Words and photos by Nestor Selgado
Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine join forces during “The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour,” in celebration of 20 years of Ascendancy and The Poisoned. The metal legends were joined by August Burns Red and Sylosis during the Seattle stop of the tour on April 1, 2025. It was the first U.S. stop of the tour.
Upon entering The Paramount Theater, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the 97-year-old historic building. The theatre gave a classical look while being ornamented with heavy Renaissance inspiration. Little did I know that that would contrast extremely well with the overall stage design from each band. During the show, I was most intrigued by the stage design for Trivium’s set. The giant inflatable Monte head from the Ascendancy cover was rocking back and forth throughout the set, while Alex Bent’s drum kit was surrounded by a gothic-style gate, creating a wicked appearance. The hard work that was put into creating the stage design paid off.
Most songs from Trivium’s Ascendancy were brand new to me as I’m a fairly new listener, but the few songs I did recognize were stellar. Songs like “Suffocating Sight” sounded like an enraged train wreck headed right to you. The most memorable part of the night for me was the crowd surfing during “Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr.” I found it extremely refreshing to see everyone blowing off steam while rocking out.
I’m a relatively new Trivium listener, only discovering them during the pandemic. Songs like “Bleed Into Me,” “Heart From Your Hate,” and “Until The World Goes Cold” were staples in my workout playlist at the time. Now, it’s great to see a live performance from the band that had been part of the soundtrack of my life during a crazy period in time. I recommend going to a Trivium show; you might find a new banger to add to your playlist.
As for Bullet For My Valentine, I was pleasantly surprised to witness their set. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t super familiar with their work, but I turned into a fan of BFMV. Songs like “Hit The Floor” and “Poisoned” stood out to me as well-written and greatly performed. The most recognizable song was the track “Tears Don’t Fall,” which is a classic 2000s rock hit.
Matthew Tuck is an Enigma in the metalcore scene, and after watching them live, it’s easy to understand why they’ve retained their fans for over 25 years. I found so many cool new songs to add to my music library, and I cannot wait for them to return to the Pacific Northwest. If Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine make a stop in your city, do yourself a favour and purchase that ticket. You won’t be disappointed.
