Killswitch Engage, Hatebreed, Fit For An Autopsy, Decapitated – Leeds O2 Academy – Monday 13th October

Right in the middle of the annual flurry of autumn tours, this varied, but consistently heavyweight, package rolled into Leeds. It is a testament to the calibre of the package that well before the doors opened there was a big queue outside the venue and the cavernous Leeds O2 Academy was nicely full in time for Polish technical death metal stalwarts Decapitated.

DECAPITATED

Opening with From the Nothingness With Love, the band wasted no time, going straight for the jugular to the approval of the ever growing crowd. Over half of their short set was drawn from the most recent album Cancer Culture which, although completely understandable, is a little disappointing given their sizeable and impressive back catalogue, especially when older track Spheres Of Madness got such a rapturous reception. Their time flew by but they didn’t waste a second of it, giving a masterclass in technical, groove orientated, death metal stirring up a decent size pit and warming up the crowd for what was to follow, showing why they are considered to be one of the leading technical death metal bands out there. 

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY

More brutality followed courtesy of New Jersey’s purveyors of deathcore, Fit For An Autopsy. I had been very impressed with these at a festival a few months ago and so was looking forward to this set, perhaps more than any other on the bill. As with Decapitated, the set was short and focussed on the most recent three albums with harsh growls and guttural roars rubbing shoulders with clean vocals and catchy melodies and brought up a step up in intensity and density of sound.

The crowd wasted no time getting to work and showing their appreciation with a lively pit as the set gathered momentum. Mid set highlights included Hostage and Pandora but for me the highlight was an epic rendition of Far From Heaven which brought the set to a close. This was a no nonsense bludgeoning and yet had a refined finesse which stands the band apart from many of their peers. 

HATEBREED

There was a change in style, but no let up in intensity, as Hatebreed unleashed their madness upon the packed crowd, with opening track I Will Be Heard triggering one of the biggest pits of the night. Effortlessly straddling the line between metal and hardcore the energy from the stage was unmatched as Jamey Jasta and co. bounced around the stage orchestrating the chaos unfolding in front of to them.

Destroy Everything was particularly vicious taking things to a new level and the energy was infectious as the band and crowd seemed to feed off each other with things spiralling with each track until the set was brought to a close with Looking Down The Barrel Of Today leaving the band to take the obligatory photo with the crowd before leaving the stage, with band and crowd grinning from ear to ear. 

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

A lot of bands would struggle to follow that, but Killswitch Engage are consummate professionals with 26 years experience under their belts, and immediately had the fervent crowd eating out of the collective palm of their hand as their melodic metal core rumbled around the packed Academy building.

Strength Of TheMind and Rose Of Sharyn got things going with the crowd loudly singing back every word as Jesse Leach (vocals) prowled the front of the stage before diving into the crowd midway through the second track.

Adam (guitars) was the perpetual court jester, playfully bouncing around the stage, engaging with the front rows and pulling as many cliched poses as possible, but this is part of the band’s DNA and works well. Jesse’s soaring vocals gave an additional dimension to their sound, effortlessly switching from harsh, aggressive vocals to a more emotive tone. The crowd loved every second, boisterously bouncing around, having the time of their lives until things were brought to a close with a pulsating My Last Serenade and perhaps the biggest sing along of the night including Jesse standing on the barrier letting the crowd sing sections of the chorus.

A NIGHT OF TRIUMPHS

This had been a triumphant night of metal, straddling genre labels and indeed generations, with the packed crowd lapping it all up, culminating in a triumphant set by Killswitch Engage showing why 26 years into their career they remain as relevant as ever.

All photography by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of Andy’s work on shot_in_the_dark_photography2 on Instagram.

Killswitch Engage online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Youtube

Hatebreed online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Youtube

Fit For An Autopsy online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Youtube

Decapitated online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Youtube

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