Live Review: Hollywood Undead – o2 Forum Kentish Town

Californian nu-metal quintet Hollywood Undead took to the stage at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town last Friday, to mark the release of their new album New Empire, Vol 1 from the same day.  Supporting the band for this special one time show was Pengshui.

The London based three-piece Pengshui opened up the night with a high energy set, fusing grime like vocals with musical influences from hip-hop, metal, and punk. With their thumping bass the band really did warm up the crowd. A very interesting set, and a band I’ll 100% check out again.

It’s always really nice for an American band to play UK shows however it’s always really special when they want to have their album launch show over here. There’s a real energy in the room before the band comes on as everyone is chanting the chorus of ‘Everywhere I go’, then the lights go down and the band appear on stage and start playing one of their new songs ‘Time Bomb’.

The setlist for the night featured tunes from their whole discography. All of which – old to the ones off the new album – the crowd know all the words and sing throughout the night. Halfway through the night, the band invited a fan up on stage to play the guitar of ‘comin in hot’ alongside them. Which the fan nailed!

Unlike the bands lyric “I’ve played a million empty shows to only family and friends”, Fridays night’s show was definitely not empty with fans filling the o2 Forum Kentish Town, but rather than the room feeling like it was full of strangers, the bands constant interactions with fans along with all the crowd participation made it feel like a room filled with family and friends. A great way to spend valentines day whether you had someone to share it with or not.