Live Review: Malevolence w/Sylosis, Guilt Trip & Justice For The Damned at O2 Forum Kentish Town!

What are most bands doing in the day time before a show? Gaming, binge watching TV series, creating artwork? Most bands aren’t Malevolence. They set up a pop up shop at the Aces & Eights bar around the corner from the venue for four hours this afternoon so they can sell some merch and meet and greet with fans. Entrepreneurial spirit runs deep with the Sheffield Shredders and all power to them. Tonight is the final United Kingdom show of the “Malicious Intent” tour and finds us at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on a November night so and while we’re queuing to get in we spot the bands tour bus parked behind the venue. Far from unmarked it has a cinema style imprint on the side with the band themselves standing 20 odd feet tall. Must be surreal getting on board that.

The last time we saw Justice For The Damned [8/10] the Australian heavy end Metallic Hardcore crew were at Camden Underworld opening for Fit For An Autopsy. Four years on tonight is the biggest show on United Kingdom soil and signals the beginning of the end of the “Pain Is Power” touring cycle as 2024 will bring a new album. From the very start of their set they get wall to wall circle pits and two stepping galore which proves that whoever put this package together knew exactly what they were doing. The breakdowns and stuccato riff infestations simply don’t stop coming for the duration with cuts like “Dragged Through The Dirt“, “The House You Built Is Burning” and of course a blistering rendition of “Pain Is Power” going down an absolute storm. If anyone in the venue didn’t know them before tonight then there are plenty who have been converted.

Talking to the stage wearing Machine Head and KoRn shirts, Manchester Crossover Thrash five piece Guilt Trip [8/10] are playing to the biggest crowd of their career so far tonight. They’re a little nervous at the start of their set but quickly get into their stride thanks to th crowd chanting back their lyrics at them with songs like “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Severence” crushing. Bathed in blue light the band keep the hits coming thick and fast only stopping for water and tune ups. Arguably the biggest surprise of the night is set closer “Thin Ice” because with vocalist Jay Valentine in the pit, the crowd scream every single word back at the band. A real special moment, it proves just how well received they are and in all honesty it’s a miracle that the fans didn’t chant for an encore.

After witnessing Sylosis [10/10] play a short sharp set with a few technical issues as they opened for Lamb Of God at Wembley Arena, tonight very much feels like a return proper and a home town throwdown of a show. Frontman and guitarist Josh Middleton is the main man and declaring that the band are back for good, rages through a set of both old and new songs as if they were never away. Crowd surfers cause security to earn their money as the title track of their return album “Cycle Of Suffering” tears a hole in the venue, while their usual blend of Death, Thrash and Metalcore is given the additional of Nu-Metal vibes with “The Sign Of Things To Come“. Sandwiched in between those is “Sands Of Time” which gets the fists pumping before set closer “Deadwood” confirms a triumphant return and then some. There can be no doubting that Middleton took a risk leaving the safety of Architects to bring Sylosis back, but it was clear that he was becoming increasingly unfulfilled in the Progressive Metalcore outfit as they changed direction. If tonight proves one thing its that he was vindicated in his decision because the appetite for more from his band is strong.

Tonight’s headliners have long been a Prize fighter of a band working their way to the top the hard way… and the Sheffield Shredders that are Malevolence [10/10] wouldn’t have it any other way. They’ve earned it and that’s why tonight, their biggest headlining show in this country, feels like it means more. They take to the stage to the sound of Police sirens and flashing lights before breaking into “Malicious Intent“, “Life Sentence” and from “The Aggression Sessions” split EP “Waste of Myself“, a heavy hitting trio that sets the place off. Its a sold out show on a Saturday night in London and they’re here to party with Metallic Hardcore and Crowbar inspired Sludge Metal riff galore. “Still Waters Run Deep” is a huge sing along anthem that gets the crowd going with stage dives, high fives and crowd surfing while “Self Supremacy” sounds huge, accented by the fact that Charlie Thorpe’s kit is on a platform raised 20 feet above the stage. “Higher Place” is used so that everyone can get a breather, the band bringing out a trio of special guest singers to add vocal harmony and create a unique moment, cigarette lighters and phone torches waving. Security hand out the water to those at the front before a rousing rendition of “Serpent’s Chokehold” pours petrol on the bonfire once more. “Remain Unbeaten” crushes before grand finale “Karma” reduces the venue to rubble. If tonight was a triumphant return for Sylosis then for Malevolence it’s a statement of… intent.