Florida bruisers Nonpoint hit the stage with a relentless, high-octane performance, successfully serving as the perfect, groove-heavy appetizer before Lacuna Coil‘s gothic metal main course.
Nonpoint’s sound sits firmly in the late ’90s/early 2000s Nu-Metal space, characterized by neck-snapping intensity, crushing riffs, and an unmatched rhythm section. Their focus is pure, unadulterated rock energy, with little in the way of gimmicks.
As the main support on a two-band bill, Nonpoint was able to deliver a generous setlist, giving the crowd plenty of material to get invested in.
The band utilized all the space afforded to them. Frontman Elias Soriano was described as engaging, charismatic, and endearing, stalking the microphone with clipped precision and spitting out hooks and commands. The rest of the band were constantly jumping, leaping, and bouncing, creating an electric atmosphere.
Nonpoint’s setlist for the Newcastle show (and throughout the tour) was a fan-pleasing mix of their biggest tracks and a legendary cover:
Fan Favourites: The set heavily featured anthems like “Chaos and Earthquakes” and “What a Day.”
The band finished their set by pummeling through their widely known hit, “Bullet With a Name,” which left the capacity crowd fully won over, warmed up, and ready for the headliner.
A notable high point of their performance was their now-staple cover of “In The Air Tonight” (originally by Phil Collins). This track was a great crowd-uniter and had many voices singing along, sitting neatly amongst their own heavy catalogue.
Nonpoint’s sheer effort and infectious energy ensured that even those audience members who were “very much in the latter camp” (not typically fans of Nu-Metal) found themselves nodding along. They were the ideal openers, providing a necessary burst of raw aggression and groove that transitioned the audience from the cold November night to a feverish metal show. It’s likely they picked up quite a few new fans in Newcastle!
The Italian Gothic Metal legends, Lacuna Coil, delivered a powerful and visually striking performance for the Newcastle crowd, proving that nearly three decades into their career, they are as rejuvenated as ever.
The band fully embraced their gothic metal roots with a strong visual aesthetic. The stage was adorned with large illustrations of bird skulls, and the band members (excluding Cristina Scabbia) wore black cloaks and striking black, white, and blood-red face paint.
The production was highly effective, with lighting and fog machines creating a dark, gloomy, and “hellish” atmosphere, particularly during tracks like “In Nomine Patris.”
Energy: The crowd’s excitement was palpable, with fans getting their “groove on” through fist-shaking and headbanging.
The trademark contrast between Cristina Scabbia’s soaring, melodic vocals and Andrea Ferro‘s low, contemporary growls and harsh screams was in perfect form, providing the defining sound of the band. Scabbia, in particular, was noted for her “incredibly talented soaring vocals” and “suitably sinister” Gothic attire.
The setlist heavily featured material from their more recent albums, especially “Sleepless Empire” (released earlier in 2025) and “Black Anima” (2019), but still peppered in old fan favourites.
The show reportedly kicked off ferociously with “Layers of Time” (from Black Anima) and “Reckless,” before moving into newer tracks like “Hosting The Shadow.” Classic favorites like “Spellbound,” “Our Truth,” and a reworked version of “Heaven’s A Lie” were welcomed with enthusiasm.
The encore was well-received, closing the night with a favourite for at least one reviewer: “I Wish You Were Dead.”
Overall, the review suggests Lacuna Coil delivered a tight, passionate, and visually stunning show that satisfied both long-time fans and those new to their unique blend of gothic and metal sounds.
