Avenged Sevenfold Turn Qudos Bank Arena Into A Visual Piece Of Art
With Support from Melbourne metalcore band Thornhill and progressive rock titans Coheed and Cambria, Avenged Sevenfold turned Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena Into A Musically, Spectacle And Theatrical Production. What you got was more than just a concert. This was a well put together experience, not only offering an arena full of visuals, but the raw power of Avenged Sevenfold.
Thornhill Came Out Impressing as the audience that was still steadily making their way into Qudos Bank Arena was treated to an impressive performance that showcased why the band are continuing to climb the heavy music ranks in Australia, perfect support for what was to come.
Coheed and Cambria hit the stage for an hour long set that felt like so much more than your typical support act. If you were lucky enough to make it to their last run in Australia with Monolith, you knew exactly what to expect. A masterclass in progressive rock, Claudio Sanchez and crew delivered an incredible performance, effortlessly combining technical proficiency with soaring melodies. Coheed and Cambria’s set built to an epic conclusion, closing out with fan favourite Welcome Home. Opening with the track, Sanchez strode onto the stage wielding his double-neck guitar, eliciting a roar from the crowd and delivering one of the night’s best moments from the support acts.
As you waited for Avenged Sevenfold to take the stage, anticipation inside Qudos Bank Arena was at a fever pitch. When the venue lights finally dropped, thousands of phones were immediately raised into the air. For what felt like five minutes, the arena was a sea of lights, with the glow of countless screens reflecting off the audience while fans eagerly awaited the arrival of Avenged Sevenfold.
From the photo pit, looking back towards the audience while taking pictures, it was a genuinely beautiful scene. Before a single note had been played, the crowd had already become part of the show. The line of lights stretching from floor to floor of the arena created a magical ambiance and perfectly encapsulated the level of anticipation felt for Avenged Sevenfold’s arrival.
With expectation at its highest, the opening notes of Nightmare cut through the arena.
It was instantly apparent that this would be a visually ambitious performance. Transparent stage panels, lit up with incredible light displays, atmospheric smoke and lasers cutting through the darkness and across the arena. It seemed that each song introduced a new layer of visuals, making for a show that was as visually captivating to watch as it was to listen to.
The opening moments of Nightmare delivered one of the night’s best surprise elements. Positioned behind transparent panels, the drummer was obscured from view of much of the arena. The drums thundered throughout, with surrounding audience members commenting that they couldn’t see that there was even a drummer! Standing in the photo pit and having just a slight advantage in position to many around me, the effect was remarkably effective. Perfectly timed, the drum riser pulled all the way into view, revealing the source of the onslaught and eliciting a massive roar from the thousands in attendance.
While the visuals were incredible, they were never allowed to overpower the performance. Each member of Avenged Sevenfold utilised every inch of stage space, constantly moving and ensuring that each section of the arena felt like it was part of the show. From working the front of the stage to interacting with fans along the sides or pulling out onto the wider platforms, each member of the band delivered an incredible amount of energy that never seemed to falter. It felt like an interaction with the audience that was organic rather than rehearsed, helping to create a connection that went beyond the stage.
The audience in Sydney brought their own unique flavour to the evening. Between songs, chants of “SHOEY! SHOEY! SHOEY!” periodically erupted throughout the arena, causing surrounding audience members to laugh. It was a distinctly Australian soundtrack playing alongside a world-class production.
The pacing of the set was equally impressive. After a powerful performance of Gunslinger, M. Shadows stopped to speak with the crowd, joking that the band had only been warming up. Teasing the audience that three heavy songs were to come next. The anticipation inside Qudos Bank Arena was immediate.
The promise was quickly fulfilled.
A devastating run of Hail to the King, Bat Country and Unholy Confessions followed. The energy of the crowd seemed to be pushed higher with each number. Voices echoing throughout the arena as thousands of fans sang along to every word, fists and devil horns in the air. Bat Country in particular generated one of the loudest reactions of the night, with Unholy Confessions providing an appropriate conclusion to a run of songs that reminded everyone why Avenged Sevenfold have remained one of the heavy music world’s best live acts for more than two decades.
It was during this run that you got to see the experience of the band as arena performers. Knowing exactly how to build a performance, balancing spectacle, musicianship and crowd interaction before unleashing some of the band’s biggest songs at just the right time.
When the evening concluded, Avenged Sevenfold had delivered more than just a series of songs. The ingenious stage design, breathtaking visuals, impeccable musicianship and interaction with the audience created an experience that was massive in scale yet surprisingly intimate.
Thornhill impressed. Coheed and Cambria excelled. But it was Avenged Sevenfold who elevated the night to something special.
Long after the lights had come up and the final notes had faded away, memories of a glowing arena, transparent stages, soaring lasers, hidden drummers and a crowd roaring every word of Bat Country lingered. Because for those lucky enough to have been there, it was a reminder of why when Avenged Sevenfold are at their very best, there’s not much that can compare to their pure spectacle.
written & Photos by Daniel Farr – Farski Photography
Avenged Sevenfold
Coheed and Cambria
Thornhill