Photo: Nick Davarias

Live Review: Trivium – UK/EU Tour 2023 – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith

Seven hundred sixty five… that’s how many days fans have been patiently waiting to catch Trivium take over UK venues up and down the country since the announcement of this tour. While an unfortunate incident at the beloved Brixton Academy caused the London date to be rearranged to the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, the show must go on. So, here’s what went down.

Malevolence took control of the crowd straight away as they took to the stage, commanding them through every moment of their set. Wall to wall, the Apollo followed Alex Taylor’s every word as he ordered constant horn raising, and mammoth mosh pits. The band played a good selection of songs from their latest album ‘Malicious Intent’, but still threw it back a little with a couple of their older tracks.

Heaven Shall Burn – Photo: Nick Davarias

While Heaven Shall Burn’s more extreme style of metal didn’t seem to go down quite as well with those in attendance off the get go, their headline sized set did manage to warm to the crowd by the end. Despite a small technical glitch mid performance, the band triumphed through, playing a set ranging their long discography. With this tour being nearly a decade since their last UK appearance I’m sure both old fans as well as new will be excited to be able to catch them again later this year at Bloodstock 2023.

After a brief reusable cup battle across the Apollos auditorium floor, it was finally time for Trivium, building up to the moment with Iron Maidens ‘Run For The Hills’ – which the crowd ate up in anticipation. At long last Matt Heafy and co took to the stage, and the energy throughout the room was palpable. The band’s exhilarating stage presence became an immediate draw for the sold out room, with the fast paced drumming of 2005’s ‘Rain’ starting the first circle pits of the set.

Photo: Nick Davarias

Trivium mesmerized the room as they played through ‘A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation’ and ‘The Sin and the Sentence’ without stopping in between to say anything to the crowd. Matt Heafy then welcomed fans to the show before letting them know that he finally felt like he was “home again” in the UK, before joking that the next track would be their last one. The night sped through as the band played their expertly curated setlist – which was the perfect blend of old favorites and new material – with songs like ‘In the Court of the Dragon’ and ‘Amongst the Shadows & the Stones’ being received just as well as classics like ‘To the Rats’ and ‘Shogun’.

Overall Triviums performance was an incredible gig to start 2023 with, and well worth the long wait. Their musical talent joined by their impassioned energy and stage presence combined for a top tier gig. While the UK leg of the tour might be over, metalheads across Europe still have time to catch a night of mega performances as they finish off the rest of their European tour.

Photo: Nick Davarias