Trivium kicked of their Sin and the Sentence tour with Avatar and Light the Torch. Their third stop on the tour was in Raleigh, NC at The Ritz. The venue was packed with excited metal fans as young as 2.
Light the Torch was first to open, and they hit the stage like animals on their instruments, and their lights strobes added to the wild energy they brought. Former Killswitch Engage member, Howard Jones had an amazing stage presence as he was all over the stage and interacting with the crowd through their set.
Avatar was next on stage in one of the most entertaining metal performances I’ve seen. With their harlequin-style makeup, and Joker mannerisms it was hard to peel your eyes off the stage as lead singer, Johannes Eckerström, was both creepy and charming. Their whole set was set up like a storytime, and Johannes was the ringleader in the circus of it as he regaled the audience in captivating quips between songs. Less than two songs into their set, crown surfers came in waves for the rest of the night. Halfway through their set, millions of bubbles were blowing through the venue, adding another layer of enchantment to their set. That night, fans were united as freaks with “Avatar World” and “Smells like a Freakshow.”
The lights dimmed, and “Run to the Hills” played in the darkness. Anticipation was building with fans, and as soon as Trivium hit the stage, everyone in the venue began screaming. Throughout their set, Matt Heafy had his signature expressions between lyrics with his tongue out, and war face. They interacted with the crowd all night, getting every person in the venue to jump, headbang, and get in the crowded circle pit. Fans even started climbing the rafters, 20 feet in the air when Matt had to tell them not to jump in between lyrics. Trivium made sure every fan in the venue was as much a part of the show as they were. After nearly 2 hours of metal, and 3 encore songs, they gave the humblest of goodbyes to the fans, thanking them for supporting the bands, and did a classic curtain call before exiting the stage for the night.
The Sin and the Sentence tour has dates until November 3rd. Follow either band’s social media for dates and locations.
Trivium Setlist:
Betrayer
Throes
Beyond Oblivion
Hell Mouth
Suffocating Silent
Sever the Hand
World Goes Cold
He Who Spawned
Wretchedness Inside
Gunshot
Sin and the Sentence
Heart from your Hate
Down from the Sky
Strife
Pull Harder
In Waves
