Tonight sees a joint headlining show from two of heavy metal’s trailblazers in Sepultura and In Flames. While the Brazilians married thrash metal and roots music to lay claim as one of the frontrunners of the 1990s nu-metal scene, the Swedes are much, much more current.

You have to keep reminding yourself that Sepultura have been going for 22 years. It really is incredible that after so long they can still sound so vital, so violent. After three unremarkable and unsuccessful albums, new album Dante XXI seems like a kick up the arse of the self-perpetuating world of heavy metal. It also sees the band return to the kind of form that produced the seminal Roots album.

Having taken over drumming responsibilities for this European tour, former Soulfly sticksman Roy Mayorga batters his kit with a rapid fluidity, inflicting some sensational style on the prog-leaning thrash metal that we witness tonight. Igor Cavalera decided not to partake on this lengthy tour due to the birth of his son but is rather happily in attendance on the side of the stage, swinging towels around and generally being a sight of much merriment.

In terms of Sepultura he has much to be happy about. Derrick Green is a colossus on the stage and leads the band through every song with ease. Not that that’s any surprise, of course. Sepultura have always been led from the front, whether it is Green or Max Cavalera and, while there was never any doubt about the new vocalist’s ability to front this great band, the lack of success with recorded output since the acrimonious departure of his predecessor has been telling.

To those who think that the following band is just another band caught up in yet another trend: think again. Headlining tonight, In Flames are the reason for most of metalcore even existing. The folk-influenced melodies and organ-led harmonies they blended with regular thrash and death metal that became their early trademark are apparent in so much of heavy metal’s newest scene but, as with most pioneers, the music they make here is so invigorating and fresh that you know there is something special about it.

The curtain drops and immediately everything explodes into a carefully controlled chaos. Running about the lip of the stage, dreadlocked frontman Anders Friden convulses and screeches his way through the majority of the songs to the clear pleasure of the entire audience. Set against a backdrop of highly impressive pyrotechnics the band roam around with severe intent, pummelling riffs with a simplicity and ease that belies their quality and influence.

Tonight there is no doubt that Sepultura are still one of the leaders of their game and that In Flames do everything that their metalcore spawn do but with lashings more class and verve. If the young pretenders are to be taken seriously as contenders to either crown then first they must all prove themselves at least worthy as these behemoths.