Yorkshire Evening Post Review Of Avenged Sevenfold’s Leeds Show

Following a hard hitting, heavy rocking opening from Hell Yeah the stage is cloaked in black and a full to bursting academy waits…

Suddenly there’s the unmistakable overture, the dark fabric drops to reveal a huge drumkit, and Nightmare begins as Mike Portnoy appears behind it and strikes.

The sound is excellent, the guitars wailing in unison and M Shadows’s vocals reminiscent of Iron Maiden’s signature style. Portnoy could play the drums in his sleep he is so awesomely tight.

“Leeds rocks!” proclaims M Shadows and the underwear landing on Synyster Gates’ microphone stand is playfully thrown back.

Gates stands centre stage bathed in a white blue light, as the mood turns to sexy rock ballad Buried Alive.

The transition into the heavy section is executed seamlessly. M Shadows silences the crowd’s chants with a tribute to the band’s previous drummer, The Rev, who died last year.

“We lost our best friend in December ’09, he happened to be our drummer as well. He was one of the best guys I know, friends with everyone on this stage. Here is a sad song for our dear friend.”

So Far Away captures the loss emotively and it is performed with great dedication and feeling.

Things hot up again with God Hates Us, Avenged Sevenfold having proved worthy co-headliner for the eagerly anticipated Stone Sour.