Kittie Live in London: Loud, Fierce and Unstoppable
Kittie took over London for an absolutely epic night, celebrating 30 years of heavy riffs and a legacy that helped define a generation of metal. For fans like me, who grew up listening to Kittie and finally got to see them live for the first time, the night was a mix of excitement, disbelief and that feeling of finally seeing a band you never thought you’d get the chance to experience live – especially after Kittie stepped away from the spotlight for years before making their long-awaited return in 2022. For others, it was all about the heavy mosh pits, raging energy and making memories. The brilliant 2000s metal band delivered a set packed with heavy-hitting bangers, reminding everyone exactly why Kittie became such a force in the late ’90s and 2000s.
Opening the night was the enigmatic Harpy, who immediately brought a fresh energy to the room as she took to the stage. Her soft, captivating vocals blended seamlessly with pop, nu-goth and alt-metal, creating a sound that was both haunting and strangely beautiful. She performed tracks from her late-2025 album VII, an intriguing concept record built around the seven deadly sins. Each of its seven tracks represents one of the sins – pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth – with each exploring a different facet of Harpy’s identity. It made for an intriguing start to the evening and a strong introduction to an artist clearly unafraid to experiment with both her sound and her vision.
Next up were Split Chain, a band I first discovered at Slam Dunk last year, where they made their festival debut. Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength, and their upcoming London headline show at The Underworld on 25th September this year is another sign of just how quickly they’re making their mark.
Their set brought a heavier, more energetic edge to the night, with tracks including ‘who am I?’, ‘bored. tired. torn.’ and ‘I’m not dying to be here’ getting the crowd moving. Having already seen them at Slam Dunk, I knew exactly what to expect — and they didn’t disappoint. The Bristol band brought plenty of energy to London, kicking off mosh pits, sending crowdsurfers overhead and keeping the room moving from start to finish. It was a seriously good performance and the perfect way to prepare O2 Academy Islington for what was still to come.
There was something almost surreal about finally seeing Kittie live. Growing up in Eastern Europe in the 2000s, their music was a defining part of my teenage years, yet they never made it to Bulgaria. When the band stepped away, I assumed I had missed my chance to ever see them on stage. After years away, Kittie made their full return in 2024, reigniting a legacy that had never really disappeared.
All these years later, watching Morgan Lander command the stage and unleash that unmistakable scream felt like a long-overdue, full-circle moment. But Kittie’s return is about far more than nostalgia. They are a legacy – one of the all-female heavy bands that helped challenge the boundaries of a scene still largely dominated by men, paving the way for countless artists who followed.
Their set moved confidently across their catalogue, from Spit and Oracle through to Fire and I’ve Failed You, with each track met by a response that made it clear just how deeply this band’s music has endured. The energy in the room never let up, but there was also a sense of something bigger unfolding: a band reclaiming its place on the stage and reminding everyone why its music has remained so important.
And when the lights went down, the crowd demanded one more song. Kittie returned with ‘Brackish’, the song that first introduced them to the world, followed by ‘Eyes Wide Open’, the track that helped mark their return with Fire, their first new studio album in 13 years, released in 2024. Hearing those two songs together felt like the perfect full-circle moment – a reminder of where Kittie came from and where they are headed next. After all these years, they are back where they belong: on stage, loud, fierce and unstoppable. And after witnessing this return, I’m genuinely excited to see what comes next for Kittie.
