Avenged Sevenfold Welcomes UBS Arena to the Family
UBS Arena was in complete darkness. Then Kavinsky’s “Nightcall” began to play.
Across the 19,000-person room, fans began flashing their phone lights in quick succession. One by one, more lights appeared until the entire venue was filled with tiny shimmers in the darkness. From the floor to the highest seats, the crowd turned UBS into a sea of stars as they waited for Avenged Sevenfold to take the stage. It was a special tradition started by fans to welcome the band, and seeing the entire arena take part gave the anticipation a beautiful, striking visual.
As “Nightcall” faded, smoke began filling the stage while lasers cut through the darkness. Then the opening notes of “Nightmare” began, slow and ominous as the stage slowly came to life. Brooks Wackerman appeared inside a cage behind the stage before being slowly lifted 12 feet into the air on the risers as he played the song’s intricate drum intro. He continued rising as the intro built, reaching the top just as M. Shadows let out the song’s opening scream.
From there, Avenged Sevenfold went straight into “Magic” and “Afterlife,” and the energy never really dropped. There is something about an Avenged Sevenfold live show that is difficult to replicate. They move constantly, the production is a perfect match, and the crowd returns every bit of that energy.
M. Shadows immediately took over the stage. His vocals sounded like they were ripped straight off the records, which is especially impressive considering some of these songs are more than 15 years old. Watching him perform them live made it easy to understand why he has remained such a commanding frontman for so long.
The rest of the band each brought their own look to the stage. Synyster Gates stood out in a neon green sparkly hoodie, Johnny Christ wore a bright red studded leather jacket with sunglasses, and Zacky Vengeance rocked his classic shirtless look. Every member had a completely different presence, but somehow it all worked together.
The guitar work was one of the biggest highlights of the night. There is something about hearing those riffs live that makes the songs feel completely different. “Shepherd of Fire” had the crowd in awe, followed by “Buried Alive,” giving the set a shift in pace before “Seize the Day” gave the crowd a moment to take everything in. Then “Hail to the King” brought that energy right back up.
The production continued to fill the room around them. Lasers cut across the entire venue, stretching over the crowd and through the smoke. From the floor, the beams shot directly over the audience, making the already massive arena feel even bigger.
Crowd surfers continued making their way through the pit while fans across the arena sang along. By the time “Bat Country” came around, it was clear just how many fans had been waiting to hear it. That same excitement carried into “Unholy Confessions,” which brought a lucky fan onstage to sing the first verse and chorus. The song ended with a drum solo from Wackerman, giving him another chance to show off his talent after opening the night from 12 feet in the air.
The set eventually reached “Cosmic,” from their latest 2023 album Life Is But a Dream…, bringing the night to a close with one final reminder of just how expansive Avenged Sevenfold’s discography has become. After hearing these songs for years, there is something different about standing in a room with thousands of other people and hearing every riff, scream, and melody live. The songs may already be familiar, but hearing them surrounded by an entire arena of people who know every word makes them feel completely new again.
The night may have began with UBS Arena welcoming Avenged Sevenfold to the stage, but it ended with Avenged Sevenfold welcoming the entire arena into the family.
Photos and review by Bek Allegretti
