PROMOTING their new album, Venom, Welsh heavy metal band Bullet For My Valentine are touring Britain, coming to York Barbican for the first time.

Formed in 1998, the Bridgend group have gone on to enjoy a loyal following – both at home and in the USA – as well as winning numerous rewards, including winning the Kerrang! Best British Band Award three times.

Supporting acts Coldrain and While She Sleeps both delivered wailing guitar solos, pounding percussion and brutal screaming vocals that quickly had the audience up and jumping.

While not exactly pushing the envelope, neither group overstayed their welcome; they knew what they were going to do and what they offered up was fast paced, frenetic and stirred the crowd up a treat.

Following a slightly overlong interval, during which the audience more than doubled in size, the lights dimmed again and a series of huge, rumbling bass chords and ear-splitting screams heralded the arrival of the main act on stage. Bullet For My Valentine tore into their opening number, turning the standing crowd into a churning cauldron of arm-waving, head-banging revellers. They played a selection of old and new, all of which went down extremely well with the ecstatic crowd.

When the show was over the crowd cried out for more and, even after a stellar encore of Your Betrayal and Waking The Demon, they were still chanting until the lights went up and the venue staff began to usher people out.