks explode, smoke flows and flames burn around them. M Shadows darts back and forth, punching the air and clutching hard on the mic as he puts everything he has into the show. His large presence, completed by trademark aviators captures the attention of every set of eyes watching from the crowd.

‘It seems a little chilly outside, so we’re here to heat you up,’ says, the lead singer, before the band break into ‘Welcome to the Family’.

Intense, fast, heavy riffs fill the air as the band play a mix of new material such as ‘Doing Time’ and the jaw dropping ‘Hail to the King’; to much loved classics ‘Critically Acclaimed’ and the legendary ‘Afterlife’. Circle pits open everywhere, whilst other’s head band in the party atmosphere. In fact, the band party so hard that the show has to be momentarily stopped due to Sinister Gates breaking his guitar. This is gothic rock n’ roll at its finest.

However, the storm is calmed as Shadows dims the lights and dedicates the next song to The Rev. “We will remember him and pay tribute to him every night we play. This is a song he wrote called ‘Fiction’,” Shadows poignantly tells the sell-out crowd. A piano gently plays and spotlights stream as the words ‘James Sullivan’ are chanted throughout the arena. Phones and lighters burn brightly to commemorate the iconic drummer’s memory. It’s a truly beautiful and heartwrenching moment.

Things pick up pace as Sinister Gates takes centre stage, performing jaw dropping guitar solos for all to see. It’s not long before Arin Ilejay joins him and the two have a bedroom styled jam.

Fireworks light the stage as Avenged Sevenfold finish off their set with songs from ‘Waking the Fallen’ and members of the audience launch themselves over the barrier one last time . “We’ll see you at Download 2014!” M Shadows screams, before triumphantly exiting the stage. The UK will be waiting fervently.