Architects Shake the Walls of the Halle Tony Garnier
- Eden & Mewen
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
On March 24, the Earama team headed to the Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon for an unforgettable night with Architects, Brutus, and Guilt Trip! A line-up that promised a show as intense as it was satisfying—and we’ve taken the time to tell you all about it right here.
Fans had been lining up all day, and at 6:30 PM, the wait was finally over. The doors opened, letting in a swarm of metal-hungry bees into their buzzing hive.
Guilt Trip, A Grand Opening to Kick Things Off
Photo : Eden Bisiot / @bisiot.photos
First to take the stage at exactly 7:30 PM was Guilt Trip. As soon as they arrived, the guitarist signaled to open up the pit! The crowd didn’t seem quite as reactive as expected, but the UK band didn’t let that slow them down—they kept interacting with the audience and hyping them up.
On the menu: a frontman in constant motion delivering an outstanding vocal performance, a drummer clearly there to throw down, a bassist both confident and beaming, and fiery guitarists looking to spark a full-blown moshpit with pitch-perfect screams.
The energy was high, and the band clearly knew how to warm up the room, delivering a flawless set. I had never been to this venue before and was impressed by the acoustics, which paired beautifully with the band's meticulously tuned soundcheck. While the music was intense and colorful, the stage setup was simple but effective—a white backdrop with the band’s name hung behind them.
By the fifth song, the band even treated us to Burn, an unreleased track! The crowd, growing steadily in number, seemed won over and ready to keep the party going. The moshpits may have been a bit shy, but the headbanging and raised hands certainly weren’t!
Jay, the band’s vocalist, thanked the crowd after every song, flashing a wide smile each time: “Thank y’all, that was fucking amazing! Everyone here is so important to me. We were just five friends making music, and now we’re here!”
He introduced the final track with a resounding : “Open a real fucking pit!” which the crowd followed on command. They left the stage around 8:00 PM with a final word: “You might be sick to hear it, but thank you so fucking much!”
Brutus : The Calm Before the Storm
Photo : Eden Bisiot / @bisiot.photos
I’d heard a lot about Brutus but had never taken the time to truly listen. And if you know me, you know live shows are my favorite way to discover a new artist.
At 8:20 PM, Belgian post-rock band Brutus took to the stage, stepping out in near darkness to the glowing screams of the crowd. I was surprised by the opening: a gentle track to ease us in. Gradually, we were immersed in their universe, embracing the soaring, ethereal atmosphere—punctuated by more intense moments that tempted the crowd into headbanging.
The band remained focused throughout, and Stefanie Mannaerts, the band’s singer and drummer, made a point of thanking the audience for coming out early to see the opening acts. The venue was packed, and you could spot die-hard Brutus fans singing every lyric like their life depended on it.
With touches of experimental flair, the show was as visually striking as it was sonically rich. Backlighting and stage fog added to the mysterious ambiance, elevating the performance even further.
The band exited the stage around 9:00 PM with a simple wave to the crowd—no words, just thunderous applause.
Architects : The Walls Are Still Shaking!
Photo : Eden Bisiot / @bisiot.photos
At 9:30 PM, the lights went out, and anticipation surged through the venue. The first notes of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now rang out, and the crowd instantly broke into song. It was an unexpected choice, but clearly effective judging by the crowd’s enthusiasm.
Architects took the stage with When We Were Young, kicking things off with a literal bang—crowd surfers were already flying overhead. Sam Carter wasted no time: by the second song (Whiplash), he screamed “Open that pit!”, splitting the crowd for a massive wall of death during the breakdown.
This explosive opening showed just how engaged the audience was—and that energy never waned. Sam Carter fed off the crowd’s passion, interacting constantly, darting across the stage as if he weren’t recovering from an injury. Though the initial songs took a toll on him physically—he slowed down later in the set—he never lost the fire that makes him such a magnetic frontman.
The rest of the band shined as well, connecting with the audience and commanding the stage. A special shout-out to Adam Christianson, whose flawless scream on Everything Ends blended seamlessly with Sam’s vocals.
No one was sidelined; the clean, effective stage setup allowed each member to be visible and spotlighted without distracting gimmicks. The light show was just as thoughtful and powerful, highlighting the headliners with cinematic precision. Once again, I must praise the exceptional acoustics of the venue—and, of course, the flawless work of the technical crew.
The setlist was rich and varied, spanning the band’s entire discography and including six tracks from their brand-new album The Sky, The Earth & All Between—released just two weeks before the show. While this was a bold move, the audience responded with pure devotion. They could’ve sung the whole record back to the band.
The group left the stage around 11:00 PM, thanking the crowd and tossing guitar picks before their final bow.
Architects delivered a truly exceptional performance—and to be honest, we expected no less. The setlist was as finely crafted as the lighting design, and the band seemed just as thrilled as their fans, who left the venue with stars in their eyes. One thing’s for sure: this band still has plenty to give, and more than lives up to its reputation—even with one member still healing.
The night was intense from start to finish, with all three bands offering different perspectives on metal while never letting the energy dip. It was a night that blended community and chaos, where moshpits collided with waves of phone flashes during emotional peaks—the magic combo that defines a truly great concert.
A huge thank you to Olivier Garnier and Replica Promotion for making our attendance possible, to every crew member who made this event run smoothly, and to Guilt Trip, Brutus, and Architects for transporting us out of time for one unforgettable night.
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