Lorna Shore has been one of the biggest names in extreme metal over the last few years, spearheading the sound of modern Deathcore and showing no signs of slowing down. After the release of their monumentally heavy I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me in 2025, they finally hit the UK again as part of their massive European tour. Along for the ride were some of the world’s Deathcore heavyweights with Whitechapel, Shadow of Intent and Humanity’s Last Breath for what was sure to be a night of neck-snapping fun.
Up first were Swedish Deathcore 4-piece. Humanity’s Last Breath played a blistering, fast, heavy and tight set that definitely woke up everyone in the crowd. From drumming that made me out of breath just watching it, some of the filthiest, chuggy Deathcore breakdowns I’ve heard in a good couple of years and some outstanding guitar work, the band did a truly great job at warming the room up, even if the crowd didn’t start moving until much later into the set. My personal favourite moments were Godhood and Labyrinthian, but the entire set was a joy to watch. The band’s sound, which blended elements of Black Metal into the mix, was an absolute joy to hear and, overall, a great way to open the night.
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Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
The second band of the night were Shadow of Intent. The Connecticut Deathcore quartet have been on my radar for a few years, once I recognised the name of the project from one of the ships in Halo, so it’s exciting that I’ve finally been able to experience the band live. From the moment they hit the stage, the audience went feral for the Tech-Death infused Deathcore, with the waves of crowd surfers for the night finally starting. Crushing vocals from Ben Duerr filled the room, with some disgusting riffs backing them and more than enough chuggy, techy breakdowns for people to snap their necks to. The opening track of the set, They Murdered Sleep, was my personal favourite, but there wasn’t a moment that the crowd didn’t adore. A great set from a great band, I cannot wait to see them again.
https://www.facebook.com/ShadowofIntentCT
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
After a short changeover, we had the night’s main support (and my personal favourite Deathcore band), Whitechapel. Their setlist was mostly compiled of 2025’s Hymns in Dissonance, with some of the band’s best tracks sprinkled in from Somatic Defilement and This Is Exile. Whitechapel put on a genuinely mind-blowing set, and hearing Phil Bozeman let loose on stage is something I’ll never tire of. Alongside his outstanding vocals, the entire band’s performances from start to finish were just Deathcore in top form, and show why they’re still just as revolutionary in their sound as they’ve ever been. The crowd were absolutely absorbed by the set, with ridiculous levels of crowd surfing, pits erupting everywhere and general great vibes all around. A set that had nothing but stand-out moments, and one I wouldn’t want to follow.
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Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
Finally, the night was headlined by Deathcore’s modern-day sweethearts, Lorna Shore. Since Will Ramos joined the band, and specifically since the release of To The Hellfire, Lorna Shore have easily become the biggest name in Deathcore. The relentlessness of their sound and their more creative approach to the genre truly stand out when you see them live, though. Ramos’ vocals were immaculate from start to finish, and the instrumentals accompanying were simply indescribable. The entire set was a relentless onslaught of aggression, mixed with a beautiful expression of love, passion, and art. The performance reminded me more of an opera, given the complexity of simply making the human body produce sounds like that, alongside the story told in the songs. The crowd were absorbed into the performance, once again, endless waves of crowd surfers flooded over the barrier and definitely made security earn their keep, while some of the biggest pits I’ve seen at the academy didn’t shut for the entire performance. Sun//Eater was my personal highlight (shout out to Nick Chance’s guest performance during the track), and the band’s stage setup, with some great visuals being displayed across the screens on stage, added an element of immersion into the set that really added an extra touch the genre tends to lack in my experience. After seeing them live, I completely understand why they’re at the top of the genre. A true masterclass in extreme music and the impact of the audio arts.
This show was phenomenal from start to finish, and I cannot put into words the sheer talent witnessed. Everything was simply superb, and what a way to start my 2026 gig list. Check out all these bands as soon as you can; you won’t be disappointed.
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
