Killswitch Engage take over Wembley

Words and Photos by Dave Martin/Faversham Photography

Killswitch Engage are no strangers to the capital, having risen through the different capacity venues on their way to headlining Wembley. I first saw the band on a coheadline tour with Trivium and have seen them several times since including supporting Iron Maiden but on this evening they brought 3 other bands with them on their nine-date tour of the UK.  

Opening the evening was Polish Death Metallers Decapitated. The band has a long history dating back to their inception in 1996 by sole surviving founder, guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka. The band warmed up the crowd with their short but heavy set. Starting early the group delivered a blistering rendition of their tracks to the gig goers that had arrived to the arena early in the evening. The 4 piece were clearly on a missing highlighted when vocalist Eemeli Bodde address those in attendance “We have one job and that is to destroy, but to destroy, you guys need to destroy with us.” Which launch the audience in to mosh pits.

Setlist: 1. Cancer Culture, 2. Just a Cigarette, 3. Earth Scar, 4. Spheres of Madness, 5. Suicidal Space Programme, 6. Iconoclast

Second to the stage were US deathcore band Fit for An Autopsy. The New Jersey group built on the work of Decapitated in building the atmosphere in the arena. In their first ever visit to Wembley the band increased the crowd interaction calling for the circle pits to be bigger. The audience were treated with a mix of old and new material. Guitarist Tim Howley’s animated use of his hair was notable as was vocalist Joe Badolato’s grins showing how much this new experience meant to New Jersey natives.

Setlist: 1. Lower Purpose, 2. It Comes for You, 3. Hostage, 4. Pandora, 5. The Sea of Tragic Beasts, 6. Savior of None/Ashes of All, 7. Far From Heaven

Third up were main support act Hatebread. The stage was set including a large inflatable devil as the backdrop behind drummer Matt Byrne below a flaming band logo on the screen. It didn’t take long for the crowd surfers to start with the audience taking their energy from the band who were constantly in motion around the stage. Vocalist Jamey Jasta had a left versus right battle with the crow during “Destroy Everything. Later in the set a large inflatable black ball “the ball of death” was released on to the crowd which was batted back and forth and the security at the barrier even joined in. Jasta commented “What a great night” and dedicated it to Lou (former guitarist for the band that passed in 2006). “Who is seeing Hatebreed for the first time?” was met with massive cheers before Jasta commented “you are diehard as they come”. As the set drew to a close the band called for one more circle pit and encouraged people to come out of mosh pit retirement. Hatebreed were met with a massive cheer at the end and I am sure that they had increased their fan base after this performance.

Setlist: 1. I Will Be Heard, 2. Make the Demons Obey, 3. To the Threshold, 4. Live for This, 5. Destroy Everything, 6. Empty Promises, 7. Perserverance, 8. As Diehard as They Come, 9. This is Now, 10. Seven Enemies, 11. Driven by Suffering, 12. Looking Down the Barrel of Today  

Finally up were headliners Killswitch Engage. Having first seen the band on their coheadline tour with Trivium 11 years ago, I have been a massive fan ever since and the group are now one of my most seen bands live.  Kicking off with “Strength of the Mind” it didn’t take long for the crowd surfers to begin. The band animated from the start which is to be expected when Adam D is on stage.  Vocalist Jesse Leach commented “Just think a few years ago we were stuck inside and now look at us- all those germs all over you”. Which was met which a mixture of laughing and cheers from the crowd. Killswitch offered their appreciation “We’ve been at this a long time, we’ve been doing it 26 years, we are here because you”. During the whole set there were mosh pits and cheering and there was a particularly huge cheer when the band started “Hate by Design”. There was clapping along to “I believe” before Jesse delivered the message “Don’t let despair bring you down. You are not alone” and the crowd were in full voice from the start of “Arms of Sorrow”. Jesse makes his way down to the barrier and moves along it interacting with fans before the audience sings “In Due Time”. At the end of the song Jesse pays tribute to the other bands on the line up before launching into fan favourite “My Curse”. The crowd participation continued through “End of Heartache” where Jesse conducts the crowd before what was the most random part of the set. The music stopped as Adam practiced his watermelon bowling on stage before final song “My Last Serenade”. Jesse comments “Let’s have a big old happy sing along” before a massive mosh pit opens. The band finish to rapturous applause.

Killswitch will be moving on with the European part of the tour after a brief visit to Orlando.

Setlist: 1. Strength of the Mind, 2. Rose of Sharyn, 3. Reckoning, 4. Aftermath, 5. Numbered Days, 6. This is Absolution, 7. No End in Sight, 8. Broken Glass, 9. Hate by Design, 10. Forever Aligned, 11. The Signal Fire, 12. I believe, 13. The Arms of Sorrow, 14. In Due Time, 15. This Fire, 16. My Curse, 17. The End of Heartache, 18. My Last Serenade