Crystal Lake & Miss May I Celebrate with Their Fans in London
On Thursday night, Tokyo’s Crystal Lake and Ohio’s Miss May I took over London’s O2 Islington, delivering a full-on metalcore assault that set the room ablaze from the very first chord. Fresh off an EU tour that began in the Netherlands in February, the co-headliners arrived in top form. The result was an unforgettable night and a crowd that matched it every step of the way.
I found myself at O2 Islington on a weeknight and, honestly, no complaints. There’s something special about a weekday show, and this one was an absolute treat. The night kicked off with Diesect, Brisbane’s full-on metalcore force, who wasted no time delivering heavy-hitting riffs that had the crowd instantly fired up.
The band had recently released the deluxe edition of ‘Hide From The Light’, an extension of their work that feels like a complete chapter in a book. Listening to it is like reaching the end of a story, the themes are fully explored, everything feels resolved and there’s a real sense of closure, while still leaving you eager for what comes next. With this release, Diesect have clearly completed this stage of their musical journey and seeing it performed live made that achievement feel even more real.
Next up were Great American Ghost. Vocalist Ethan Harrison stepped forward, his jacket reading “This machine kills fascists” a nod to American singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie, and immediately unleashed chaos. Ethan kept the fans fully engaged, joking, “I’m not going to tell you what not to do” as he encouraged crowd surfing. He stayed right in the thick of the action, helping security lift crowd surfers and even joining the action himself.
Miss May I stormed the O2 Academy Islington stage with explosive energy, kicking things off as Jerod Boyd hyped the crowd from behind his kit. From the start, the band locked into a powerful groove that never let up. Singer Levi Benton was constantly in motion, bringing a mix of intense screams and genuine enthusiasm, while Ryan Neff’s clean vocals added strong melody to each chorus. The crowd, though modest in size, was fully committed, singing along and matching the band’s energy throughout. Tracks like ‘I.H.E.’ had everyone shouting along, while ‘Forgive and Forget’ pushed the room into overdrive with fast drums and nonstop movement.
The night was far from over, as anticipation had been building for Miss May I’s return. Preparing their eighth studio album for 2026, the band played new singles ‘Die on the Vine’ and ‘Pray for Silence’ toward the end of the set, before closing with ‘Hey Mister’, leaving the audience buzzing.
Closing the night were Tokyo’s powerhouse Crystal Lake. They took over and immediately ignited the crowd as vocalist John Robert Centorrino called for crowd surfers. From the very first note, the spotlight hit drummer Gaku Taura, highlighting the driving force behind the band’s frantic metalcore.
Formed in 2002, Crystal Lake are known for blending hardcore and metalcore with infectious melodies and crushing heaviness for years. Their set drew mainly from their latest album ‘The Weight of Sound’ and earlier release ‘Helix’, with tracks like ‘Neversleep’, ‘Blüdgod’ and ‘Everblack’ immersing the audience in the band’s intense world. Guitarist and founder Yudai ‘YD’ Miyamoto’s shredding and backing vocals added layers of ferocity, reflecting the band’s evolution and unique crossover style.
The gig also highlighted Crystal Lake’s devoted fanbase. At one point, John shouted, ‘We’re all Crystal Lake’, and, in a charmingly Japanese gesture, encouraged the crowd to raise their hands in the shape of hearts. While the venue might not have been sold out, the sense of community and connection was unmistakable. Fans sang, cheered and moved together with genuine enthusiasm, making it clear that the bond between the band and their audience goes far beyond numbers!
