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Bullet For My Valentine / A night of nostalgia and emotional hits

Here we go, Swansea Arena! Thousands of Metal heads on pins, queuing up, snaking out over the Red Bridge, dying to get in for this special night with ‘Mar 10 – Bullet For My Valentine’ lit up enormously on the building for all to see. This huge BFMV seven-week European tour is now coming to an end, with a lineup including Atreyu and Jinjer not to be missed!

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Bullet For My Valentine

Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023

Words: Jade Colvin

Photography: Georgia Brittain

What an absolute screamer of a gig it’s been so far, but Bullet For My Valentine is what we’ve all been waiting for. Back on Welsh soil, back home to South Wales, where they formed in 1998 (under Jeff Killed John). All those years ago. I know, millennials, it has been that long. Time has flown, but as you know, they’ve created and achieved so much.

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Swansea arena was absolutely packed out by now, with a mixture of age groups showing the BFMV pull over the years with new and lasting fans.

They absolutely weren’t kidding when they said this tour was “going to be carnage” because the first song, Knives, opened up pits everywhere, in front of us, behind, and to the side. It was wild! Not that they needed to encourage us anymore, but Matt shouted, “are you ready to fucking party?”

Hella Rock Festival

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

The setlist they gave us was a tour of their career, songs plucked from each of their incredible albums, hit after hit! Goosebumps ran down our arms with some of those incredible screams Matt drew out. There was so much love in this room for them. From the front to the back of the room, horns could be seen raised up high. Playing hits such as Hearts Burst Into Fire (chosen online by you), Scream Aim Fire, and Your Betrayal, and slowing it down with just Matt and his guitar at first for an emotional thank you.

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Next year they celebrate their 20th anniversary as BFMV. “If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be here. This one’s for you.” Tears Don’t Fall was slowed down beautifully for us to sing along with him from our hearts before kicking in for the full version!

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

They finished on a high with Waking The Demon and a sick drum solo from Jason with an epic light show.

What a mind-blowing performance, a night of nostalgia. It’s easy to see why BFMV are regarded as one of the biggest British Heavy Metal bands and why they’ve previously been named ‘best live band’.

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

If your neck wasn’t hurting the next day, I don’t believe that you were there!

The Jinjer and Atreyu report can be read here.

Bullet For My Valentine - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023
Bullet For My Valentine – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

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