As December Falls, Lake Malice and Campbell King hit London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town and played a massive part in an excellent evening’s entertainment. This was an evening where RØRY would show that, despite every bit of adversity, every setback and challenge, she is here now, and she is a certified star.
As December Falls + Lake Malice + Campbell King
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 6 March 2025
Words: Matt Pratt
Photography: Ash Nash
As December Falls
A hugely exciting young band on the rise, this highly anticipated show was extra special for myself. As a Nottingham local, we have seen a stratospheric rise for our own pop-punk ambassadors, and 2025 looks to be their biggest year yet.
In a move of genius atmosphere manipulation, As December Falls blasted the Vengaboys Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! over the speakers in preparation for their arrival. This unsurprisingly boosted spirits and left smiles all over the room.
But no smile shone brighter than that of Bethany Curtis, who beamed the most infectious grin most will ever have seen as she skipped onto the stage.
The four-piece rattled off an assortment of their already popular hits, songs such as Therapy, Carousel, Mayday and Angry Cry. It feels cheap to liken a female-fronted pop punk band to the early works of Paramore, but I could not help but expect them to break out in a rendition of crushcrushcrush at any given moment.
Hopefully, the band will forgive such a comparison with their own promotion, leaning on their similarities.
This taster suggested tonight is not to be the last appearance in a London venue this year for the Nottinghamshire outfit. They promoted an album on the way this coming August and tactfully drew a “pinky promise” out of the crowd to catch them on their next visit.
The wild performance was met with tremendous energy, with mosh pits and crowd surfers to boot. One can only take that as a seal of approval.
I am eagerly awaiting the promised album, and the summer cannot come quickly enough. With hopefully an autumn tour to follow, make sure to catch As December Falls where you can.
Lake Malice
I was shocked to find Lake Malice so low on a support schedule. The energetic two-piece, who tour as a three-piece, have gained a solid following online with their electronically charged brand of Metal.
The performance they delivered was one of a band too familiar with a stage so grand. Bursting with confidence, the duo summoned tremendous energy from the early crowd. Their rich and full sound was met with bouncing, rhythmic waving, crowd surfers and even, uniquely, a conga pit. They explained this was their more inclusive take on the traditional circle pit.
Lake Malice already have their name scattered throughout the UK music scene in 2025, with plenty of shows and festivals to follow. Their effervescent, modern sound, which can be compared to already hugely successful artists like Wargasm, Calva Louise and Cody Frost, demands attention and will doubtlessly see them bound into the limelight.
Campbell King
Tonight’s show hosted an additional support slot in comparison to the rest of RØRY’s tour, appropriately giving the opportunity for upcoming talent to capture some fresh ears. Campbell King offered an unusual sound for the evening.
As opposed to the riotous Metal energy which was to come, this slot was filled by a much more stripped-back acoustic performance. The set got off to a rocky start through no fault of Cambell’s, as a couple of teething problems with the sound had the vocalist engaging in some friendly small talk with the earlycomers.
Once the show got underway, Campbell looked perfectly at home, delivering thoughtful lyrics with a sound that felt reminiscent of Kae Tempest or some of The Street’s more mellow work.
The short performance showed great promise and was received with pleasant respect from the crowd. Campbell’s work is relatable and intimate in its content and exceptionally pleasant to listen to.
Campbell King will make a fine addition to your daily playlist and as a soundtrack to your evening when they inevitably tour the country.
