DEVIL'S NIGHT FEATURING… CREEPER & BLACK VEIL BRIDES // OVO WEMBLEY ARENA, LONDON

DEVIL’S NIGHT COMES TO LONDON’S OVO WEMBLEY ARENA WITH PERFORMANCES FROM CREEPER & BLACK VEIL BRIDES

★★★★★ (5/5)

On the eve of Halloween night in London, the OVO Arena Wembley was transformed into a dark cathedral for the eagerly anticipated Devil’s Night, a one-off special co-headliner show of the theatrical horror-punk band Creeper and the glam rock Black Veil Brides. As a fan of both bands, I was also one of the people who descended to the venue early enough to catch the unforgettable spectacle, which was met with another surprise.

The atmosphere was buzzing from the early evening, as Choir Noir set the stage. Greeted by an ensemble of people who are an actual choir, Choir Noir put their own gothic spin and interpretation to classic rock anthems. They instantly captured the audience’s attention, with the harmonic voices and the conductor dressed in a long, black robe, with a dramatic resemblance to Bellatrix Lestrange that felt perfectly suited for the event. Choir Noir started off their singing with the rock favourite rendition of ‘Shadow Moses’ by Bring Me The Horizon, delivering a grand performance with a haunting choral arrangement. It felt like the choir had actually cast a dark spell over the audience, heightening anticipation for the chaos that was brewing.

With a creepy but theatrical introduction led by a girl (Darcia) holding a chopped off head, the gothic spectacle delivered by Creeper was like nothing else. Roaring cheers greeted the band as they came on stage – which was designed like a cathedral – the English band started off with a bang. In black attire and graphic makeup, along with blood dripping from their mouths, the members of Creeper were quick in catching the audience and having everyone sing along. Frontman and singer Will Gould led the show with his extravagant stage presence, his haunting vocals and an energy that was surprising for a band who has – surprisingly – not performed at an arena of this velocity before. The band’s dark aesthetic and edgy look, along with the ability of the members to create an immersive gothic experience during the performance was evident from the start of the 90-minute long set.

Creeper performed a curated setlist of their older and newer songs, treating the crowd to songs that they have not played for a long time. Starting off with the more dynamic pieces such as ‘Sacred Blasphemy’ and ‘Be My End’, the band was surprised positively by the crowd roaring back the lyrics of the songs. From the first chord to their final bow, the arena felt alive with fans singing along to every single word, often acapella as the band was left speechless at the response. Very reminiscent to Queen’s crowd control, Creeper kept the crowd engaged with stories and banter. As the setlist moved on, the band’s theatricality went up a notch as dancers also joined the stage to amplify the gothic experience.

The set included pyro, a powerful drum solo, ‘Crickets’ and ‘Ghosts over Calvary’ performed by Hannah, whose enchanting presence captivated the audience. It was however during the song ‘Misery’ that the crowd reached an emotional peak. As Will’s vocals softened, he let the audience take over the chorus. Wembley became a sea of raised hands and phone lights as the audience became part of Creeper’s show and sang back the whole chorus like a church choir. The band was visibly moved as Will told the audience that it was ‘a moment they would never forget as a band’. It was a great heartfelt moment between Creeper and the audience, as it felt like witnessing the years of dedication the band has poured to create a loyal fanbase, which had finally paid off. Creeper did not however finish there; their set went on to include the live debut of ‘More Than Death’, closing off with ‘Cry to Heaven’. It was an amazing experience to witness the band finally perform in a big venue and to have such a great connection with their audience.

For Black Veil Brides fans like myself, having followed the band since their Warped Tour days, tonight was a pinnacle. The anticipation for Black Veil Brides was evident as soon as Creeper exited the stage. When the band came on stage and took over with an intro from Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd followed by ‘Faithless’, the whole arena erupted, every fan singing along with the fervour of someone who had waited years for this moment. Considering that the band did their headline tour in the UK not even a year ago, OVO was a big upgrade to accommodate the size of the crowd. Andy Biersack, a frontman like none other, moved like a master showman, commanding the audience straight away.

The setlist of the band was a true fan’s dream, containing tracks that spanned the band’s entire career, some of which have not been performed live for 10 years. The band performed ‘Bleeders’, their newest single, followed by ‘Wake Up’, ‘Blackbird’, ‘New Religion’ which they had not played live since 2013, ‘Scarlet Cross’ and ‘Rebel Love Song’. It was a set infused with incredible showmanship reminiscent of Kiss and Motley Crew – as it should – nostalgia from the early days of the band and excitement about the career that the band has created over the years. The energy of the fans was unmatched, especially when the top Black Veil Brides hits were performed, while the crowd cheered endlessly every time Andy delivered a story behind the songs’ lyrics. Considering this was the band’s biggest show yet, the special setlist was not the only treat.

One of the most emotional highlights was the performance of ‘When They Call My Name’, a song that Andy has written for his wife Lilith Czar (previously Juliet Simms), only to be joined on stage by her for ‘Lost It All’. The combination of her powerful, gritty voice, along with Andy’s as well as Jinxx’s violin made for a soul stirring performance that resonated deeply with the fans. Another great moment was when Andy asked the audience whether they knew the ‘older’ songs, only to be greeted with high cheers for ‘Knives and Pens’ and ‘Perfect Weapon’, with people citing back every single lyric. The night closed with a raucous encore, with the band’s most loved songs now being sang out loud. ‘Fallen Angels’ and ‘In The End’ echoed in the arena and it felt like the band had just delivered their most monumental performance to date. It felt like a victory for a band that has fought very hard to reach this pinnacle and keep rock n roll alive.

Devil’s Night was not just a simple Halloween concert but a testament to what happens when music and fanbases create a powerful and passionate synergy. It was definitely a most-suited gig to attend on a night like tonight.

REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI

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