The best therapy for conquering Monday blues? Enjoying the sunshine on your way to Trix for a fun night out with friends and a line-up to die for.
People watching with 156/Silence
Despite the early scheduled start time, a significant turnout gathered to witness 156/Silence‘s first concert on Belgian soil. At 6 PM sharp, the band took the stage determined to left their mark // ‘Target Acquired’.
‘Product Placement’ showcased the unique vocal sound of Jack Murray, just before mayhem was unleashed when whispering the words “I don’t buy this”.
The haunting and frenetic vibes in ‘Our Parting Ways‘ got hands reaching for the sky, waving from side to side.
The central area of Trix became a focal point of activity from the initial notes of ‘High Dive In a Low Well‘. This song started out heavier than the previous songs, its concluding breakdown transforming the circle pit into a mosh scene.
The heaviness was easily countered with the next song ‘Wants I Need’ which set a more melancholic atmosphere.
To start the next song the ‘Better Written Villain‘ within Jack Murray demanded to split the room in two, initiating the first wall of death for this night!
As the set neared its conclusion, the band reserved their last playing minutes to foster ‘Character Development‘.
Safe to say that the band hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania left their mark!
I, for one, am looking forward to welcome 156/Silence back soon.
Setlist: Target Acquired – Product Placement – Our Parting Ways – High Dive in a Low Well – Wants I Need – Sleep Spikes – Better Written Villain – Character Development (Cold Start)
Not so different… Yet, not the same
From the United States to the UK, Acres returned to the stage. Having previously performed at a smaller local venue in Antwerp, they now commanded the big stage in Trix.
The setlist was reconfigured, compared to last time, to highlight tracks from their new album The Host which got released end of last year.
Immediately they set the tone playing a couple of new songs, kicking of with ‘Not So Different‘. The wall of death at the end of the next song served as an ideal test to see who in the mosh pit was ‘Built To Bleed’.
Fans got especially excited when vocalist Ben Lumber took us back 3 years in time with the song ‘Nothing.’.
Before they left the stage, the band ensured that no one felt ‘Lost’ after this wild ride on the emotional rollercoaster, which is the perfect representation of an Acres concert.
Setlist: Not So Different – Built to Bleed – Take My Last Breath – Nothing. – My Everything – Bloodlust – Lost
Long anticipated return to the Belgian stage
After an absence of nearly ten years, it was a great pleasure to witness Memphis May Fire finding their way back to the Belgian stage.
They initiated their set with the powerful track ‘The Sinner’ followed by ‘Vices’ getting fans off their feet, dancing like it was 2012. Limbs got swinging in the mosh pit once the breakdown hit.
The seamless transitions between brutal screams and clean vocals left the audience ‘Paralyzed‘.
Luckily, the paralysis quickly faded once the first notes of ‘Misery‘ were played. This song introduced a smooth blend of groove and heartfelt emotion, intensified with strong lyrics such as “Nothing left to lose at rock bottom. Wounds turn to scars, yeah, I got ’em. But I’ve come to learn, you gotta let it burn if you’re gonna be forged in the fire.” Fans were singing along with the lyrics “I try to take the pain away. Nothing seems to change. But when I go through hell, that’s where I find myself remade in misery”.
Matty Mullins, vocalist for the band, then posed the question: “Is there anyone out here tonight that sometimes feels like they crave the chaos?” This question preceded a notably ‘Chaotic’ mosh pit.
Last song on the setlist, ‘Blood & Water‘ served as the ideal conclusion to a triumphant return to the Belgian stage.
Setlist: The Sinner – Vices – Paralyzed – Misery – Shapeshifter – Bleed Me Dry – Somebody – Overdose – Chaotic – Make Believe – Blood & Water
Fit For A King delivers again and again
Following an ominous interlude, Fit For A King unrelentingly commenced their performance with ‘Begin The Sacrifice’. They quickly ignited the mosh pit with the next song ‘Extinction‘, forcing some bystanders to the sides looking for ‘Shelter‘.
‘Monolith’ reintroduced the heavy sounds, leading to the formation of a circle pit, at the request of vocalist Ryan Kirby.
After showing us the new songs from the album Lonely God, time had come for the band to take us back in time to the Dark Skies era with an old classic; no surprise that ‘Backbreaker‘ led to a wall of death.
After this sweet nostalgic moment, the room got illuminated with cellphone lights creating the perfect mood for ‘Between Us‘, offering both catharsis and hope.
Subsequent song ‘Keeping Secrets’ provided an opportune moment for crowd surfers being lifted in the air, taking their shot at reaching the stage.
For their Lonely God tour, Fit For A King came bearing gifts. Besides ‘Backbreaker‘ they arranged another exclusive song on the setlist which is definitely ‘Engraved‘ in the memories of many.
Fans, including myself, got enthusiastic when ‘Breaking the Mirror‘ started playing, featuring an impeccable bass solo by the talented Ryan O’Leary aka the flying bass acrobat.
The set concluded with the most brutal breakdown at the end of the title song ‘Lonely God‘.
As anticipated, the band returned on stage to play a couple of additional songs.
Kicking of the encore section with ‘When Everything Means Nothing‘.
Sadly, this time for real, time had come to ‘Witness the End‘ of the Lonely God tour, giving the mosh pit one last chance to prove its worth!
Setlist: Begin the Sacrifice – The Temple – Extinction – No Tomorrow – Shelter – Monolith – Blue Venom – Backbreaker – Between Us – Breaking the Mirror – Engraved – Keeping Secrets – Technium – Lonely God – When Everything Means Nothing – Witness The End
Fit For A King never disappoints and that’s exactly what they proved again this night!
Well curated setlist and overall powerfull performance, joined on stage by Memphis May Fire, Acres and 156/Silence.