Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium Reignite the Fire on The Poisoned and Ascendancy Tour
Boston was brought to its knees on Friday night as The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour stormed MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Celebrating 20 years of The Poison and Ascendancy, two albums that helped shape a generation of metalcore, Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium led a stacked lineup that delivered from the first crushing note to the final scream. With support from August Burns Red and Bleed From Within, the lineup didn’t just revisit the past, it ripped it wide open and bled it raw onstage.
Photos by Amy Young
Bleed From Within opened the night with sheer ferocity. Despite being first on the bill, their set hit with headliner-level intensity. This Scottish metalcore piece with a razor-sharp precision, earned themselves new fans and ignited the pit within the first few minutes. Through their signature blend of melody and aggression, they set a solid foundation for the night.
August Burns Red hit the stage next and immediately kicked things up a knotch. Their guitar work cut through the room like a blade, matched by the crowds explosive response to every breakdown. Jake Luhrs commanded the stage with raw intensity, driving the energy higher with every scream. Their performance was tight, chaotic in the all the right ways, and a perfect reminder of why they’ve remained a cornerstone in the metalcore scene for so many years.
Trivium hit the stage like a band with something to prove and something to celebrate. Performing Ascendancy in full, they unleashed a masterclass in modern metal, reminding everyone why the album flipped the genre on its head back in 2005. From the galloping riffs of “Rain” to the anthemic chaos of “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr,” every track was delivered with blistering precision and unshakable conviction. Matt Heafy’s vocals tore through the mix and the crowd roared every word right back at him.
Photos by Amy Young
But the emotional high point of the night belonged to Bullet For My Valentine. As they launched into The Poison, the crowd exploded. For many, myself included, this was a deeply personal moment. This was a soundtrack to our teen angst, first heartbreaks, and our introduction to heavy music. I found myself shoulder to shoulder in the photo pit with others who were raised on this record, screaming every word like it was burned into our bones. When “Tears Don’t Fall” hit, “your tears don’t fall, they crash around me” echoed through the room. It felt like the entire venue exhaled at once. Cameras in hand, chaos behind us, we let the moment crash around us too.
Photos by Amy Young
Bullet’s set was a perfect balance between precision and emotion that proved even 20 years later their fire is still burning bright. The chemistry between band and audience was clear with each song being met with a chorus of voices and raised fists.
The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour is more than just a celebration of two iconic albums, it’s a reminder of the power of metal to connect, to heal, and to endure. And on this night in Boston, that power was alive and louder than ever.
