New Years Day & Conquer Divide Bring Metal Mayhem to London [Show Review]

On January 31, 2025, the O2 Islington played host to an unforgettable night of metal as Conquer Divide and New Years Day took to the stage. Both bands delivered powerhouse performances, each leaving their mark in distinct and captivating ways.

Bathed in red light, Conquer Divide took to the stage to a thunderous cheer, launching into their opening track, “Atonement,” with unrelenting energy. The unclean vocals, delivered by their stand-in bassist, sent shockwaves through the venue. While fans were aware of Janel Durate’s departure, the mystery surrounding the new male member of the all-female group only added to the intrigue.

Following up with “Chemicals,” the band struck a perfect balance between ferocity and atmosphere, thanks to the contrast of Kiarely Castillo’s hauntingly melodic vocals against the brutal gutturals from the bassist. The flashing red and white lights enhanced the ambience, while Samantha Landa’s deep drumbeats kept the intensity high.

Castillo led the crowd into a synchronised wave before transitioning into “Pressure,” a song that showcased a more subdued yet still infectious energy. The performance built further momentum with “Wide Awake,” where Castillo encouraged the audience to move, and they enthusiastically obliged.

One of the night’s most engaging moments came with “Paralysed,” as the entire venue jumped in unison to the chorus. The crowd remained entranced through the more subdued tune, “The Invisible,“ which featured a climactic slow clap led by the mysterious bassist.

“No more sad shit, open up a pit right now!” Castillo screamed. The lights flashed green, and “System_failure” sent the venue into a frenzy, with even those right at the back headbanging along. This was followed by the groove-laden “New Heaven,” which kept the audience locked in with every note.

To close their set, Conquer Divide went out with a bang, performing their latest release, “Bad Dreams,” followed by fan favourite “Welcome2Paradise” to end. Their electrifying performance set an incredibly high bar for New Years Day to follow!

As the lights dimmed and Pantera’s “Domination” blared through the speakers, anticipation surged through the crowd for the show to come from New Years Day. The stage was soon bathed in red as each member took their place with cheers growing ever louder each time an entrance was made. The loudest roar of admiration came when Ash Costello made her appearance. With a mighty swing of her recognizable red and black hair, the band launched into their opening track, “Vampire.”

“We’ve only waited five fucking years!” Costello exclaimed, hyping up the crowd before kicking into “Half Black Heart.” The audience didn’t need any form of direction, instantly jumping and stomping with impressive force. The energy remained high through “Come For Me,” keeping fans fully engaged.

“Come For Me” was followed by “Shut Up,” which started with Costello delivering the opening lines acapella, only to be nearly drowned out by the crowd singing back to her. The band’s ability to put unique twists on well-known songs was also on display with their hypnotic rendition of Kehlani’s “Gangsta,” featuring ethereal echo effects Costello’s vocals that were enhanced by immersive lighting.

During “Disgust Me,” Costello took a moment to snap a selfie with the audience, creating a wave of fans pushing forward in hopes of being captured in the moment. The night continued with “Hurts Like Hell,” prefaced by a passionate speech from Costello regarding conformity. This was followed by a blistering cover of Pantera’s “Fucking Hostile” with a unique News Years Day twist.

A highlight of the night was “Skeletons,” during which Costello made her way into the crowd, bringing fans up close and personal with her. It was like witnessing a rock deity among devoted followers.

New Years Day closed their set with “I’m About to Break You” and “Defame Me” before returning for a single-song encore of “Kill or Be Killed,” ending the show on a high note.

While the performance was mostly excellent, there were occasional dips in Costello’s vocal quality. However, these moments felt more like technical hiccups rather than missed notes, and this did little to break the immersion. Overall, this was a triumphant return to the UK for New Years Day, leaving fans hoping and praying that it would not be another five years before they return again.

Conquer Divide Setlist:

Atonement
Chemicals
Pressure
Wide Awake
Paralyzed
the INVISIBLE
system_failure
N E W H E A V E N
Bad Dreams
welcome2paradise

New Years Day Setlist:

Vampyre
Half Black Heart
Come for Me
Shut Up
Fearless
Gangsta (Kehlani cover)
Disgust Me
Hurts Like Hell
Fucking Hostile (Pantera cover)
So Sick
Skeletons
I’m About to Break You
Defame Me
Encore:
Kill Or Be Killed