For as long as I can remember, Bring Me The Horizon has been a legendary staple in the modern metalcore scene. I was 15 years old when my listening taste got heavier, and the 2013 Warped Tour compilation CD changed my life. Featured on that CD was “Go To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake” off the band’s iconic Sempiternal album. My best friend encouraged me to listen to them further, and the rest is history.
The last time Bring Me The Horizon played in my home province of Alberta was in 2011 – and 15 years later, they made a triumphant return with their POST HUMAN: NeX Gen – The Third Ascension Program tour.
Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome was filled with eager fans who have been anticipating the band’s long-awaited return, and the tour brought along two solid supporting acts. American metalcore band The Plot In You kicked off the night with electric energy, performing several tracks off their 2026 self-titled album, described as “demon-exorcising metalcore,” as well as their well-known single “Feel Nothing.”
Metalcore heavyweights Motionless In White brought the heat with their theatrical brand of metal, playing new songs off their 2026 release “Decades” as well as older sing-a-longs such as “Another Life.” Vocalist Chris Motionless ended their set by handing out roses to ecstatic fans during the band’s performance of “Eternally Yours.”
The anticipation was tangible as diehard fans waited for the headliner to take to the stage. Video game-esque teaser videos played on-screen in the minutes leading up to their set, featuring the band fighting off creatures while delivering funny quips. A Kabuki banner drop revealed the stunning production, featuring a multi-tiered stage, stained glass screen displays, silver skeletal microphone stands, and two back-up dancers. The band – comprised of vocalist Oli Sykes, lead guitarist Lee Malia, bassist Matt Kean, drummer Matt Nicholls, and touring guitarist John Jones – sauntered onstage to an uproar of cheers and dove right into “DArkSide.”
Fans screamed the lyrics right from the get-go, with mosh pits and crowd-surfers starting up quickly and carrying on throughout the night. Frontman Sykes performed charismatically and made the catwalk his home, with Jones’ backing vocals smoothly complementing his. Nicholls’ drumbeats drove each song powerfully, with Kean’s bass tones filling out the heavy rhythm while Malia’s guitar riffs carried raw, animalistic energy.
The Sheffield-based band created a setlist that spanned across their career. After opening with a song off their most recent album, they burst into “The House of Wolves” off of 2013’s Sempiternal followed by “Happy Song” off of 2015’s That’s The Spirit. A notable track as of late is the explosive “Dehumanized,” seeing the group return to their deathcore roots for their re-record of their debut album, Count Your Blessings. The heavy performance saw pyro blasts and a wall of death, greatly encouraged by Sykes.
Partway through the set, Sykes took a moment to comment on how the last time they played in the city was 15 years prior to “maybe 2,000 people.” He went on to say they never would have imagined to playing to a full arena, and how grateful they are for that.
The heat continued with “Kool-Aid,” and “Shadow Moses” saw Sykes standing at the top of the stage holding a torch against the infamous Sempiternal symbol. For the performance of “Pray for Plagues,” Sykes chose a fan from the audience to join him onstage. Calgary fan Cody screamed the song alongside Sykes, gaining thunderous cheers and applause. The energy went down a level for “Follow You,” with flashlights swaying in the air as the audience sang the heartfelt words back to the band. “Can You Feel My Heart” ended the main set with heart-shaped confetti raining down on a fanatic crowd.
The encore began with “Doomed” belted out passionately by Sykes, and he came down to barricade to sing “Drown” alongside the fans in the front row – one fan gave him a Sonic the Hedgehog hat, which he immediately put on and finished the show in. “Throne” served as an apt finale, the crowd jumping up and down with a downpour of red confetti, the final refrain echoing in the arena: “Every wound will shape me, every scar will build my throne.”
The production of the concert was truly incredible, and each song’s performance was given 110% by every member. The storytelling throughout the show was beautiful; ending with finding peace and strength through “Drown” and “Throne” was the perfect way to close this chapter. After waiting over a decade to see this band live, I can say that it was well worth the wait. Bring Me The Horizon have written music that has changed so many lives, and it’s a privilege to experience.
You can catch Bring Me The Horizon on their remaining North American dates this fall or next year on their newly announced US run with Slipknot. Tickets and VIP packages are available here: https://www.bmthofficial.com/live/
Bring Me The Horizon Setlist:
1. DArkSide
2. The House of Wolves
3. MANTRA
4. Happy Song
5. Teardrops
6. Dehumanized
7. Kool-Aid
8. Shadow Moses
9. Kingslayer
10. Pray for Plagues
11. Follow You
12. Can You Feel My Heart
13. Doomed (encore)
14. Drown (encore)
15. Throne (encore)
GALLERY: Bring Me The Horizon with Motionless In White and The Plot In You at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (September 24, 2026)
Bring Me The Horizon
Motionless In White
The Plot In You
