Live Review: Arch Enemy – O2 Apollo, Manchester
31st October 2025
Support: Eluveitie, Gatecreeper, Amorphis
Words: Oli Gonzalez
Photos: Tom Atkin
It’s 10:43pm inside the Manchester Apollo. Oversized balloons are descending from the ceiling. Crowd surfers are charging towards the stage like torpedoes and with little regard for their own safety. The final few notes of Arch Enemy’s finest song ‘Nemesis’ are ringing around the concert hall. Rather than hitting the town in ghoulish fancy dress garments or simply staying at home with a scary movie, this is how many have chosen to spend their Halloween night, and wouldn’t have it any other way. A stacked undercard mixed with hungry youth and seasoned veterans, spearheaded by Sweden’s Arch Enemy. The band were riding a huge wave of momentum following the release of “Blood Dynasty” and were laying siege to Europe on this touring cycle. This is a recount of the events of this particular stage in this siege, the Manchester stage, that lead to this crushing climax of an evening.
After laying waste to the Bowlers Exhibition Centre almost exactly a year prior at Damnation Festival on the other side of the city centre, the young up and coming modern death metallers Gatecreeper faced a much tougher prospect tonight. Early 5.30pm doors meant that many were still shuffling after their set had begun. Still, the band were persistent with their concoction of bruising riffs seasoned with a surprisingly aesthetic dose of melody, many of which were taken from 2024’s “Dark Superstitions” album. Frontman Chase Mason was equally persistent, no, demanding of the crowd’s engagement. This began with simple encouragement to raise arms in the air, and waving from side to side. Demands for a circle pit seemed like a step too far. This could have been awkward. Though this momentum grew and the persistence paid off, resulting our first circle pit pf the evening during ‘Flamethrower’. One of the tougher crowds to crack but Gatecreeper certainly ensured they left with their reputation intact tonight.
"We’re gonna need a bigger stage"
A thought that may have entered many a people’s mind as all eight members of Eluveitie took their place on the stage. With their folk metal stylings, they may have been the odd band out for this reason. All the more reasons why they shone so bright though, as they represented a clear step up in quality and powerful injection of energy! Blending the aforementioned folk elements provided by traditional flutes, pipes, violins, and a hurdy-gurdy with more familiar metal drums, bass, and guitar resulted in an utterly complex task for the sound engineers! A mix that could easily be derailed and becoming audio garbage with one false move on the desk.
Though the bone crunching distorted guitars and thunderous low end of the rhythm sections juxtaposed elegantly with enchanting melodies that captured the essence of the Swiss Alps from which the band originate. Despite lineup changes over the years, more recent tracks were seamlessly blended with classics such as ‘Inis Mona’, ‘Call Of The Mountain’ and ‘A Rose For Epona’, momentarily turning the Apollo into a drunken medieval tavern as hundreds sang along. A mosh pit erupting towards the end was unexpected, but then again, a set of this quality wasn’t expected either.
The Finnish melo-death metallers Amorphis were tasked with following up Eluveitie’s spectacular set. No easy feat. They would have to lean on thirty plus years of experience to do so. They would also have to lean on the momentum of latest album “Borderland” which had dropped a few weeks prior. No problem! Their set opened with the crushing opening riff to ‘Bones’, before progressing to its anthemic chorus. A wonderful dichotomy of punishingly heavy and the scorching melodies lead by keys player Santeri, which has ensured the band’s continued success over the years. Vocalist Tommi seemed to have found the fountain of youth, with his voice showing no signs of wear and tear despite decades of road miles, switching from demonic growls to soaring cleans effortlessly.
“You don't know!
You don't know nothing yet!”
Now feeling more lubricated and warmed up, the Manchester crowd were ready for a good old sing along with arguably the band’s most celebrated number, ‘House Of Sleep’ and it’s infectious chorus. I glanced to my left where my brother and gig partner for the evening was dancing along and singing his heart out! Nothing else mattered in this moment other than enjoying the performance from his favourite band. Other hits such as ‘Silver Bride’ and ‘The Bee’ ensured a similar unification of voices in what was a short powerful fifty minute reminder of why Amorphis are revered for their captivating live shows.
The lights went down, and the late great Ozzy Osbourne’s hit ‘Bark At The Moon’ rang out over the PA. The stage was blocked from our gazing eyes by a huge banner etched with the simple yet forceful words of ‘Pure Fucking Metal’. Those lurking from the back had made their way towards the front now. Along with seas of Arch Enemy merch, it was clear who people had paid their hard earned money to see. Eventually, the banner dropped and so did the sonic hammer with a blistering assault on the senses! No glitz nor glamour, just straight up in your face heavy metal in the form of opening track ‘Deceiver, Deceiver’. Vocalist Alissa was dressed for the occasion in glow in the dark skeleton face paint (the rest of the band didn’t seem to get the memo though). Though she was more than ready for it, with her voice fierce and presence commanding behind the mic. Those behind the sound desk earned their wages that night as the whole band sounded phenomenal! The stunning and elaborated light show was indicative of a band who leave no stone unturned with the details, and with production values like this, they had more than earned their reputation as a headline calibre band.
‘The Eagle Flies Alone’ represented an earlier highlight in the set with it’s instantly recognisable crunching guitar riff and chorus. At this point, we saw our first crowd surfers of the evening, whilst the pits continued to churn up any bodies willing to sacrifice themselves to it. The pits only increased in intensity once Alissa screamed ‘Welcome to the apocalypse’, signalling the beginning of ‘Sunet Over The Empire.’
Not long after, it was time for a game of ‘sing along with Michael’s guitar’. Quite simple really; the band’s lead guitarist plays a riff and we had to sing along to the tune. A nice bit of respite from the chaos and a jolt of energy for a tiring crowd. It was getting late after all. It was near the end of the set. They had to play it. Surely. Then it came. The iconic opening guitar riff. Then the eminent chorus:
‘One for all
All for one
We are strong
We are one’
Alissa lead but the crowd need little prompting in joining in! Oversized balloons descended from the ceiling. Crowd surfers were charging towards the stage like torpedoes and with little regard for their own safety. The final few notes of Arch Enemy’s finest song ‘Nemesis’ were ringing around the concert hall. Rather than hitting the town in ghoulish fancy dress garments or simply staying at home with a scary movie, this is how many had chosen to spend their Halloween night, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Photo Credit: Tom Atkin
Be the first to comment