Beartooth were once the gritty and gnarly bastions of wearing your heart on your sleeve, but have reached such a point of success that they have become a slick mainstage alt-rock band for all. We’re promised the wildest night ever by frontman Caleb Shomo and, together with the superb Landmvrks and Polaris, it’s not such an outlandish claim.

Landmvrks continue their rise through the levels and venues, and having caught their headline tour at O2 Ritz earlier this year, they’re genuinely hitting the heights we always knew they would. The stage has a ‘Creature’ themed and lit backdrop which only serves to pump the crowd with anticipation and excitement. From start to finish, this set is a flawless masterclass in melodic, passionate, and intensely aggressive yet musically dynamic hardcore metal. The Marseille-based band deliver an impressive and professional performance, tearing through a lineup of meticulously crafted songs. The pit goes off throughout the night as the band make full use of the stage, bounding, punching, and kicking in sync to the beat.

Each song is delivered with razor-sharp precision, with ‘Death’ standing out as a track that showcases not only the band’s full repertoire but their connection with the crowd. Florent Salfati leads with versatile vocals—clean, guttural, hardcore, rapped and screamed—that are pitch-perfect every time. It’s the cohesive bond of their songwriting and stage presence that elevates Landmvrks. The hardcore ripper ‘Rainfall’ has the crowd jumping and set closer ‘Self Made Blackhole’ gets us all singing in unison. Landmvrks are rising fast in not only the melodic hardcore and metalcore scenes but the metal arena full-stop.

Polaris have similarly evolved even further in sound since we last saw them and I’d now position them somewhere between Northlane and Architects. They have of course also had to deal with the tragic loss of guitarist Ryan Siew, and this is the first time I’ve seen them live since his passing. They present a polished, professional product on stage, effortlessly delivering a dynamic set of techy-metal, hardcore, and metalcore.

Jamie Hails prowls the stage with brutal, rasping unclean vocals, while Jake Steinhauser’s clean vocal lines from the bass strike at just the right moments. Their guitars are punchy, jagged, and technical, with the rhythm section thundering to drive it all forward. Polaris know how to engage a crowd, and their call to live in the moment is echoed by everyone in the venue. Florent from Landmvrks even joins in for a song, diving into the crowd at the end. But the set is all about Polaris who, despite the tragic setback, are seemingly on the verge of something big.

Beartooth have risen through the ranks of the alternative metal scene with a combination of hard work and raw emotion, inviting fans along for every part of the journey. Frontman Caleb Shomo began writing for Beartooth back in his Attack Attack! days, fusing metalcore with punk rock and embracing the cathartic power of stripped-back sound. Two nights in a row at the O2 Victoria Warehouse is testament to their success and drive. They explode onto the stage with purpose, delivering snarling guitars, pounding drums, and heart-on-sleeve vocals that get the crowd bouncing and singing along.

However, there is something almost too slick and smooth compared to previous times I’ve seen them. The energy doesn’t falter and it is a polished show, complete with confetti from the first song, a slick production, and plenty of sing-along moments…but it is devoid of passion, aggression and grit. Tonight, they are backed by a massive set of wall-to-ceiling screens flaring out images, colours and lyrics throughout. The addition of multi-coloured lasers and flame effects means the fans are treated to a show worthy of the entrance fee. Yet, while it is technically flawless, the show leans heavily on Caleb’s presence; the rest of the band remain shadowy silhouettes at the back of the stage against those massive bright screens, while Caleb performs with a spotlight literally on him throughout. Tunes like ‘Disease’ and ‘Devastation’ are still stellar tracks, but this feels like it could easily be a solo act now rather than a band.

As the set progresses, with pauses for breath and Caleb costume changes, I get the feeling the edge that Beartooth once had has given way to a cream soda or PG-13 version of metalcore, and that feeling is probably even more noticeable with them following Landmvrks and Polaris. It all feels safe rather than dangerous, but the songs are still excellently written and lyrically dynamic. The crowd full of fans love it though, and even an acoustic cover of ‘Mr. Brightside’ can’t dull their enthusiasm and spirits. It’s clear that Beartooth’s spectacle has a place on the big stage and are in a league of their own…it’s just that the league they play in might be for something different to what they used to represent.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Beartooth + Polaris + Landmvrks