Halestorm headlined London’s massive The O2 Arena for the first time in their existence, proving that hard work does eventually pay off.
Halestorm: They Can Headline… Whatever They Want.
The O2, London – 26 November 2026
Words: Bogdan Bele
Photography: Ryan Hildrew
Let’s start with a little story. It’s a short one, I promise. I first saw Halestorm over 11 years ago, in Vienna, opening for Alter Bridge. It wouldn’t be the only time they would do it. It also wasn’t too early in their career, since they started in 1997.
Suffice to say that, while a solid performance in itself, I was not entirely convinced at the time. I noticed what a great singer they had in Lzzy Hale, and how good and tight the band was, but the music itself wasn’t necessarily for me. I do remember that there was a group of very enthusiastic young girls in front of the stage.
However, over the following years, as I got several chances to see them again, including that memorable occasion when they headlined the second main stage at Download 2019 (not to mention opening for Iron Maiden at London Stadium earlier this year), this band grew into the absolute monster that it is today. The music matured as well.
This band never went away. This partnership (the same since 2004) of musicians continued to be there, to hustle, as guitarist Joe Hottinger says in a recent MetalTalk interview, for every additional fan, bigger room, stream, and album sold.
And it all led to this. Halestorm headlining The O2 Arena and other similar-sized places and doing so in a fashion that was nothing short of commanding.
First of all, even if the new record is very good (it is), and probably the best of their career (very likely), how many bands would get away with a set that includes two thirds of if? Without being a prog artist with two 40-minute tracks making up an album, that is.
If you haven’t listened to Everest yet, do it now. The title track sounds incredible tonight, with that massive riff just jumping out at you, grabbing you by the throat and carrying you with it.
But until the title track, which comes toward the end of the set, there’s another huge one, Fallen Star, with that fantastic drum part by Arejay Hale. It comes right after an intro of the band playing the first part of Black Sabbath’s eponymous song. WATCH OUT! Is a true declaration of war, announcing clearly, “that bitch is out for blood”.
On the other hand, Shiver and Like A Woman Can are two incredibly sensitive moments. The latter has one of the most powerful guitar solos in the band’s career, not to mention THOSE vocals. All that translates phenomenally in the live environment. Jaw-dropping stuff. And this is just talking about the new tracks in the set.
Those that shaped the band’s music are also remembered, with a beautiful phones-in-the-air version of How Will You Remember Me?, most certainly a staple in future Halestorm setlists.
Then, on top of the new ones, the set added pretty much all the fan favourites, some of them modified just enough to make things even more interesting. I Get Off and Freak Like Me highlight the fantastic connection between this band and its fans, and both get great receptions.
Mz. Hyde and Uncomfortable, odes to being different and proud of it, also sound great. Lzzy encourages everyone to be themselves and let everyone deal with it before launching into the latter.
It’s one great vocal performance after another from her. Hitting all the highs is no issue, but what makes it great is the sheer force of the voice (if you have ever seen them live, that is no big surprise), and the band sounds just as great. We even get what’s likely the first drum solo with a moshpit to ever grace this location.
There has to be a special mention for the sound tonight. From where I was sitting, it sounded very good throughout. Not “great for an arena”, great – period.
Visually, it certainly is an eye-catching show, without taking any attention away from the music. A backdrop of the album cover and a whole lot of Marshall amps are completed by tasteful lighting, as well as just the right amount of pyro and CO2 jets. Of course, I Am The Fire features a lot of… well, fire.
Now, this last bit is for those I have seen leaving before the encore (not many, but there were a few). You missed the mother of all encores, with I Am the Fire sounding great, and then a cover of Ozzy’s Perry Mason, plus the obligatory Here’s To Us.
It is great to see how far this band has come. There is certainly much more to come, but they can easily headline whatever they want based on tonight’s performance.
A special mention for how the band has not forgotten their crew, without whom none of this would be happening, mentioning them at the end.
Bloodywood
Second on the bill tonight are New Delhi’s Bloodywood. A lot of bands will say that they sound different from anything you have ever heard. Well, these guys can back that up with a combo of Indian traditional music, Nu Metal, and hip-hop.
I had been meaning to see them for a long time now, and for some reason something always got in the way. Therefore, I was very happy to hear they were part of the nEverest tour.
And Bloodywood did not disappoint. For some reason, the mix I mentioned above works perfectly, and they certainly used all the weapons at their disposal.
They are incredibly catchy, as well as properly heavy, and this certainly made the The O2 bounce. Promoting their latest record, called Nu Delhi (see what they did there?), and visibly keen to show massive crowds what they are made of, they were a perfect opener.
And this, despite being radically different from the headliner, musically speaking. I don’t think anyone had reasons to complain.
Kelsy Karter And The Heroines
Opening tonight’s proceedings, Kelsy Karter And The Heroines play the first couple of songs while people are still making their way in, but the crowd grows after that.
It is an engaging show, with Kelsy a very dynamic frontwoman, obviously not at all fazed by the occasion.
My personal highlights: Lightning In A Bottle (written about the band itself), as well as the cover of Aerosmith’s Cryin’.
