BRING ME THE HORIZON live at The O2 in London.

It is a Saturday night, North Greenwich is vibrating with restlessness and excitement as hordes of BMTH fans are on the way to one of the best venues this city has seen, The O2 Arena.

Bring Me The Horizon are a band who easily brings every place down. And tonight is no exception. Embarking on a massive arena tour across the country they pay TWO visits in London. Two sold out shows at The O2.

Tonight’s show is heavy, loud and spectacular in every way. The opening bands Basement and Don Broco do a pretty good job with warming up the crowd before the men of the night arrive and shake up the place.

Bring Me The Horizon kick off with Happy Song, taken from their last year’s critically acclaimed album That’s The Spirit, which is designed for massive chants. The word SPIRIT appears on giant LED screens as everyone willingly follows Oli Sykes‘ lead and repeats the six letters over and over again.

We’re on the first song here when confetti cannons go off. Well, that’s a pretty good entrance. Next, I even spot a huge umbrella being waved above the crowd which every BMTH fan would consider a genius idea. People’s creativity will never cease to amaze me.

Despite the fact the recent album marks a slight shifting point for the band and sets a direction towards softer melodies, there’s still a place for metalcore riffs and heavier sounds. The hard-hitting Go To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake and mighty House Of Wolves (Sempiternal 2015) still echo massively, and a visual accompaniment in the form of flickering images adds a grand importance to the whole live experience.

Apparently now is the perfect time for a quick introduction as Oli Sykes shouts: “How are you guys feeling? We’re Bring Me The Horizon!”, but I belive there’s no need for this reminder.

“Who’s been with BMTH from the very beginning?! This song is for you” – he continues as the band proceeds with Chelsea Smile, from their 2008’s sophomore album Suicide Season.

BMTH have carried a significant burden of life experiences and a lot of people have been there for them through the entire five-album period of time. Their fan base is extremely varied, age and gender wise, and it is a beautiful thing to watch that their sound evolution has not divided them. If anything, it has made them even more united. Of course, you will always get a few individuals unhappy with new directions the bands decide to take on, but overall, change is good.

Tonight we are introduced to a dazzling and eye-catching spectacle of flashing lights. Massive flames appear on the screens giving away the impression that the entire room has been set on fire. The lyrics And you can throw me to the flames / I will follow you, I will follow you could not sound any more suitable than at this very moment.

Oli Sykes possesses a very firm charismatic stage presence. He is also a chatty type, giving short speeches from time to time making sure the connection between the band and the audience is not exposed and the engagement stays strong.

“If it wasn’t for you I would probably be dead. And I fucking mean it. You saved my fucking life. This song is dedicated to every one of you. If I could do it then you can too”. Loud screams start to echo throughout as familiar notes of Sleepwalking hit the air. Tonight’s show is certainly one of those times when people don’t mind being yelled at, and it surely feels special.

“Give yourself a round of applause. You guys are fucking killing it” – Sykes sums up as the band disappears from the stage. The short break sets a display of stunning images of flowers, constantly changing, blossoming and withering as deep voice of Sykes tells us a short story.

Not long after, BMTH are back. Monumental Doomed and meaningful Can You Feel My Heart get to be played, after lead singer asks: “London I’ve got one question. Can you feel my fucking heart?!”

“I know you’ve got more in you! Get your middle fingers up!” what means it is time for the track Antivist allowing everyone to let their rage out and realise that it is okay to feel angry some times.

“Is everyone still alive? You guys were fucking amazing. This one is for the haters”. Throne rounds off the main set as lyrics Every wound will shape me / Every scar will build my throne are being sung back by tens of thousands of voices.

The band returns for an encore but a feeling of the ending fastly approaching hungs in the air. The band’s latest single Oh No, which serves a somewhat positively depressing sensation, is a definite stand-out moment of tonight’s performance. The lights go down as mobile phones are being held high sending all the dancing streaks from one side of the stage to another.

And of course, Drown saved for the grand finale, the track that hides such a strong and stinging message within, it quietly goes down your spine.

Bring Me The Horizon have certainly not lost their spirit along the way. Last year they said “The whole concept of the album [That’s The Spirit 2015] is to make the light out of the darkness” and I think they notably and gracefully succeeded.

Photos: Patrick Gunning