Live Review: VV – Neon Noir Tour – O2 Academy Bristol

Many wondered what the future would hold for Ville Valo after the disbandment of HIM and after quite a break, his return to the UK kicked off with a stay in Bristol! With the release of his debut solo album going down a storm, the excitement for these shows proved to be overwhelming. Here’s what went down when VV returned to the British Isles!

In classic VV fashion, the opening act Kælan Mikla were not your ordinary band. A blend of new wave and heavy art caught the attention of the fans from the off. It may not have been for everyone however, their unique sound certainly rang true around the venue and created a gloomy and gothic atmosphere that fit the occasion perfectly. Trance-like sounds blended with an almost cult aesthetic are something that is hard to forget so whether the fans enjoyed them or not, they certainly left a lasting impression!

As the lights faded, the Heartagram bloomed and VV was finally back! Opening with ‘Echolocate Your Love’ before jumping straight into HIM’s ‘The Funeral Of Hearts’ melted the hearts of those in attendance. ‘Neon Noir’ received a massive reaction while ‘Right Here In My Arms’ generated a feeling of love and compassion around the venue!

To say the set was balanced between new and old would be an understatement as it cleverly alternated between VV originals and HIM tracks without ever feeling jumpy. A lot of the time, these kinds of shows are assumed to be more aggressive and enraged however, VV is more about the mooshier feelings that rock and metal fans seem to like to hide. Tracks like ‘Lovelettin’, ‘Wings Of A Butterfly’ and ‘Join Me In Death’ captures the softer side of all those willing to listen and emitted positivity everywhere you looked.

Despite a lengthy absence from live performance, VV seemed as if he’d never missed a beat. His vocals during tracks like ‘The Kiss Of Dawn’ and ‘Run Away From The Sun’ sounded crisp and clear and his overall energy on the night only seemed to grow as he fed off the love and admiration from his fans. There was a certain feeling of togetherness at this show that isn’t always present between the artists and fans.

This enticing atmosphere mixed with an overall amazing sound and light production helped the excitement grow throughout the set meaning when it came to closing out the show, everyone still felt as fresh as they did when they walked in. ‘Soul Of Fire’ followed by both ‘Salute the Sanguine’ and ‘Poison Girl’ was a recipe for tears and celebration and that’s exactly what it garnered before ending off the show with the devious ‘Saturnine Saturnalia’.

VV is not for everyone and never has been however for those who do like the more lovey-dovey blend of heavy music, he is the master of it. His set was jam-packed with emotion and charisma. His entire persona allowed him to keep the fans engaged throughout the entire set and he did an incredible job of making sure everyone in attendance left feeling healed and happy!