It may only be March, but for one night only, the grey sky was ignited and did indeed burn red.
Marble Factory has a unique ability to pull in the big guns. Bands that are only playing 2 or 3 UK dates regularly find themselves throwing down in the big black square. And so it was to be for the Pennsylvania natives, whose metalcore sound has been responsible for some of the most brutal pits of the last 20 years.
The Grammy-nominated merchants of noise, consisting of Jake Luhrs – lead vocals, John Benjamin “JB” Brubaker – lead guitar, Brent Rambler – rhythm guitar, Matt Greiner – drums, and Dustin Davidson – bass, backing vocals, arrived in Bristol off the back of 2023’s “Death Below” for a night crackling with static charge.
As soon as the stage turned blood red and the silhouettes of the band could be made out from within the swirling smoke, the packed crowd were on it.
With a roar of “Bristol, are you ready? Let’s gooo,” the room exploded, and that kinetic, self-regenerating atmosphere was maintained throughout. Nights like this at Marble are special; the venue creates a tangible vibe with immaculate sound and light that enables a crowd to lose itself.
The set was a blistering compendium of ABR, with 16 songs split across 8 albums. Spanning from 2007’s “Messengers” to last year’s latest offering. Huge pops reserved for “Composure” and “Backfire,” and limbs thrown for the timeless “Marianas Trench” & “Whitewashed.” The crowd moving as one giant mass reminiscent of a zombie horde from our vantage point behind the stage.
If the nights from now seem warmer and lighter, it’s not seasonal fluctuations; it’s the energy left from August Burns Red going supernova in Bristol.
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
