Tremonti review: More memories made at the O2 Ritz

It’s safe to say that the O2 Ritz has become a home away from home for Tremonti.

Throughout the years, the intimate Manchester venue has been a constant presence on the band’s touring schedule in the UK, with Thursday’s performance their third show at the O2 Ritz in the last seven years. Whilst the venue also had the honour of featuring in the music video for ‘Throw Them To The Lions’, which was filmed during their show at the Ritz in 2018.

From the moment the four-piece stepped onto the stage inside the 1,500-capacity venue and played the opening notes of the riff-driven ‘Wish You Well’ that contained a spellbinding solo, the mood was set for more memories to be made.

Initially a solo project for Mark Tremonti, Tremonti has gone on to become a fully-fledged band and has developed a cult-like following thanks to their thrash metal-influenced sound that is fuelled by rich guitars, strong melodic vocals, and hard-hitting drum beats. That cult-like following made its presence felt throughout the night as they sang back to Mark on every track.

As for the frontman himself, it’s hard not to be impressed by the depth of his talents. His work as the lead guitarist in Alter Bridge and Creed is well-documented; Tremonti has released six albums, and he also released a Frank Sinatra covers album, which showcases his impressive vocal ability and how seamlessly he adapted to the Sinatra style.

Early in the set, ‘Cauterise’ combines Tremonti’s mesmerising vocal melody with a hard-hitting guitar riff before the speed metal-influenced ‘You Waste Your Time’, which features some impressive guitar work from Tremonti and rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman, gets the crowd banging their heads in unison. Whilst Ryan Bennett’s pulsating drum grooves stand out in a riveting performance of ‘Tomorrow We Will Fail’ that serves as an inspirational message to seize the day while you can.

The frontman was in a reflective mood in Manchester as he touched on his relationship with Friedman, acknowledging their journey together before the rhythm guitarist took centre stage for a solo that leads into the reflective ‘The Things I’ve Seen’. ‘Throw Them To The Lions’ and ‘Another Heart’ provide an injection of energy halfway through the set, with the former combining melodic singing, a spine-tingling solo, fast drum beats, and a heavy riff.

As the set came to a close, Sophie Burrell joined the four-piece on stage for a rendition of the powerful and emotive ‘Marching In Time’ and the track was a perfect fit between ‘Decay’ and ‘My Last Mistake’, which allowed Friedman and Tremonti’s hard-hitting guitar lines to catch the eye. While the riff-driven ‘Flying Monkeys’ which is about letting go of grudges, and the Alter Bridge-esque ‘Dust’ allow Tremonti’s impressive vocals to shine and spark singalongs in the crowd, ‘A Dying Machine’ closes out a thrilling night of music in the encore.