THE POISONED ASCENDANCY TOUR 2025 with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED AND SYLOSIS

THE POISONED ASCENDANCY TOUR 2025 AT THE PEARL THEATER IN LAS VEGAS

This was a highly anticipated show in Vegas, two musical giants, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM co-headlining, joined by two incredible bands, August Burns Red and Sylosis for this US leg of the tour. Bullet for my Valentine & Trivium are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their iconic albums titled, respectively, The Poison and Ascendancy, playing both in entirety. You could feel the electricity in the air, and the passionate crowd was loud and on their feet from the start to finish.

Kicking off this show was SYLOSIS, and this was the first time I have seen this band, and they put on a short but very impressive killer set. They are a British heavy metal band formed back in 2000 and are part of the Nuclear Blast family, and were a great start to the night.

Singer Josh Middleton at one point told the crowd, “This is a metal show, lets hear you” which got a ferocious response from the standing room only crowd. Sylosis is a solid band, and you can check out "The Path" from their 2024 digital release of the same name, HERE. You can check out everything Sylosis at their website HERE

I have such new found respect for as AUGUST BURNS RED, who totally crushed it during their time onstage, and put on a helacious high energy metalcore show. Lead singer Jake Luhrs gave security a heads up from the stage, saying “I see 20 security standing in front of the stage getting paid, but now it’s time to go to work”, crashing into "Chop Suey", at which point the crowd surfing got into high gear and was relentless for the rest of their set. Security had their work cut out for them, a wall of people kept coming over the barricade.

ABR had a shorter set, and cut a swath through their extensive catalogue, it had to be hard to narrow it down with their own long history - they hit their own 20th anniversary in 2023 with a tour that produced a 20 Year Tour Live digital release of songs across the years,. We got to hear a bit of those, as well as most recent single "Exhumed", and the show rocked loud and hard. We also had a real beautiful moment, when Jake asked the crowd to get out their lighters and cell phones and light up the arena during the opening of the song "Marianas Trench". The venue had an eerie glow which really set the mood as their set was coming to a close, that finished with a crushing "White Washed".

After their set was over we saw Jake come offstage, took time for the people in the pit, walking the entire length of the barricade - thanking the fans, taking photos and signed anything he got handed. A total class act, and a real treat for the people down front.

In addition to 20 Year Tour Live digital release, August Burns Red released a 20th anniversary reissue of Thrill Seeker with Luhrs on vocals, and you can both out and more HERE.

Now it was time for our first co-headliner to hit the stage! TRIVIUM, in celebration of their 2005 album Ascendancy, would play the entire album and a few extras. The Ascendancy album cover has this strange being on it, and for Trivium's set a giant inflatable semblance of that being appeared on the left side of the stage as they roared into their set with "Rain".

Frontman Matt Heafy, is very animated onstage, constantly flipping his head back, and moving from one side of the stage to another, and along with Corey Beaulieu on guitars, Paolo Gregoletto on bass and Alex Bent on drums the energy level was tremendous.

Heafy stated that the best crowd they have seen on this tour was in…. Denver, and he knew Vegas could beat their energy, as he asked everyone to stand up and create the biggest circle pit ever seen. Vegas was up for the challenge, and the bodies started to fly. "A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation" had a little help from Sylosis' Josh Middleton as he joined Heafy on vocals, and we also got a drum solo that showcased Bent's skills. The crowd was really into Trivium and the air was electric.

Heafy talked a bit to the audience that last year was a very tough for him, and he has spent the past year working on being a better husband, father and bandmate. Heafy really connects to the fans on a personal level as well as with music, and makes the set interactive too. On the final song he asked the crowd to get down on the floor, and watch, and they could jump up at his command. They closed out their set with the song "In Waves", a powerful finish, the band was on fire tonight.

Trivium are also working on an eleventh studio album, which will feature a guest appearance by Bullet for My Valentine's Matt Tuck, and is slated for 2026. Keep up on the news and everything Trivium HERE.

It seemed like the energy level went up 1000% when the lights dimmed for BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE to hit the stage. A short video showed clips of the band highlighting early days and the acclaim they have received over the 20 years, and then they blasted into their show with "Her Voice Resides".

The first three bands were hard, heavy and in your face but BFMV sounds a bit more melodic to me, songs the fans know all the words to, accompanied by dueling guitars and pounding rhythm. Matt Tuck is a real force on the vocals, and their stage show is polished, tight, and solid from a band that has put in the work. The fans are so passionate about them, (especially the girls screaming non-stop), and the band has power and punch, The Poison standing strong after decades. My personal favorite off the Poison album is "Room 409", and it rocked live. Another highlight was “Tears Don’t Fall” that really showcases the band's style.

After the complete Poison live, BFMV encored with the hard driving "Knives" and "Waking the Demon", wrapping on a power packed night and an amazing set by each and every band - catch this tour on this current US leg that runs through mid May. Tour dates and more on Bullet For My Valentine HERE.