While She Sleeps have been on a tear since becoming an independent band in 2020. The band has released two successful albums, Sleeps Society and Self Hell, as well as, debuting their own subscription service, which netted them the inaugural Innovation Award at the 2022 Heavy Music Awards.
Despite not charting due to their independent status, While She Sleeps sold out their biggest headline show to date at Alexandra Palace in 2023, showcasing a triumphant rise not only for the band itself, but for modern British metal as a whole.
Now with the release of their latest record Self Hell, and the heaviest of support from Resolve, Thrown and Currents, While She Sleeps are back on the road and bringing their unique brand of heavy metal energy to Kentish Town’s O2 Forum for two consecutive nights.
I attended the first of these two nights and arrived around midway through Thrown’s set – sorry Resolve, I’m sure you were great. Thrown put on a powerhouse of a performance that was easily the heaviest of the night, whilst surprising me with some groovier beats underscoring the visceral unclean vocals. I for one will certainly have my ear out for them as I implore those reading to do so also.
Next to the stage is Currents. I’d previously seen them headline Islington’s O2 Academy in what was easily the most over-packed crowd I’ve ever been a part of, so my expectation was that the crowd in attendance would go just as crazy for them tonight.
My expectations were well and truly met as you could be forgiven for mistaking them for the headline act. Currents put on a pitch perfect display of what a main support act should be. High energy, crowd engaging and supportive of the bands that have come before, Currents would have stolen the show, but then this is a While She Sleeps show.
Finally the lights dim and Self Hell’s intro track “PEACE OF MIND” plays as While She Sleeps take to the stage. Once everyone is in position the band explode into their first song of the night “LEAVE ME ALONE” and the crowd comes unglued. The lights are going crazy, everyone knows the words, they’ve had since March to learn them, and the boys from Sheffield are as confident and technically masterful as ever.
As this is a tour in support of While She Sleeps’ latest album Self Hell, it makes sense that 6 of the 16 songs played that night were from that album, even if the album isn’t as strong as much of their previous work.
Fortunately, I felt almost converted by the live performances of these songs as they hit with a ferocity that can only be experienced live. This being said, I do believe there are some better songs that many would rather see included on any While She Sleeps sets such as; “Brainwashed”, “Seven Hills”, “Haunt Me” and “I’ve Seen It All”.
However, it is tough to complain when 6 new songs are combined with 10 absolute bangers from While She Sleeps’ last 4 albums. I am particularly a fan of “You Are We”, “You Are All You Need”, “Silence Speaks” and “Four Walls” and the boys didn’t disappoint in their performance of them as always.
The night would be capped off in an unconventionally emotional note as the band honored a friend who passed away, which lead to them writing what would be the penultimate song of the night, “To The Flowers”.
Usually, I find While She Sleeps’ strengths are in their guitar riffs and high energy metal output, however, their performance of To The Flowers was easily the moment of the night as it brought a deeper sentiment to the show, as well as, a significant amount of growth from the Sheffield boys.
The night ends with the single Sleeps Society, which may not have been the right choice, as a lot of people headed for the door, but for those who didn’t it brought the energy back up one more time to cap off what was yet another masterclass from While She Sleeps in live metal performance.
Overall, While She Sleeps are a good time guarantee for any metalhead. The set may be in service of a more mediocre musical output, but the passion in the performance of these songs could very well convert you on that album.
Delivering the high quality expected, whilst infusing heart and soul into the mix with To The Flowers, While She Sleeps are better than ever and still evolving. Their album may be titled Self Hell, but this show, like any While She Sleeps show, was a sizable slice of heavy metal heaven.
Words by Dan Harden // Photography by Martina Antonia Liberini
