Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine wrapped up their The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour Sunday night (5/18) at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater. Both bands were celebrating the 20th anniversary of those iconic albums by performing them in their entirety. A strong turnout and near-capacity crowd brought steady energy throughout the evening.

Bleed From Within opened the show with a solid set, coming off the release of their new album Zenith. They set the tone early with a tight performance.

August Burns Red, having this past year released Thrill Seeker:20th Anniversary Edition, followed, keeping the momentum going with a dynamic set that had the crowd engaged and ready for what was ahead.

As the lights dimmed and the screens played the intro video, Bullet for My Valentine took the stage performing The Poison (20th anniversary edition) in its entirety, plus a few other tracks, giving fans a nostalgic look back at one of their most iconic records.

Trivium closed out the night with a strong performance of their iconic 2005 album Ascendancy and a couple of other tracks reminding everyone (as if anyone needed reminding!) why they’ve remained a staple in the metal scene.

It was a fitting end to the tour, with Raleigh providing a warm and energetic send-off. All bands expressed their love and gratitude to the Oak City fans and hinted at returning in the future.

Review & photos by I’m Music Magazine Photographer/Writer Dave Tesh