I am always up for some midweek Heavy Metal antics, as anyone who knows me will testify to. So when the opportunity to see Adept, a band I had only recently discovered, somehow, but still managed to tick every box of the criteria needed to get me instantly hooked, I could not turn it down.
Adept
O2 Academy Islington – 3 December 2025
Words And Photography: Lawrence Potter
Unfortunately, the odds of getting to the venue on time were definitely not in my favour this time around. Having to deal with the general chaos that is London traffic, as well as some miscommunication at the venue’s front desk, which, for a while, put my attendance in question, I unfortunately missed a fair portion of the show.
I managed to get inside, just as the final support act of the night, A Thousand Below, were finishing. Kudos to the sound guy tonight, who was absolutely on point.
Around 9:45, the lights dim, and I, as well as the other photographers, make our way towards the pit. “LET IT RAIN, LET IT POUR” thunder through the O2 Academy Islington as the crowd scream in elation, and on walks Adept.
After listening to this song as well as the rest of Blood Covenant on repeat for the past few weeks, I can happily say this band hits even harder live.
As a sizeable mosh pit forms, and more or less stays put for the majority of the performance. Adept put on a non-stop onslaught of Metalcore excellence.
Although the set is obviously created heavily towards the new album, the band do not shy away from sprinkling a few older tunes in, such as Shark! Shark! Shark, Business Of Living, and At Least Give Me My Dreams Back, You Negligent Whore. What a song title, right?
Songs from Blood Covenant gave us some superb moments during the show. Songs like my personal favourite, You, which is emotionally driven yet still manages to kick you right in the balls at the same time, and others such as Define Me, which is very riff-heavy but again lifts you straight back up with its catchy chorus.
This is a staple that Adept have perfected down to a tee.
Adept delivers an intense yet emotional performance that is only heightened by their relentless energy. The band’s new material has done an incredible job of bringing these Swedish rockers back to the limelight, and I expect even bigger and better things to follow after tonight.
