Review: Bullet for My Valentine, While She Sleeps, Coldrain, Ipswich Corn Exchange, October 22

Heavy metal gigs in Ipswich are something of a rarity, so the arrival of Welsh melodic rockers Bullet for My Valentine was treated like an occasion.

More used to headlining Wembley Arena than the unassuming Corn Exchange, the packed out crowd lapped up every minute of Bullet’s 90 minute set.

Gamely warmed up by Coldrain, who had made the journey all the way from Japan, and rising stars While She Sleeps, the sell out audience welcomed the band like returning heroes, despite the four-piece never having played in Ipswich before.

Combining fan favourites such as 4 Words to Choke Upon and Scream Aim Fire with new material from latest album Venom, it was non-stop barrage of fist-pumping riffs and soaring choruses.

Rousing renditions of The Poison and Waking the Demon remind you of why it was the band struck it big in the first place, while Venom looks set to be a stalwart of their setlist.

Closing the main set with the raucous one-two punch of Tears Don’t Fall and Hand of Blood, frontman Matt Tuck, guitarist Padge, drummer Michael Thomas and bassist Jamie Mathias were clearly humbled by the reception, closing their UK tour in style.

The night was let down slightly by a lack of volume for Tuck’s vocals, which was never really addressed for the whole gig, but new addition Mathias has clearly slipped in seamlessly into the Bullet fold.

It’s gigs like this that highlight just how much of an audience hard rock and heavy metal has in Ipswich – here’s hoping Bullet return in the near future.