The “Poisoned Ascendancy” tour rolled through Mystic Lake Casino on Friday night, and for a lot of us in the crowd—dudes who wore out these albums in high school or college, it felt like a reunion with the bands that shaped a chapter of our lives. Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine are celebrating 20 years since “Ascendancy” and “The Poison” dropped. That’s two cornerstone records in metalcore history. August Burns Red joined them as main support, and all three bands showed they’re not just still around—they’re still relevant and firing on all cylinders.
August Burns Red opened with a tight, no-nonsense set. They didn’t play an old album front to back, but they still gave us a solid mix of early favorites. “Composure,” “Marianas Trench,” and “White Washed” got the biggest reactions, although hearing newer songs like “Vengeance” and “Exhumed” is always a treat. Jake Luhrs sounded as strong as ever, and the band’s rhythm section was locked in. I never get tired of watching Matt Greiner behind the kit. Their stage presence was intense, and the guitar work was perfect. If you’ve seen ABR before, you know they always bring it full throttle. This set was no different. I only wish they could’ve played longer.
Bullet for My Valentine took the stage to play The Poison in full. That album dropped in 2005, but hearing it live now didn’t feel dated—it felt earned. The crowd sang every word of “Tears Don’t Fall,” and you could feel the weight of 20 years in those lyrics. Songs like “Her Voice Resides,” “Room 409,” and “4 Words (To Choke Upon)” hit hard. Matt Tuck’s voice held up throughout the set, and Padge’s solos were just as clean and catchy as they were two decades ago. You could tell the band was enjoying the chance to revisit these songs, and it was cool to see so many fans who were probably in their teens when the album came out still shouting every word.
Trivium closed the night with Ascendancy, front to back. That album helped define a new wave of American metal back in 2005, and hearing it live today reminded us why. “Rain” opened the set, and from there it was a steady climb. “A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation” and “Dying in Your Arms” stood out, but honestly, the whole thing held up. Matt Heafy was in full control of the stage, talking to the crowd, getting hands in the air, and leading the band through a set that felt tight but not robotic. The musicianship in Trivium is no joke, and it showed in every riff and transition. They closed their encore set with “In Waves.”
This show wasn’t about gimmicks or production—it was about real music. It was about remembering where we were when these incredible metalcore albums first hit. It was about seeing that these three bands still care about the stuff that made us care in the first place. If you grew up with The Poison or Ascendancy in the CD player of your Ford Focus, this tour hits right in the chest. And if your neck doesn’t hurt a little today, you probably weren’t there.
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