Counterparts Deliver Explosive ‘Heaven Let Them Die’ Show at O2 Forum Kentish Town with Sunami and One Step Closer

There is a point at certain shows where you just know it is going to kick off in the best way, and tonight was one of those nights. Within minutes of doors, the buzz around the room was obvious. It was not technically sold out, but you would not have guessed that from the way the room filled so quickly. It was one of those gigs where the crowd packed in the sides and the back of the room, leaving a huge gaping hole in the centre and we all know what that means.

One Step Closer opened the night and wasted no time getting started, kicking off with “Leap Years” and setting the pace early. They kept things moving, running through their set without much chat in between. Compared to the rest of the lineup they lean more into melody, but that did not stop the room from reacting. As expected, the middle of the floor quickly turned into a mix of spin kicks, swinging arms and the odd circle pit prompted from the stage. “Giant’s Despair”, placed second to last, got one of the biggest responses of their set and felt like a clear fan favourite.

Sunami took things up a notch and were clearly heavier than One Step Closer. Where the opener leaned into melody at times, Sunami kept everything blunt and forceful. The riffs landed lower and thicker and the drums felt more relentless. It shifted the mood of the room almost instantly. People were still quick to pull each other up off the floor before diving back in and security had their hands full with a steady line of surfers coming over the barrier. It was easily the most intense set of the support acts.

When Counterparts came out, there was no big dramatic build up. LED screens spanned the back of the stage with cathedral-like imagery – tall stain glass windows and grey stone. The lights dimmed and haze filled the stage and the band walked out so casually. Once they’d found their places, they just started.

This tour is called Heaven Let Them Die, named after their 2024 EP, and it follows a similar run they did in North America around the same time last year before bringing it over to the UK and Europe. They opened the set with “A Martyr Left Alive”, the first track on the EP, which set the tone straight away. Throughout the set they worked through every song from that release and mixed in a handful of other tracks to keep things varied. They closed the main set with the title track, “Heaven Let Them Die”, which felt like a natural high point before stepping off stage.

The heavier parts of the set landed well, especially when the breakdowns hit, but the melodic moments mattered just as much. Those sections opened things up and kept it from feeling like an onslaught of noise. Brendan Murphy’s vocals carried power throughout the set without losing clarity. The guitars came through clearly too, which made a difference during the bigger choruses and more detailed parts.

The crowd stayed engaged from start to finish. The main pit barely stopped moving, and every few minutes someone would surf over the barrier. It looked chaotic from the outside but looked like so much fun too. It was such a friendly atmosphere and you could see everyone was having the best time. A lot of people were singing along, especially during the more recognisable tracks.

Production was kept simple. There were a few lighting shifts to match the mood of different songs, but nothing over the top. That approach suited the band and the material. The attention stayed where it should, on the performance and the response from the room. After the main set, they came back out for an encore and played “Whispers of Your Death”, one of their most popular tracks, which wrapped things up on a strong note.

The O2 Forum Kentish Town really feels like a strong fit for shows like this. It works well for heavier bands because the space supports both sides of the experience. The raised standing area at the back gives people who want a break from the chaos a solid view without being right in the middle of the pit, while the floor still has plenty of room for everyone who wants to move. That balance makes a difference.

All three bands on the lineup matched the vibe of the room and fed off each other nicely. Each set built on the one before it, and by the time the headliner finished, the energy had peaked in a natural way. It turned into one of those straightforward but satisfying nights where the lineup works, the crowd shows up ready, and everything just clicks.

Our photographer, Lorna Leahy Photography, brought back this awesome photo gallery which you can check out here: