Avenged Sevenfold in The O2

It looks like some diabolical temple for the damned. Wide stone steps lead up to a gigantic skull, its bat wings outstretched, casting its ghastly grin upon several thousand over-excited metalheads. If this is a temple, then Avenged Sevenfold’s frontman M. Shadows, a tattooed, muscular spook clad in black and grey with dark glasses, is its abominable priest.

As he flies about the stage, there is something tribal about the chanting of the seemingly endless crowd, who, as one body, sway, fist-pump, scream, and jump to his will. 'Electric' is a much overused adjective when we talk about atmosphere but whoever first came up with the phrase must have been a rock and roll fan, because every moment of this thrilling, theatrical and full-throttle show was charged with incessant and intense energy.

After a couple of numbers from the band’s latest album, Hail To The King, the fans, which range from teenage to middle age, go berserk. Up in assigned seating, they swarm into the isles and fall over their seats, before attendants very sternly usher them back. But by the time the band launch into an old favourite, the classic cranium crusher ‘Buried Alive,’ everyone’s up again.

There is no doubt about it – Avenged Sevenfold fans are tireless. Several mosh pits form in the sea of bodies below, as sweat drenched shirtless male (and occasionally female) rockers good naturedly pummel each other half to death amid thunderous drums, a torrent of guitar shredding, and guttural growls prophesying eternal damnation, demonic possession, and other sticky situations.

But beneath the splashy lightshow, the dramatic staging and the well-pummeled stadium speakers, lies the real substance that has made Avenged Sevenfold one of the biggest names in metal today.

With an apology, M. Shadows explains to the crowd that they have been forbidden to do their pyrotechnics.

“But,” he screams, “We don’t need pyro! Now let’s fuck shit up Dublin!”

They then proceed to unleash all the fiery enthusiasm, power and unfettered passion that metal ultimately represents – all 'pyro' is forgotten. Add to all this M. Shadows skilful showmanship and the band’s obvious bond with their fans (the ‘family,’ as the frontman calls them), and you have a hugely entertaining set that is essential viewing for hardcore concert lovers.

Fans held aloft an Irish flag painted with Avenged’s symbol, which Shadows collected, wore as a cape, kept to ‘put in his house.’ Ireland, he explained, is special because it was not only the native land of the late James "The Rev" Sullivan (the band’s drummer and founding member who passed away in 2009), but by far the Rev’s favourite place to play. His absent presence was honoured with his last song, ‘Fiction,’ before Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance took the spotlight for some impossibly nimble guitar mastery that caused the attendants upstairs to finally give up all hope of order.

The barrier between stage and crowd seemed to dissolve as articles of clothing (hats, hoodies, and even a bra) were offered up to the performers, who, in return, gave more away than I have ever seen a band give. All the guitar pics, set lists and drumsticks they had were launched into the happy crowd, and each and every one of us packed into Dublin’s O2 left with a grin. Well done Avenged Sevenfold.