Words and pictures by Phil Ingham
(Insta: @philshootsfromthepit)
It was the gig that almost didn’t happen. Earlier on the day of the gig, the band dropped a post on social media that caused mass anxiety for those lucky enough to have a ticket. After blowing the roof off the Academy in Dublin the previous evening, Bleed from Within and their support acts Disembodied Tyrant and Baest found themselves stranded on the Emerald Isle due to poor weather impacting the ferry crossings. The band appeared genuinely gutted to report the eight-hour delay which, at best, meant the support bands wouldn’t be able to play their sets.
What followed was a race across sea and land so that, at least, the Glaswegian tour de force would be able to make it to the stage.
There was a nervous energy as fans started to fill the O2 Academy. Even venue staff seemed unsure when, or even if, the show would start. Thankfully though, at 9:30pm the lights dimmed and the crowd braced themselves. It was happening!
The reception was rapturous as the five-piece entered the stage, immediately launching into the title track from their 2025 album ‘Zenith’. The band would spend just under half the setlist on this album, and with bangers such as ‘Violent Nature’, ‘A Hope in Hell’, ‘Dying Sun’ and ‘In Place of Your Halo’, it was a good choice.
Not that dipping into their other albums dropped the standard, in any way. The band had promised us some deeper cuts on this tour, and they delivered with ‘Alive’ from 2018’s ‘Era’ album and ‘Leech’ from 2013’s ‘Uprising’. These older tracks, very well received in the Academy, help to show the musical journey the Scots have been on. From growling deathcore-influenced groove to the polished, melodic but still kick-your-face-in brutal metal we see in their recent works, the band have grown impressively.
There were also three songs each from ‘Fracture’ and ‘Shrine’, fan favourites from the albums that potentially have been the catalyst for the band’s current standing.
Frontman Scott Kennedy recognises the band’s progress, commenting that the last time they played the venue they were supporting Trivium – tonight they headline to a crowd at least as big. It’s certain that next time they visit the city, they will need to be looking at bigger venues.
Kennedy is on great form. He prowls the stage, effortlessly hitting screams and growls. Occasionally, he simply takes it all in. He displays the grin of a man genuinely appreciative of being here, not just because of the ferry trip. Not just tonight.
He was ably backed by his incredible band. Steve Jones was faultless on guitar, and on his clean vocals which have helped to shape the evolving sound of the band. His interplay with fellow axeman Craig Gowans was joyous, the two combining to devastating effect. Searing twin-guitar harmonies and colossal groove-laden riffage contributed to a pit that didn’t stop moving all night. Laying the foundations for the assault, bassist Davie Provan and drummer Ali Richardson delivered a rhythm section of immense weight. The production was on point, allowing each band member’s contribution to be clearly showcased, all the more impressive given the hugely reduced set up time the crew had. Kennedy commented between tracks that for a typical gig, the crew would start at 12:30pm for a 9:30pm show. Tonight, they had arrived at the venue at 7:30pm.
A couple of highlights of the evening came when the band invited contributions from the support bands who had missed the chance to perform. Blake Mullens of Disembodied Tyrant joined the band to snarl his way through ‘The End of All We Know’ and Baest’s Simon Olsen impressed as he took the mic during ‘God Complex’. It was a nice touch for both singers and for the crowd, many of whom were genuinely disappointed not to have seen the two bands play their usual sets.
Overall, Bleed from Within bring a hugely heavy, musically tight performance from start to finish. They are a band growing increasingly comfortable with the fact that they are one of the current leading forces in heavy metal. I will next see these sub-headling Bloodstock Festival, to headliners Slaughter to Prevail. I can’t be the only one thinking that line up has these bands the wrong way round.
So, this was the gig that almost didn’t happen. But it did happen, and those in attendance will be forever grateful that it did. An elite show from a band set for even bigger stages.
Setlist:
Zenith
The End of All We Know
Pathfinder
Alive
Violent Nature
A Hope in Hell
Invisible Enemy
Dying Sun
Levitate
Leech
God Complex
A Depth That No One Dares
I Am Damnation
In Place of Your Halo
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