Live Review: Architects - The O2, London 12/10/2025
Architects bring the fire and the fury to the 02 Arena with suitably heavy support from Wage War and House of Protection. You want to crowd surf; you’re not going to get a better place to do it.
Architects are a band that have been around for a while now; 11 years, and you don’t stay for 11 years as a band capable of headlining the 02 without some staying power and the ability to deliver a tour de force of a show when needed. The crowd are here to oblige, and it doesn’t take long for House of Protection to open up three consecutive circle pits; and we’re off – it’s going to be a long, sweaty show. The opening song choice for House of Protection is inspired; like when Ithaca came out to Robbie Williams at Arctangent this summer, it’s Heaven is a Place on Earth – and we’re off with Pulling Teeth and a riot. I’d love to see them eat up a smaller arena; say Electric Ballroom or Kentish Town. Stephen gets involved with the crowd for Learn to Forget – and they’re running through their songs with the precision of a band far more qualified than an opening act.
The Los Angeles outfit have been long term friends of Architects and have collaborated on their new album; and the duo draw from the likes of Massive Attack and Cocteau Twins for a sonic fusion of genres that makes for a unique hard rock experience – Afterlife is a winner – “this is how I absolutely want to die; go ahead and meet me in the afterlife” gets us underway and the crowd are in good spirits long before Architects come on at 9pm. It’s appropriate because the next band is Wage War – who come onto TOMBSTONE and NAIL5 to get us underway – two tracks off Stigma, their latest record. They’re a new discovery for Architects, who became friends with the band on their tour – a power-driven heavy metal band with an extra punk kick. At times they drift into Bad Omens territory, Briton Bond in surefire form that earns such a lofty slot.
Appropriately; given frontman Sam Carter is wearing an Oasis tee shirt; the Brighton band come onto Oasis’ Fucking in the Bushes and start strong with Elegy – the crowd are ramped up. It isn’t long before Carter encourages them to break a record for crowd-surfing. This progression growth into headliners has been a long time coming – conquering the biggest venues in Wales, Manchester and London – their 23,500 capacity Co-op Live venue being on the chopping block before this. They’re one of the frontrunners in the British metal genre now and if you haven’t caught them before now – where have you been? Download has had a new band headliner issue for a while: these look like they’re testing the waters to make the next leap up.
Launching Elegy with the sky the earth and all between is phenomenal; the growls and the screaming combined in perfect harmony. It’s a fantastic set by Carter who knows what tonight means: the tragic loss of long-time friend and guitar tech Miles Kent (who was looking forward to this show more than anything) means it’s going to be an emotional one – and the dedication to him during Everything Ends in the back half of the set is powerfully moving stuff. There’s plenty of chants for Miles mid set by the audience who recognise his importance to Carter and the rest of the band; and the emotionally moving tributes are hard not to be affected by.
Whiplash, when we were young, black lungs and Curse are the next four tracks and Carter is in fine form – demonstrating a stage presence that most metal bands could dream of. The rock scene coming out of the UK is in fine form right now – you need only look at Sleep Token and the new hotly tipped President as emerging starts; and Architects are there to lead the vanguard.
Most of the catalogue is from The Sky, The Earth & All Between (seven songs in total) but it doesn’t stop Architects from delving deeper into what has come before. Gravedigger and A Match Made in Heaven have warn receptions; and we get a cameo from House of Protection for Brain Dead; with Architects giving something back to the band that provides the warm-up for them. Briton Bond is back out too for Impermanence, and it’s a joy to watch Carter work his magic with Bond on stage. For Those That Wish To Exist gets a healthy play through – the 2021 album reaching an audience that wouldn’t usually be into metalcore and opting as a crowd-pleasing key segment of the setlist that has seen their work age so well overtime: only getting better and better.
By the end; we get the heavy hitters, Architects going all out on Doomsday into Black Hole – a main set double closer that most bands could only dream of. Doomsday is a raw burst of madness – “remember when hell had frozen over? The cold still burns underneath my skin,” Carter goes for the deep cuts off Holy Hell to deliver an astounding tour de force. It’s their best record by quite some distance – the statement piece – and they know it. The guitar work and drums in Doomsday is peak Architects – “You said you cheated death but heaven was in my head,” is a core memory evoking the feeling of memory for loved ones. Doomsday would be an encore for many a lesser band but Architects are not a lesser band – they have more in store.
Seeing Red is their encore track – excellent growth and a return to form that encourages the crowd to get involved – security guards are kept busy throughout the night and the finale is in grandstanding fashion – I’d love to know the total number of crowd surfers for this tour; it feels like many were going up for the first time. To be able to capture that experience from afar was a fascinating touch – as the cult of Architects are here to stay and by the end of the night few in the pit were left with energy to spare. The fire and fury of the Brighton band was brought to the 02 Arena – and it’s a miracle it is in one piece afterwards.
Words by Miles Milton Jefferies
Photography by Charis Lydia Bagioki
