If you were at The Academy on Thursday, March 5, 2026, you witnessed a band that has officially graduated from “reliable support act” to “heavyweight headliners.”
Coming off the back of their massive Zenith release and a career-defining 2025 tour with Slipknot, Glasgow’s Bleed From Within brought their “Dying Sun Tour” to Dublin, and it was nothing short of a masterclass in modern metal.
The Academy is an intimate venue for a band of this trajectory, and the “sold out” signs were felt before the first note even hit. The energy was electric—a mix of long-time fans who remember their deathcore roots and a newer generation drawn in by the anthemic polish of Shrine and Zenith.
The bill for the Dying Sun Tour was a perfectly curated descent into madness. Before Bleed From Within even touched the stage, the Academy was treated to two of the most exciting rising names in the international heavy scene.
Opening the night, Denmark’s Baest proved exactly why they’ve been dominating the European festival circuit. Pure, unadulterated Old School Death Metal (OSDM). If you’re a fan of Bloodbath or Morbid Angel, this was your gig. Frontman Simon Olsen is a charismatic powerhouse. He had the Dublin crowd in the palm of his hand from the first growl. Their set was thick with “boss-HM-2” guitar tones and grooves that felt heavy enough to collapse the Academy’s balcony. When they played “Ecclesia,” the sheer wall of sound forced the early arrivals into a frenzy. It’s rare to see an opening band get a “wall of death” that significant so early in the night.
If Baest was the foundation, Disembodied Tyrant was the demolition crew. A chaotic, technical blend of deathcore and symphonic elements. They are currently one of the most talked-about bands in the “internet metal” sphere, and seeing them translate that studio-level complexity to a live setting was staggering. The sheer speed of the drumming was almost difficult to process, more like a rail gun than bass drum. They brought a level of modern intensity that acted as the perfect bridge between Baest’s classic sound and Bleed From Within’s groove-heavy anthems.
The transition from Baest’s crushing groove to Disembodied Tyrant’s technical violence set the bar incredibly high. By the time the Scottish lads in Bleed From Within stepped out, the crowd was already pushed to their limits, making the eventual explosion of “I Am Damnation” feel like a release of pure tension.
When the house lights dimmed and the intro to “Zenith” kicked in, the floor of the Academy didn’t just move; it breathed.
Vocalist Scott Kennedy has become one of the most commanding frontmen in the genre. His ability to flip between guttural roars and the soaring, melodic grit required for the newer material is effortless. “Pathfinder” was an early-set highlight that saw the first major circle pit of the night. The synchronization between guitarists Craig “Goonzi” Gowans and Steven Jones remains their greatest weapon—the riffs were surgical.
As the tour’s namesake, “Dying Sun” hit with surprising emotional weight. It showcased the band’s growth in songwriting, proving they can do “atmospheric” just as well as they do “aggression.”
Yes, the rumored bagpipe section during “In Place of Your Halo” happened, and it was a stroke of genius. It brought a touch of their Scottish heritage to Dublin, turning the venue into a massive, heavy-metal ceilidh for four glorious minutes.
Eschewing the traditional “off-and-on” encore fluff, the band simply stayed on stage to completely level the place and truly finish the job.
Bleed From Within are no longer “ones to watch”—they are the standard. This gig felt like a victory lap for 20 years of hard work. The production was tight, the sound mix was punchy despite the Academy’s sometimes tricky acoustics, and the band looked like they were having the time of their lives.
If you missed this one, you missed a band at the absolute peak of their powers. They’re outgrowing venues this size rapidly; catch them in these intimate spots while you still can.
Baest photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Colossus
Misfortunate Son
Meathook Massacre
Necro Sapiens
Stormbringer
Disembodied Tyrant photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Death Empress
Malphasian
The Poetic Edda
Aberrant Waltz
Crow Black Sky
Winter
8.6 BLACKOUT
Omenkiller
Bleed From Within photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Zenith
The End of All We Know
Pathfinder
Alive
Violent Nature
A Hope in Hell
Invisible Enemy
Dying Sun
Levitate
Leech
God Complex (With Simon from Baest on Vocals)
A Depth That No One Dares
I Am Damnation
In Place Of Your Halo
Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero