LIVE REVIEW: Bury Tomorrow @ O2 Institute, Birmingham

If you said metalcore and the UK in the same sentence, it would probably be followed by BURY TOMORROW. With a two decade long career, nothing is stopping the Southampton sextet from dominating the music scene. Embarking on their biggest UK tour to date in support of this year’s Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, and bringing along three international heavyweights, this is one we weren’t going to miss.

It’s honestly surprising that SIAMESE haven’t become a household name yet. With their fearless blend of metalcore, pop, and even shades of hip-hop. As openers on a stacked four-band bill, they could’ve easily been overlooked – but from the first note, they make damn sure that doesn’t happen.

Leaning heavily on material from their two most recent albums, SIAMESE deliver a set that feels both confident and unpredictable. Their sound is slick yet heavy, emotional yet explosive – a balance not many can pull off. They even debut an unreleased track, Drown, which momentarily hushes the room before erupting into applause. It’s a brave move, but it pays off, giving both die-hard fans and newcomers a tantalising glimpse of what’s next for the Danish outfit.

When This Is Not a Song drops, chaos ensues. It’s a track built for the pit – the crowd instantly obeying the lyric: “This is not a song, it’s a motherfucking mosh pit.” It’s short, it’s sweet, and by the end, SIAMESE have sparked moshing, crowd surfers, and plenty of new followers. If tonight is anything to go by, it won’t be long before SIAMESE are headlining bills like this themselves.

Rating: 9/10

Following that kind of opener would intimidate most bands, but not LIONHEART. The California heavyweights hit the stage like a freight train, launching into a set packed with bone-crunching riffs and pit-ready breakdowns. Within seconds, the floor is chaos.

There’s something primal about LIONHEART’s energy. The crowd doesn’t just move, it erupts. Every riff lands like a punch, every shout feels like a call to arms. And the wildest part? Their usual frontman isn’t even here tonight. Instead, their bassist steps up to lead vocals, and absolutely kills it. It’s raw, it’s powerful, and it shows the band’s resilience and chemistry.

When they tear into a cover of LIMP BIZKIT‘s Break Stuff, the entire room screams the lyrics back like their lives depend on it. It’s unhinged, sweaty, and gloriously cathartic, the kind of moment that reminds you why live hardcore shows are unlike anything else. If this is LIONHEART running on half power, their full-force performance must be devastating.

Rating: 8/10

By the time NEVERTEL hit the stage, the crowd’s already been through the wringer, but the Florida outfit bring a whole new flavour to the night. With dual vocalists trading between cleans, screams, and rapid-fire raps, NEVERTEL’s set is a whirlwind of melody and aggression that refuses to sit neatly in one genre box.

They’re the definition of modern metalcore evolution, seamlessly weaving electronic textures, soaring choruses, and trap-inspired beats into a cohesive, emotionally charged sound. It’s easy to see why they’ve been blowing up online; a viral TikTok moment may have introduced them to new audiences, but tonight proves they’ve got the live chops to back it up.

Tracks like Everything In My Mind and All Good showcase their range. Heartfelt yet hard-hitting, slick but still raw enough to connect. Not everyone in the room knows them yet, but by the end of the set, there’s no doubt they’ve made an impression. NEVERTEL might have been the wildcard tonight, but they walk away as one of the highlights.

Rating: 8/10

And then, of course, there’s BURY TOMORROW. If you’ve been anywhere near the UK metalcore scene in the past decade, you know the name and you know what to expect: precision, passion, and pure chaos. Tonight, the Southampton titans prove exactly why they’re still at the top of their game.

From the moment Dani Winter-Bates and crew hit the stage, it’s electric. New tracks blend seamlessly with fan favourites, every chorus belted back at deafening volume. Their sound is colossal. Tight, punchy, and emotionally charged. Even if you don’t know all the words, it’s impossible not to scream along.

Between the breakdowns and the chaos, Dani takes time to speak to the crowd. Not just as fans, but as a community. “It’s Sunday, the day of rest,” he grins, “but there’s no rest in here – or for the wicked!” Later, he delivers a powerful message about unity in a world that feels like it’s burning, asking the crowd to throw their arms around each other and move as one.

It’s the kind of moment that reminds you why BURY TOMORROW are such a force in the live arena. Every member is in constant motion, feeding off the energy and giving it right back tenfold. The pits are wild, the crowd surfers relentless, and by the time the final note rings out, the room feels like it’s been through a shared catharsis.

BURY TOMORROW don’t just perform, they connect and they inspire. They remind everyone why this scene is so special. And tonight? They prove once again that UK metalcore is alive, loud, and unstoppable.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Birmingham from Serena Hill Photography here: 

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