Trivium came to Birmingham as part of the co-headline The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour with Bullet For My Valentine, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough albums, The Poison and Ascendancy.

I’ve photographed Trivium several times before, at both tours and festivals, and somehow Matt Heafy and the band seem to get better with each performance. I always appreciate bands that genuinely enjoy themselves onstage and connect with the audience—and metal crowds certainly know how to show their appreciation.

I was initially a bit apprehensive about the large semicircular walkway. My concern was that by the time I made it to one side, the band members might move the other way—or worse, the walkway might go unused during the photographers’ allotted time, turning into an awkward barrier that kept me from getting close. Thankfully, that wasn’t an issue: Matt spent most of the time right in the center, often joined by Corey Beaulieu and Paolo Gregoletto, giving me some great close-up shots.