Tuesday 5th November, Bonfire Night, a night to remember gunpowder, treason and plot. At the O2 Academy Islington, the masses gathered for a bonfire of their own, as four metal legends came together to deliver a sizeable feast.

First up on the roster were Hiraes, a German metal band who blew the doors wide open, smashing, thrashing and taking names. They moved like lightning through hits such as “We Owe No One,” and “Solitary,” before finishing off strong with a thunderous closer, setting the stage perfectly for what was to follow.

Legends Wolfheart were next onto the stage, and with their towering presence they destroyed the listener. Songs such as “The Hunt,” and “Evenfall,” turned the listener inside out and took them on a journey to the plains. The moshpit that unfolded as the band played was simply phenomenal. The band themselves were in sync and grooving as well as any band I’ve ever seen.

This set the stage nicely for Moonspell, the Portuguese Gothic creators who brought the crowd back from the brink and got them screaming and dancing. Songs such as “Mephisto,” and “Alma Mater,” produced the biggest roars of the night and the crowd were swaying to the finale. A band who must surely come to the UK again.

Finally Dark Tranquillity, our headliners for the evening and the Gothenburg knights themselves stepped onto the sage. It was a blistering one-two from start to finish. Tearing into the new, the old and the hidden gems. The band never let up for a moment, with newer songs such as “Not Nothing,” drawing as big a roar as classics such as “Atoma,” the chorus to the latter will forever live on in my mind now.

Ultimately, a phenomenal evening and one that must happen again. If you’ve not had the chance the tour continues into the Netherlands tomorrow!