Gig Review : Five Finger Death Punch Special Guests: Ice Nine Kills & MalevolenceOVO Arena Wembley London

Review and Photography by Manuela Langotsch

Seeing 3 bands in one night is never a bad thing and having travelled to London’s OVO Wembley Arena, I found myself in that situation. I’ve been looking forward to photographing this line up for a while now and couldn’t wait to get in the photo pit.

The evening started with the first of two special guests, Sheffield based Metalcore band ‘Malevolence’. Formed in 2010, they jumped on stage and got the crowd warmed up in no time. The mosh pit was in full swing (or shall I say twirl) and security staff had their work cut out, when frontman Alex Taylor invited audience members to crowdsurf. Well they didn’t need telling twice.

Taylor repeatedly mentioned how grateful they were for this once in a lifetime opportunity to play at Wembley. The set list, featuring material from their 2nd studio album ‘Self Supremacy’ (2017) and their latest album ‘Malicious intent’ (2022), proved quite popular with the crowd.

The band is heavily influenced by American Heavy Metal from the deep southern states of Texas and New Orleans and groups like Pantera, Down and Crowbar. At times you could even hear a tiny little bit of Blues coming through. No doubt this won’t be the last we hear from them.

After a short break with stage and backdrop being changed, everyone was ready for Boston’s finest, Horror Heavy Metal band ‘Ice Nine Kills’. For those who have never witnessed their stage show (me!), are big horror movie fans (me!), love theatrical performances (me!) and who just can’t get enough of seeing artists who combine all that with their music (me!), well what can I say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this before.

If your favourite author is Stephen King (me again!), then you will love this band. Best known for their horror-inspired lyrics, INK (Ice Nine Kills) formed in its earliest incarnation in 2000 and have since gone through quite a few line up changes, with singer Spencer Charnas the only remaining founding member. Their musical style started as ska-punk influenced by alternative rock, ska and pop punk, but they have since shifted into a style which has been described as metalcore, symphonic death metal and horror punk to name a few. I guess they don’t want to be put in just one box.

The five guys from Massachusetts were all dressed in suits with ties or bow ties and you could be mistaken for thinking they just arrived after a hard day’s work at a bank but as soon as the first note was coming out of the speakers, it was clear that this is no barbershop quintet. If you are easily scared, look away now! There was Hannibal Lecter in full mask and straight jacket, a man getting beheaded, a female getting stabbed in the shower and so much more. These guys must have Alfred Hitchcock himself as their tour manager. And it’s no wonder that they won Best Live Act at last year’s Rock Sound Awards. I am not surprised at all.

Since their beginnings 24 years ago, they’ve released 6 studio albums and 2 Live Albums. The majority of the set list reads songs from their latest album (2021) ‘The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood’ and ‘The Silver Scream’ (2018), the former being the follow up and sequel to the latter.

Being musicians and also being part of a Horror stage show, must bring all sorts of challenges, but these guys make it look so easy. Frontman Spencer Charnas’ vocal range is quite impressive, he is able to do high, low and mid range notes with the occasional scream. Charnas has mentioned in the past that ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Les Miserables’ are his two favourite musicals and had a huge impact on him as a kid. You can definitely see that these influences reflect their on-stage shenanigans.

I certainly can’t wait to see them live again and see what else they scare us with.

The mighty ‘Five Finger Death Punch’ doesn’t need any introduction. Having been around for nearly 20 years, this American heavy metal band from Las Vegas have released no less than 9 studio albums, one live album and two compilation albums.

Having sold out Wembley Arena (their only UK show on this tour), they stormed the stage, delivering a performance that was as electrifying as it was unforgettable. With their signature blend of hard hitting riffs, powerhouse vocals and a stage presence that commands attention, 5FDP once again proved why they are a dominant force in the metal scene.

