bullet_fmv_2008_12

» Bullet FMV 2008 12 03

Reviewed by Niklas
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Special guest: Lacuna Coil, Bleeding Through
City: Stockholm, Sweden
Venue: Arenan
Date: 3 Dec 2008
Lacuna Coil set length: 30 minutes
Bullet For My Valentine set length: 75 minutes

Lacuna Coil

Few bands successes are as surprising to me as Lacuna Coil's, especially their prosperities of later years in the States. Since when were boring and predictable nu-metal with female vocals the recipe for a career overseas? Add to that a male sidekick whose rap-skills are so clumsy that it makes Linkin Park look fresh and exciting, and you have a band that have had a hard time finding its fans on this side of the pond. In America Lacuna Coil would hands-down be the main band of the evening, here they are playing second-fiddle to Bullet For My Valentine in front of a rather abstemious audience.

On a live stage there is no question that the Italian combo has one ace up their sleeves - the front woman Christina Scabbia. While it's understandable that she has a strong voice somewhere in there, she rarely displays it live and instead comes out as someone who rather shouts than sings. She is still a joy to watch compared to the gray figures she surrounds herself with, though. While the band does come up with the occasional groove, their repertoire is stripped bare of memorable and good songs. Lacuna Coil's material is simply so weak that it comes as a relief when their mediocre take on Depeche Mode's Enjoy The Silence makes its appearance towards the end of the set.

2 chalices of 10

(sorry, no setlist)

Bullet For My Valentine

Scream Aim Fire was an album that I really liked upon its release in January this year, but gradually lost interest in when 2008 turned out to spawn several releases that were even greater. Since this is the second leg of the Scream Aim Fire-tour, and that the band also managed to cram in a performance at this summer's Metaltown in Gothenburg, I would have expected that many of the fans' interests would have faded as well. But it seems that I underestimated Bullet For My Valentine's attraction power, as there was a great turn-up with lots of devoted fans attending.

In just a few years this Welsh metalcore-emo-heavy metal-pop band have gained lots of experience and seem to know exactly how to get the audience to sing and jump along to every single song. The young crowd is very enthusiastic and the response to old hits like Tears Don't Fall and All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me) is simply astounding. The new songs doesn't turn out to be nearly as popular, even with clearly superior tracks like Scream Aim Fire, Hearts Burst Into Fire and the encore Waking The Demon.

The vocals from front man Matt Tuck feels at times a bit weak in this context and some of the songs aren't nearly as memorable as the hits, but this is made up for by an altogether well-composed show, with smart lightning effects that makes it all look more expensive than what is probably is. When it comes to live presence there is nothing to complain about, but I suspect that it requires one more album with lots of hit singles attached to take this to the next level.

6 chalices of 10

(sorry, no setlist)