Alexisonfire & Billy Talent w/ Touché Amoré @OVO Wembley Arena, London - 24/06/26
This could be anywhere in the world, except better: Alexisonfire & Billy Talent return to London in a time machine
On 24 June, one of the hottest days of the year in the UK, Alexisonfire and Billy Talent ascended to the OVO Arena in Wembley, London for a stop in their anniversary tour. Whilst a lot of these tours seem to be an attempt to invoke nostalgia, this dual headline night was not a carefully packaged commemorative lap; it was something far more substantial. A celebration of two records that didn’t just define a period, but helped shape an entire generation and its relationship with alternative music. Performing “Crisis” and “Billy Talent II” in full, this gig was a reminder of what happens when albums that people have grown up with are finally performed in a live setting in full two decades later. Spoiler alert: they have aged exceptionally well.
To understand why this tour matters, you have to understand the timing. Released in 2006, Alexisonfire’s “Crisis” arrived in a fascinating moment in time where the whole genre was being moulded into what later became metalcore, even though the band was already performing at a level above most of their peers. Mastering the balance between aggression, violence and melodic calm, “Crisis” became a defining statement, embedding itself into the DNA of alternative music. Meanwhile, Billy Talent’s “II” took a different route but had similar impact. Also released in 2006, the album leaned more into sharp hooks, modern rock and massive choruses.
But let’s go back to the first band of the evening, Touché Amoré. Opening the bill, the band delivered exactly what they do best: catharsis. Even though I missed the first couple of songs, the Los-Angeles outfit had the crowd roaring all the way outside the venue. Veiling their set with emotional honesty and vulnerability, the music hit as hard as a distorted guitar pedal. Their set was intense and had a large crowd singing along to hits such as “Come Heroine”, “Benediction”, “Reminders” and “Rapture”. Ending off the set with “Flowers and You”, they warmed up the already hot venue quickly. A smart choice for support and a great band to set the mood for what was to follow.
Billy Talent needed no introduction. Bringing energy from the first note, their set shifted the atmosphere from deep emotion to unhinged sing-alongs. From the opening riff, “Billy Talent II” proved itself to be one of those albums where every track still feels like it was released yesterday. “Devil In a Midnight Mass” had not only the crowd, but also the photographers singing along loudly, whilst “This Suffering”, “Fallen Leaves” and “Surrender” were the ones that had the whole arena on its feet. Playing the album in full showed to fans how meticulously crafted the song sequence had been to deliver maximum impact in a live performance. It was very obvious that long-time fans had waited for this moment to come, and the constant momentum meant that the audience was constantly engaged.
Framing the high energy songs with some more reflective moments, Billy Talent were exceptional in performing not only absolute hits, but also some slower pieces to keep the audience singing along. Ending the set with “Reckless Paradise” and “Viking Death March”, it was clear that having Billy Talent on the bill was the spark that ignited nostalgia’s flame.
When Alexisonfire took the stage, the reaction was absolutely explosive. The opening moments of “Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints” felt like a switch was flipped. Suddenly, Wembley Arena transformed from a large indoor venue to a collective emotional purge. Performing “Crisis” front-to-back highlighted just how timeless this record remains. It was not simply a collection of great songs, it was structured for maximum nostalgia and impact. “This Could Be Anywhere In The World” triggered one of the biggest singalongs I have ever heard in an arena that size, with thousands of people screaming every word back to the band. Similarly, “Boiled Frogs”, “We Are The Sound” and “We Are The End” (performed for the first time in 14 years) had people losing their voices before the middle of the set. The brilliance of Alexisonfire lies in exactly this contrast of violence and melody that blends the two seamlessly together; and even if you don’t know all the songs, you can tell the impact they have had on the people around you.
Ending the show, Alexisonfire performed the golden trio of songs: the live debut of “Thrones”, “Pulmonary Archery” and finally “Happiness by the Kilowatt”. This was the moment the audience really connected to the material. And despite the album being 20 years old, the relevance of it was evident throughout the show. “Crisis” did not just survive because of people being sentimental, but because the songs still hit hard all these years later.