Opening with the explosive ‘Welcome to the Circus’ they set the tone for an evening that would be relentless in its intensity. The set list was a well-curated mix of their biggest hits and new tracks, including fan favourites like ‘Wash it all away’, ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ and ‘The Bleeding’. Each song was met with thunderous applause and fervent sing-alongs, highlighting the deep connection between the band and their fans.

Frontman Ivan Moody’s performance was nothing short of stellar. His vocal range and emotional delivery were on full display, captivating the audience with every scream and melody. Moody’s interaction with the crowd was genuine and engaging, often pausing to share anecdotes (both Moody & guitarist Andy James sporting black eyes!) and express his gratitude for the unwavering support from their fanbase.

The band had to cancel most of last year’s European shows (support act for Metallica) due to Moody’s hernia surgery and it was clear he was immensely appreciative for being back on stage. He rewarded the audience with an acapella version of Oasis’ ‘Champagne Supernova’, a song for which nobody in the room needed a lyric sheet. Moody seemed quite taken back by the crowd’s singing and confessed that he is only able to do this song and get this kind of reception in the UK.

He followed this with further acapella versions of ‘Remember Everything’ and ‘Far from home’ where you could really hear his remarkable and husky bluesy vocal range. This was fantastic to witness.

Another surprise was the live debut of The Animals’ hit ‘House of the Rising Sun’, a song that was only ever played on tape. Changing the lyrics (for one night only) from ‘New Orleans’ to ‘London Town’ was a nice touch. They obviously wanted to put their own heavy metal spin on it, but I for one would have loved to hear Moody sing it in the original tempo. I am sure it would have also sounded quite amazing.

The rest of the band was equally impressive. Guitarists Zoltan Bathory and new addition (2020) Londoner Andy James shredded through complex solos and heavy riffs with precision, while bassist Chris Kael laid down thunderous bass lines that shook the venue. Drummer Charlie Engen’s relentless drumming provided the backbone for the band’s powerful sound, driving each song forward with an infectious energy.

The stage production was a spectacle in itself: With intricate light shows that complemented the music perfectly, the visual elements added an extra layer of excitement to the performance. The synchronisation between music and the visuals created an immersive experience that kept the audience’s eyes glued to the stage.

The crowd’s energy was palpable from start to finish. Fans of all ages, some sporting 5FDP merchandise and others with freshly inked tattoos of the band’s logo, moshed, headbanged, and sang along with every word. Surfing the crowd to the front was a must for some and one lucky fan even got offered some water by Moody who was also quite happy to pose for a photo with him.

The night concluded with an encore that included ‘Under and Over It’ and the anthemic ‘The Bleeding’. Five Finger Death Punch’s concert was a masterclass in live performance. Their ability to blend raw power with emotional depth, coupled with outstanding stage production, made for a truly magnificent night. As the final notes reverberated through the venue, the band took a moment to soak in the adoration from the crowd, promising to return soon.

Set List – Malevolence

1. Malicious Intent
2. Life Sentence
3. Still Waters Run Deep
4. Self Supremacy
5. Higher Place
6. Keep Your Distance
7. On Broken Glass

Set List – Ice Nine Kills

1. Red Right Hand (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover – played from tape)
2. Hip To Be Scared
3. Rainy Day
4. Meat & Greet
5. Ex-Mortis
6. SAVAGES
7. Funeral Derangements
8. The Shower Scene
9. A Grave Mistake
10. The American Nightmare
    Encore:
11. Opening Night…. (played from tape)
12. Welcome To Horrorwood

Set List – Five Finger Death Punch

1. Welcome To The Circus
2. Lift Me Up
3. Trouble
4. Wash It All Away
5. Jekyll And Hyde
6. Sham Pain
7. House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals cover)
8. Salvation
9. Champagne Supernova (Oasis cover)
10. Remember Everything (Acapella, first verse & chorus only)
11. Far From Home (Acapella)
12. Wrong Side Of Heaven
13. Got Your Six
14. IOU
15. Coming Down
16. F8 (played from tape)
17. Inside Out
18. Under And Over It
19. The Bleeding