This ‘Devil’s Night,’ the halls of Wembley’s Ovo Arena were haunted by the likes of Black Veil Brides and Creeper, conjuring a night of ghoulish delight—but it seemed not everyone received the invitation to this dark eve of celebrations…
Words & photos by Felix Bartlett | Oct 31, 2024
Twas the night before Halloween, and as fog began to settle into the night, I headed toward Wembley’s Ovo Arena. There was excitement and a hint of terror in the air—terror, because I wondered if I’d remembered my SD cards; excitement, because tonight we’d be celebrating the darkness. And not alone, but with two of the most fitting acts for this eerie evening: Black Veil Brides and Creeper. Together, they promised a night that would be a true celebration of all things dark and occult.
Ahead of tonight’s show, both Creeper and Black Veil Brides took to social media to announce that none other than Choir Noir would be the opening act. A choir, you ask? Make no mistake—this choir is metal as f**k. No strangers to collaborating with top artists, they’ve performed with Bring Me The Horizon at the Royal Albert Hall and taken on covers like Architects‘ ‘Doomsday’ and Spiritbox‘s ‘Rule of Nines.’ With tonight’s event feeling like an occult gathering among friends, Choir Noir sets the perfect tone for a hauntingly good time, performing their intense renditions of ‘Shadow Moses’ and ‘Doomsday.’ If you get the chance to see these guys in town, don’t miss it—they’re a bloody good time!”
As the night deepens, the lights dim and smoke fills the stage, signalling the arena’s readiness for the first headliner. Judging by tonight’s crowd, it’s hard to tell who’s here for Creeper and who’s here for Black Veil Brides. Naturally, Black Veil Brides have been on the scene much longer than Creeper, but as you glance over the sea of fans—many adorned with makeup and face paint for the occasion—it’s clear the Southampton crew has built a loyal following. Unfortunately, the combined crowd wasn’t quite large enough to fill the arena, with the top deck draped in black to mask the empty seats. *
However, aiming high and falling short of a sell-out at Wembley didn’t make tonight any less of a success. Fans across the arena were screaming their hearts out and singing every word, and the production and stacked setlist made it clear that Creeper was pulling out all the stops to make this a night to remember.
In true Creeper fashion, their set was opened with an announcement (with the speaker carrying none other than frontman Will’s decapitated head), declaring tonight’s ‘devils night show’ was about to begin. Then the room erupted as the band spilled in, blood dripping down each of the bands fangs as they got stuck straight into ‘Further Than Forever‘.
Standing in the photo pit, you can hear the screams of fans behind as they belt out every word to ‘Lovers Led Astray.’ As we dive into this mammoth 18-song set, fans are treated to a career-spanning selection of the band’s best tracks, including an exceptionally well-received live debut of ‘More Than Death,’ an emotionally charged and epic ballad which, judging by the crowd’s reaction, went down an absolute treat. But ultimately the biggest cheer went to the final trio of tracks consiting of ‘Annabelle’, ‘Misery’ and ‘Cry To Heaven’. Throughout the night, the energy for Creeper’s set never dips. Since their formation, the band has evolved into something much more; this is more than just a set—it’s a performance that pulls you into the crimson cult and leaves you thirsty for more.
After Creeper’s stellar performance, I wondered how glam rockers Black Veil Brides could possibly top such a set. Once again, the lights dim, and cheers echo across the arena as smoke billows onto the stage, setting the scene for the entrance of one of rock’s most iconic bands. An instrumental track begins as the band strides onto the stage, confident as ever and ready to put on one hell of a show. Just as the intro fades, flames explode across the stage, and the Cincinnati crew launches straight into ‘Faithless,’ with Andy screaming, ‘Let’s gooo!’
Right off the bat, it’s evident just how talented Black Veil Brides are, with Andy’s vocals sounding spot-on, practically identical to the record—a feat hard to achieve.
Given tonight’s show, I’m left feeling a bit let down by Black Veil Brides’ presentation. With all the excitement and hype around the evening, you’d expect the band to pull out all the stops in terms of costumes or stage setup. However, apart from the pyro and a massive flag adorning the stage, there was little else, and I can’t help but feel they could have done more to mark the occasion. In this department, they ultimately fall flat compared to their co-headliners, Creeper.
Stage presentation aside, Black Veil Brides delivered an undeniably epic set, sure to please any fan in the crowd. Fresh off his solo project, Andy felt right at home, exuding confidence as he swaggered across the stage. Alongside him, guitarists Jinxx and Jake Pitts smiled throughout, looking as though they were having the best time.
As for their setlist tonight, it had it all! Fast thrash riffs, epic anthems, infectious ‘whoah-oh’ choruses, and moments of arm-waving and crowd sing-alongs. There was no doubt that the band would deliver the ultimate live music experience they are known for. Personally, I grew up on BVB’s earliest tracks, so ‘Knives and Pens’ hit the hardest, still resonating with me today and taking me back to my poster-filled bedroom as I flipped through my Kerrang! magazines. However, I surprisingly found their 2011 cover of Billy Idol’s hit ‘Rebel Yell’ hit harder than I remembered, giving the entire crew a chance to flex their talents as they nailed every chord.
Bringing Creeper and Black Veil Brides together feels like a no-brainer, as both are known for their captivating onstage presence and distinctive sounds that create a thrilling experience. It’s interesting to consider why this collaboration hadn’t happened sooner. Together, they embody the spirit of the Horror Punk and Glam Rock genres perfectly, and on the night before Halloween, this show seemed sure to be a sell-out—but ultimately it wasn’t. I wonder if this show would have been more fitting at Hammersmith’s Apollo or the newly opened Bristol Academy.
I can ponder these questions, but ultimately, tonight was about celebrating the music of Black Veil Brides and Creeper, and those fans who turned out certainly did! While I wish more stops had been pulled out to mark the occasion, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend ‘Devil’s Night’ than in the company of these bands.
Black Veil Brides
Creeper
Noir Choir
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