BURY TOMORROW// O2 GUILDHALL, SOUTHAMPTON
Bury Tomorrow turn their hometown into a celebration of strength
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)
BURY TOMORROW AT O2 GUILDHALL, SOUTHAMPTON
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
Many musicians make their mark in their hometown, but only a few can say that they’ve built a big enough fanbase on an international scale. Since their beginning, Bury Tomorrow have gone from strength to strength, and with their recent announcement as part of Slam Dunk’s May 2026 line-up, it’s clear the boys are continuing their rise. However, Saturday night was particularly memorable as the band visited their hometown as part of their UK headline tour. The O2 Guildhall has hosted many great performances, from You Me At Six to Blink 182, and tonight, it welcomed Bury Tomorrow to that lineup.
Not only did Bury Tomorrow give a triumphant hometown return, but they also gave us lots of goodness in the shape of support acts. Kickstarting the party on a cold Saturday evening was Siamese, opening with the haunting notes of “Predator”; it made for a striking and memorable entrance. From Copenhagen, Denmark, the five-piece commanded stage presence effortlessly. Blending charisma, precision, and passion throughout their seven-track set. Closing with “Ocean Bed”, featuring Bury Tomorrow's own Tom. The group made quite an impression not only with their talent but also with their cheeky sense of humour and tight crowd control. They proved they could easily come back and headline their own tour. If you haven’t already, we highly recommend giving them a listen and adding them to your Spotify playlists – we definitely have.
With little room to catch our breath, California heavyweights LionHeart quite literally roared onto the stage. Backed by a strobe lighting show intense enough to revive the dead, their no-nonsense attitude made one thing clear – you were going to have fun, or else. With basslines that shook the floor and with relentless energy, they powered through their set. Declaring that Southampton had indeed had some of the hardest moshers of the night. Despite the absence of their lead singer, it was up to their bassist to lead the group. But you would never have noticed the absence blasting through well-known rock classics “Break Stuff” and “Fight for Your Right”.
Concluding the trio of support acts was Nevertel, who pulled in the rest of the crowd and turned the Guildhall into a packed, buzzing room. By the time they took the stage, it was clear many in attendance were there as much for them as the headliner. With one fan next to me mentioning how she had travelled from Cardiff just to see them. The group was the perfect conclusion with heavy riffs and polished vocals. The already hyped-up room was now well and truly warmed up and ready for the act of the night.
As the lights dropped and a red hue arrived, the crowd erupted once more, and it was time for the hometown heroes. Opening with the guttural growls of “Choke”, the first order of the night came from lead singer Dani commanding to “Open the pit up!” The perfect track to open a set with, the anthemic chorus allowing the crowd to partake straight away. A brutal start that set a pace that refused to waver, with nothing but their stamina and intensity building with each track.
Nerves are a friend of any live musician, and I’m sure tonight, Bury Tomorrow’s were likely running a little higher than usual. With fans who’ve followed them since their early days packed into the Guildhall and eager to see what they had in store. But that didn’t show; instead, there wasn’t a single sweat on show; instead, it was nothing but a celebration. That was a key theme tonight, along with many wonderful talks on living our lives.
This made “Life” a treat to hear live. Dani’s ferocious scream was perfectly balanced out with Tom's melodic vocals, showing just what makes them so strong. The band's fierce musicality was reflected in full display, with Ed moving across the stage with a menacing swirl, never missing a note on his guitar. Meanwhile, the crowd pounded out the lyrics in unison, a stark reminder of the song's message.
During a brief break in the set, Dan took a moment to reflect on his journey from a 13-year-old with a love for music to being on the road on their own headline tour. What followed was a personal favourite, “Let Go”, which truly shone live. With Tom’s clean vocals piercing from the background while the three took care of the rest up front. Shout out to the lighting during this number; at moments when Dani sang, he was shrouded in darkness with a single beam casting his shadow, adding that little extra dramatic flair. The following track, “Villain Arc”, flipped the script with them bathed in a deep, almost romantic, sinister edge, perfectly enhancing the intensity of the lyrics.
Amid the madness a wonderful speech came when Dani honed in on the power of community. Speaking of the need for making safe, inclusive spaces. One of inclusion, to be kind, to care and to be good allies and create safety for those around us. The world outside may be on fire, he said, but it’s truly metal to care about each other. As he told people to link arms, a sense of unity swept across the room. A reminder of just how strong the metal community can be when it comes together.
That speech led into the power of a torchlight-fuelled “What If I Burn”; during “Waiting” the energy heightened, and a summoned circle pit was on order. Before closing out their 15-track set, Dani spoke openly about mental health. How it should be mental health day every day, and emphasising the importance of talking, being strong and never being scared to ask for help. Ask for help.
Closing on "Abandon Us", one thing was clear. That tonight was both a homecoming celebration and a little spark of inspiration for anyone chasing their own creative dreams. Not just the talent that was radiating and vibrating from the stage out and across the crowd but motivation. The entire show served as a lesson on just how important music is to many, not just as an art form but as an advocate towards mental health. With tracks like "Cannibal" and "Heretic", this group continues to push boundaries paired with vulnerability. Combined with the many charged words, it’s incredibly easy to see why many fans have felt themselves drawn to the group.
Overall everything about Saturday night was sharp, on point and controlled, with each member working cohesively yet fluidly. United but free-spirited, creating a powerhouse full of passion. Concluding their U.K. tour on a soaring high, and if anything, I would say that Bury Tomorrow are truly getting started…. Bring on Slam Dunk.
REVIEW BY: KIRSTY BRIGHT
PHOTOS BY: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
