There’s something about a Monday night death metal show that feels slightly defiant. While most of London was winding down for the week, the downstairs room at the O2 Academy Islington was filling with battle jackets, old tour shirts and people ready to headbang.

Blood Red Throne

Norwegian outfit Blood Red Throne have been part of the European death metal circuit since the late ’90s. Rooted firmly in old-school brutality, their sound leans toward thick, mid-paced grooves mixed with sharp, classic death metal riffing. There’s nothing polished, it’s heavy and direct.

Live, it was song after song delivered with steady confidence. The early crowd might not have been at full capacity yet, but those in the room were locked in quickly. Heads were already nodding in unison, and the first small pits started to open as the set progressed.

You can listen to them here.

Vader

Blood Red Throne brought the weight, and Vader brought the speed. Formed in Poland in the early ’80s, they’re one of the longest-running and most respected names in European death metal. Their style is faster, sharper, and more relentless, often brushing up against thrash in its aggression.

From the moment they started, the energy in the room jumped. The riffs came thick and fast, drums driving everything forward at full force. There’s something about seeing a band with that much history still play with this much intensity. Nothing about it felt tired, and the crowd was loving every single second of the set.

The pit grew noticeably during their set. Crowd surfers began appearing, and the atmosphere shifted from steady appreciation to full engagement. Vader didn’t need spectacle because their catalogue and charasmatic delivery did the work.

You can listen to them here.

Kataklysm

Formed in Montreal in the early ’90s, Kataklysm built their reputation on what they once dubbed “Northern Hyperblast”. A fast, chaotic strain of death metal that has since evolved into something more groove-focused but still aggressive. Over the decades they’ve balanced technical precision with big, driving rhythms that hit hard live.

From the first track, it was clear why they were headlining, and the sound was huge for a room that size. Thick guitars, punchy drums, and vocals that carried cleanly over the top. Maurizio Iacono held the room confidently, working the crowd without overdoing it. They didn’t force energy but instead commanded it, the crowd responding with headbanging, circle pits, and crowdsurfers.

The set moved between newer material and older staples seamlessly. The music landed especially well in a venue like Islington, where you’re close enough to feel every kick drum. The pits opened up wider, and surfers kept security busy, the same ones often sailing overhead. Monday night or not, the crowd gave energy back.

It wasn’t an overproduced show. No elaborate staging. Just three established names in death metal delivering exactly what the crowd came for. On a Monday night in Islington, that felt more than enough.

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Words and photography by Amy Showell