A staple for the metal and rock genres, the early 2000's super influence Bring Me The Horizon (BMTH) took over Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena for their North American Ascension Program (pt.2) tour May 5th, packing the seats alongside their co-performers Motionless in White, The Plot In You, and Amira Elfeky. An arena’s always a gamble to play, not knowing if the show'll bring in enough people, or if the show even warrants being performed at such a huge scale.

SPOILERS BELOW FOR THE BRING ME THE HORIZON SET:

However, with the theatrical performance, BMTH enveloped the arena, transforming it into a castle of cybercore gore and pyrotechnics. The arena experience was a must for this, as 3D graphics overtook the screen and fog filled the room, Oli opened up with “DArkSide”, in front of mock stained glass windows mimicking an unholy church. Red and white lights strobed to the beat, and an instantaneous mosh pit followed. Crowd surfers, walls of death, guys throwing their shirts off left and right. It had the essence (and smell) of a hardcore audience; songs like “Happy Song” and “Kool-Aid” got a noticeably higher reaction, though “Kingslayer” was a personal highlight, an unexpected, but welcomed, play. The artistry in it all, the animations, special effects, set dressings----it all had a function, each song pushed towards the next. People were having the time of their lives.

Oli welcomed a fan on stage during “Antivist”, and walked through the barricade while singing “Drown”, hugging (and even kissing) some of the front row fans. He held the camera, projecting these people’s special moments to an audience of thousands of people. Even though it was Oli’s show, he still shined the spotlight onto multiple fans that have loved and supported the band for years. There were smiles, tears, all the marks of a band that truly made an impact on the lives of its fans. People even skipped around in the pit, arms linked, frolicking, juxtaposing the blasting metal music.

An unforgettable experience, fans of BMTH need to experience the wall shaking setlist while enclosed in a room full of teenage-like chaos. Even in the nosebleeds, the artistry and passion filled every inch of the huge stadium, still serving for a memorable night. BMTH brought everything and more, mixing old and new songs alike, nobody left disappointed that night. If you have the chance to see them, take it!

(First video courtesy of Sirius Sparrow