When you talk about bands who’ve carved their own strange, jagged path through heavy music over the past decade, Within Destruction are hard to ignore. The Slovenian outfit formed back in 2010 in Jesenice, starting out rooted in deathcore before expanding their sound to pull in elements of metalcore, nu-metal, electronic flourishes and even anime-inspired themes.

Over the years they’ve put out a string of albums that show off that evolution. From blistering early releases like Void to genre-defying more recent work culminating in their latest full-length Animetal, which dropped in April 2025 on Sumerian Records.

On record they’ve always walked a tightrope between brutality and unpredictability, and that adventurous spirit is exactly what makes their live shows feel alive, restless, and totally their own.

Supporting Born of Osiris at The Underworld isn’t a footnote, it’s a moment to wrestle for attention in a stacked bill. And within minutes, Within Destruction made it clear they weren’t just warm-up noise. As the lights dropped and the first low, chugging riffs hit, the basement venue went from warm-up buzz to full-on movement.

Their set was tight and loaded with energy. Even in a short support window, they pinned the crowd’s ears with shifting dynamics. Crushing grooves one second, twisted electronic accents and melody the next. Vocal delivery was visceral and full-throttle, and the riffs, heavy without being muddy, hit every corner of The Underworld with real force.

It didn’t take long for pockets of motion to open up. Heads nodded hard, and by a few songs in, circle pits and wandering crowd surfers became part of the soundtrack. The juxtaposition was great: intense rhythmic brutality that still felt fun and communal in a room full of people moving together.

What stood out most wasn’t just how tight they sounded, but how they pulled off that tricky balance between sheer heaviness and open-armed chaos. For a band that has experimented so much, they manage to ground it live. No confusion, just energy.

Between blasts, there were moments that felt almost unnervingly melodic, tiny hooks that stuck even as the breakdowns detonated. It’s a signature of their style, unexpected shifts that keep you guessing yet make total sense in practice.

Before they dropped back to make room for the night’s headliners, they had done what all great support sets do: won over listeners who maybe hadn’t known them, pumped up the crowd for the next act, and left The Underworld feeling that bit more electric and less predictable.

You can find them across socials here:

• Instagram
• Spotify

Words and photography by Amy Showell