Back in 2004 when a patchy mob of Sheffield youths dropped the divisive ‘This Is What The Edge Of Your Seat Was Made For’, few (in fact, we’d wager nobody) would have thought that twelve years later they’d be bringing the biggest mosh pits to London’s architectural ode to wealth. Hell, back then even they would have most likely scoffed at the entire concept. It’s about as far removed from their early days as possible.
Yet come the accompanying string section’s opening gambit to the already atmospheric ‘Doomed’, cynics around the circular room are all but literally eating their own words. As much as tonight is anything but what the band may have been aiming for in the early days, it’s also a whole new experience for the Albert Hall. We haven’t been privy to every show behind these doors but if anything has triumphantly smashed worlds together quite like this one, we’ll return to crawl across the floor to eat any words those cynics left over.
A quick view of the vast space switches dramatically from a well turned out choir, executive boxes and a beautiful sounding orchestra, to fans going bat-shit crazy. The disconnect between the stage and the audience is mind-blowing. But it works. Boy, does it work. When the accompanying orchestra are at their most prominent it’s earth shatteringly good, a soundtrack to an apocalyptic movie that draws out the beauty in the destructive carnage. It amplifies and exhilarates, and the crowd is all the more fired up from it.
Set highlight ‘It Never Ends’ sees the choir at their most poignant, the first appearance by the track in a live setting in two years. ‘Avalanche’ and ‘Oh No’ celebrate their debut outings, the latter closing proceedings to a chorus of unified fans. The atmosphere continues outside the venue as the refrain lingers in minds and voices.
Bring Me The Horizon have come a long way since 2004. They are now a new entity entirely. This entity has been offered the opportunity to bring conflicting worlds to the Royal Albert Hall, and it is far from squandered. Regardless of what has led them here, today they got a unique opportunity to confidently project the astounding words, “Royal Albert Hall, it’s time for a wall of death.”
This performance was produced in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust, and featured moving testimonials and appearances by those affected. To add your support, please go to the Teenage Cancer Trust website.