Avenged Sevenfold Rocks UCF Arena

PHOTOS BY JAIME COLON

The “Welcome to the Family” tour stopped by UCF Monday night, bringing heavy rock bands Bullet For my Valentine, Three Days Grace, and Avenged Sevenfold to the UCF Arena.

Bullet for my Valentine, a viewed as a contemporary metal band by many, opened the show and got the crowd pumped with “Waking the Demon” and “Scream, Aim, Fire!” After getting the crowd revved up, they closed with “Alone,” off the band’s most recent album, “Fever,” before introducing Three Days Grace.

Next up was Three Days Grace, an alternative metal/hard rock band originally hailing from Canada, who played an amazing set highlighting hits from throughout their entire career. The set opened with “The Good Life” and “Break,” from the band’s most recent album, “Life Starts Now.” They also played “Pain,” “Never Too Late,” “I Don’t Care,” “Home,” and a hard rock cover of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”

At one point, lead singer Adam Gontier asked the audience for requests– prompting a “Riot” chant from the audience (a song off their “One-X” album). The band closed with “Animal I’ve Become,” during which Gontier roamed the crowd, getting everyone on their feet.

After Three Days Grace, a black curtain was set up, blocking the stage from view so it could be transformed of Avenged Sevenfold. Almost 30 minutes later, when the lights dimmed and the curtain dropped, the crowd got their first glimpse at the visually stunning graveyard-esque stage, complete with metal gates, a haunted house backdrop, heavy fog, and plenty of pyro.

After the curtain dropped, the audience was greeted by a stagehand falling from the catwalk, with a noose around his neck, as part of the show. The band then came out, opening with “Nightmare,” which their most recent album was titled after. The band then performed hits ranging from earlier in their career, such as “Bat Country,” and “Almost Easy,” to newer songs, such as “Welcome to the Family.”

Avenged Sevenfold keep the crowd energized and at a fever pitch all night, making for a great show.

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