Tonight, we’re at the Ancienne Belgique for a legendary metalcore lineup: Polaris, Bury Tomorrow, and While She Sleeps. Three bands and a sold-out crowd.
Polaris is the first band tonight. A few minutes before 7 o’clock, they arrived on stage and immediately made their entrance with Nightmare; and what a great start.
As the band prepared to release their latest album, Polaris faced the loss of their guitarist, Ryan Siew, last June, just one day after their performance at Graspop Metal Meeting. This tour is also an opportunity to pay tribute to him; the group will dedicate their song Overflow to their friend who left too soon. “Fatalism” will also be represented by the tracks Inhuman and Dissipate. The Australians know how to end in style with The Remedy, a beloved classic from their discography that we never tire of listening to.
Thirty minutes are far too short to fully appreciate Polaris’s discography and energy this evening. We hope to see the Australians again soon.
Setlist: Nightmare – Inhumane – All of This Is Fleeting – Dissipate – Hypermania – Overflow – The Remedy
The second band of the evening is Bury Tomorrow! As the members greet the audience, who cheers loudly and enthusiastically, the incredible Boltcutter shakes the room. Followed by Black Flame, Daniel Winter-Bates asks everyone to jump over the barriers and give the security staff some work. Crowdsurfers start and won’t calm down until the end of the evening.
Being the second opening act did not prevent Bury Tomorrow from putting together an effective setlist. On several occasions, Dan asks us not to stay still, but to jump, dance, and move during Abandon Us. The fans sing the chorus with as much power as the music sounds tonight. Following LIFE (Paradise Denied) and Heretic, where we may have had some chances to see a collaboration with Loz, unfortunately, we didn’t.
Followed by the hits Cannibal and Choke, setting the AB on fire again shortly before the end. Bury Tomorrow asks for more energy one last time for DEATH (Even Colder).
Setlist: Boltcutter – Black Flame – Abandon Us – Earthbound – LIFE (Paradise Denied) – Heretic – Cannibal – Choke – DEATH (Ever Colder)
Welcome to the Sleeps Society!
After two amazing openers, it’s finally time for While She Sleeps. The lights go out, and the curtains start to open.
Their scenography remains impressive, with a high platform where the drummer and bassist sit above two walls of amps decorated with the group’s logo. The intro to Sleeps Society starts to play, and the famous “Sleeps Society” chant by the entire room kicks off the show. There is already a general euphoria, and the group members quickly break into a sweat as the room resembles a sauna. You Are All You Need follows on the setlist. The “Sleeps Society” album is well-represented this evening, with seven tracks in total, including the excellent FAKERS PLAGUE and EYE TO EYE.
Loz Taylor asks us to sing the words of the next song with him. Their brand new single SELF HELL was not unanimous among fans; however, the title live is rather well worked, and we can only appreciate it more because we are caught up in the atmosphere.
Tonight, all the albums are on the table, given the group’s extensive discography, and we’re in for some surprises. For long-time fans, While She Sleeps plays two tracks from their debut album “This Is The Six”: the very good Our Courage, Our Cancer and Seven Hills. Sleeps also play the track Our Legacy from the album “Brainwashed”.
As the energy of the pit continues and the crowd surfers find their way over the barriers despite the heat, the single Silence Speaks is performed alongside Daniel Winter-Bates, a strong and powerful track that everyone enjoys listening to. The evening concludes with the group returning to the stage for three final songs. Their set ends with Anti-Social, and the audience repeats the refrain they know by heart!
Setlist: SLEEPS SOCIETY – YOU ARE ALL YOU NEED – THE GUILTY PARTY – I’VE SEEN IT ALL – EYE TO EYE – You Are We – HAUNT ME – SELF HELL – FAKERS PLAGUE – Our Courage, Our Cancer – KNOW YOUR WORTH (SOMEBODY) – Our Legacy – Four Walls – Silence Speaks – SYSTEMATIC – ENLIGHTENMENT(?) – Seven Hills – ANTI-SOCIAL.
The encore ultimately summed up very well the entire evening in the Ancienne Belgique. It was intense, energetic, warm, and above all, delivered beautifully. All the bands delivered an amazing set with a high level of energy, and it continued throughout the entire evening.