In the heaving Highbury & Islington, the doors of The Garage opened for fans eagerly awaiting the performance of Future Palace?Berlin’s post-hardcore trio. Their European tour, now in its final stages, has been a massive venture: 29 gigs over two months, making it a remarkable act of service to their fans.
In London, and for their November and December dates, they were joined by Seven Blood and Our Promise, making it a full German showcase. The night was packed with entertaining sets that not only stirred the crowd into the countless mosh pits but also filled hearts with hope. All the bands that evening used music as a form of therapy, opening up about their struggles in life and, in turn, helping fans process their traumas.
Seven Blood
Seven Blood opened the night for us, and for a band that only recently formed and is in their first year of existence, they gave the impression that they had been there and done that for a long time. If you would like to learn more about their journey, inspirations, and plans, we had a quick chat with them before the show, which you can watch here.
With only three songs currently available on Spotify, I was eager to hear more of their material after our afternoon chat?and they did not disappoint. Their set was well-rounded and energetic, which showcased their potential. Seven Blood served up emo-metal that resonates deeply with fans who grew up on My Chemical Romance (I could never take my eyes off Welcome To The Black Parade when it played on MTV or Viva Music) or Bring Me The Horizon. They blend these influences into something distinctly their own, pairing it with confessional lyrics from their life experiences. There is a real chance they might become a reference point for future bands?I, for one, am rooting for that!
The delivery of these powerful stories by their vocalist, Azaria, was fantastic. Her voice is incredible, unfazed – considering these are her first live shows! She transitions seamlessly between melodic singing and screaming, and her delicate tone contrasts beautifully with the band?s powerful instrumentals.
On stage, Seven Blood radiates fun?you can tell they are a bunch of friends just having a great time together. 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for them, with another European tour, this time supporting Ankor, and the highly anticipated release of their debut album in the summer. We will be watching this space!
Our Promise
Our Promise barely fit on the small stage of the venue?with six members in their lineup, they give us that extra punch in the face. Their metalcore sound immediately electrified the crowd, with the pit going wild practically from the first song of their set. The energy was palpable as their guitarists performed acrobatics on stage, and their two vocalists encouraged the audience to go wild.
Each song felt like it could have been the final one of the set, with the band determined to leave a lasting impression and go out with a bang. Despite this intensity, their performance was anything but repetitive. Their latest release, Decode, which joined their growing collection of singles (they are yet to drop their first full feature album), played live it showcased exactly why having two vocals is an idea more bands should explore. This dynamic worked especially well on stage, as it allowed to seamlessly blend melodic singing with ferocious screaming, amplifying the chaotic energy. If you are on the hunt for new metalcore music, Our Promise delivers.
Future Palace
Future Palace?s second-ever gig in London was eagerly awaited by their fans. Since 2019 they released three albums under their name, and to The Garage, they brought a massive 15-song setlist. I appreciated the Tokyo Hotel track that played just before they took the stage, which set the tone as they opened with their first song Malphas. Even with a cold, Maria Lessing delivered stunning vocals?there was no space for calling in sick. Future Palace is known for genre-blending, taking inspiration from 80s electronica and post-hardcore. The trio worked together to showcase that mix with explosive drumming from Johannes and tight guitar work from Manuel taking it to metal realms of their own. I liked that the drummer wasn?t tucked away at the back of the stage?his playful energy was infectious! After hearing some of their biggest hits and new songs from their latest album Distortion (released this year), they treated us to bonus moments. The Echoes of Disparity featured a special guest?Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds?joining Maria on vocals. Just like Our Promise, the two vocalists blended singing and screaming in perfect harmony. This song holds particular meaning, as it tackles important issues surrounding negative experiences that women face regularly. I like to call it the “Fuck Off Anthem.” It supports the My Body My Choice movement and calls out the unwanted male gaze. Thank you for this empowering song?we need more of these in the metal scene and beyond.
Another memorable moment came with the appearance of an acoustic guitar. It slowed us down from jumping around and moshpits. An emotional story of recovery from an abusive relationship was encapsulated in “Lately” and stories like these, laying bare the heart and soul and practising openness are what makes Future Palace so special. Their current buzz and growing popularity are well deserved, and we cannot wait to see how far next year will take them!
Future Palace Setlist
Venue: The Garage, London
Sep:
- Monsoon
- Malphas
- A Fool on a Devil?s Reins
- Uncontrolled
- Defeating Gravity
- Panic Paralysis
- Amethyst
- Decarabia
- Fever
- In Too Deep
- The Echoes of Disparity
- Flames
- Lately (acoustic)
- Dead Inside
- Heads Up
- Paradise
Artists: Future Palace, Our Promise, Seven Blood
