Midway through Bring Me The Horizon’s performance at a sold-out Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, lead singer Oli Sykes addressed the audience and stated, “I think the crowd has grown since the last time we played here.” 

Until Thursday night, it had been almost four years since the English metal band had played Music City, and in 2022, it headlined a 9,000-capacity Municipal Auditorium. Since that time, Bring Me The Horizon has seen increased radio play and streams following the release of their 2024 album, POST HUMAN: NeX GEn. Now in 2026, the band was playing to an audience of 20,000, and they proved why they are the top faces in the modern metal scene. 

Late last month, Bring Me The Horizon opened part two of its three-part Ascension Program tour. During the course of this run, the group has been headlining several arenas, including selling out New York’s Madison Square Garden at the beginning of May. In some ways, this tour feels like a celebration for the band, as their popularity with fans has continued to grow with each tour. 

During the set, the band even acknowledged that rise with a nearly 3-minute video package highlighting the different eras. The video started with the band playing early-afternoon sets during Warped Tour, showcasing highlights from their career and ending with footage from the Ascension Program Part 1. 

From the moment the curtain dropped on Thursday, it was one big celebration. Bring Me The Horizon kicked off the evening with their hit “DArkSide,” and as the opening notes rang, confetti cannons were set off, covering the audience to let them know the party was just getting started. There was no let-up during the band’s nearly 2-hour performance, and it would use pyro and even more confetti throughout the show. 

While all of those effects made for a great visual performance, Sykes proved that he is one of the best frontmen in the industry. His infectious energy made every person feel like they were in the front row. There were several moments when the singer commanded the audience to participate, and the Music City crowd did willingly. Early in the set, Sykes asked the crowd to split in two to form a wall of death, and they complied. Late in the set, he asked all in attendance to grab a seat before springing to their feet to jump with him, and again, the crowd obeyed. 

There were also some unexpected, but fun moments during the course of the show. Before the group went on stage, it was made clear that video games would be a major influence throughout the show. Halfway through the show, the group picked a random audience member to join them on stage for a track. Jessica – a fan who was dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow – won the popular vote, joining the band on stage for “Antivist.” 

The background mimicked Guitar Hero, as Jessica took over lead vocals, trying to nail every word and pitch, while Sykes added backing vocals. It was an incredibly fun moment that had the audience laughing while also enjoying the track. 

Late in the performance, Sykes showed his appreciation for fans, making his way through the front row during the track “Drown.” Sykes grabbed a camera and leaned against the barricade, posing and singing the tune with fans. It was a wholesome and wonderful moment for longtime fans. 

Those devoted fans also got to enjoy a career-encompassing setlist from Bring Me The Horizon. While much of the performance centered on their last album, there were many callbacks and older tracks that longtime fans could appreciate. 

Before Bring Me The Horizon took the stage, the night opened with a 20-minute performance from Amira Efelky. The singer did a solid job with her limited time, setting a dark, but hauntingly beautiful mood that really set the tone for the evening. 

The Plot in You followed with a 40-minute set that was fun and really energized the arena. Lead singer Landon Tewers made sure to point out that he and the band were there to warm the crowd up, and they did exactly that. 

Motionless In White was the final opener, and, really, to a lot of fans, could have been a co-headliner on this bill. Motionless In White continues to draw a large crowd each time they visit Nashville, and fans were fully engaged throughout their 45-minute set. Before the group left the stage, lead singer Chris Motionless told Music City that this probably wasn’t the last time they would be seeing the band in 2026. The singer hinted that a new album and follow-up tour would be coming soon.

Bring Me The Horizon announced part 3 of its Ascension Program tour that will embark later this year. To see those dates and current dates on Part 2, visit the band’s website.