After a 13-year hiatus from touring, Deathcore legends All Shall Perish finally hit the road to the sheer excitement of their fans for their Europe Slamageddon Tour 2025. Joined by Peeling Flesh, Vulvodynia and Acranius, this was an international affair of sweat, tears, blood, and some truly hardcore mosh pits.
Peeling Flesh – Vulvodynia – Acranius
O2 Academy Islington – 25 November 2025
Words: Natalia Kasiarz
Photography: Antonio Giannattasio
All Shall Perish are widely regarded as one of the originators, those who created a blueprint for the genre. But, dare I say it, half the audience was there purely for Peeling Flesh.
Peeling Flesh
Their long-awaited London date pulled in a massive crowd, and the queue at their merch stand said it all, as it doubled back on itself and barely fit inside the O2 Academy Islington 2 venue, right beside the main stage.
The anticipation was building up from the moment people stepped through the doors.
Peeling Flesh are a revelation for a generation raised on GTA, that grew up listening to both rap and Metal. Somehow, they were able to fuse all of that influence into their cleverly crafted Slamming Gangster Groove.
Their duality on stage is something else entirely. Their music makes you want to swing your fists in the air, yet the love and kindness of the band members at the same time make you want to hug them. Peeling Flesh are savage, thuggish, and so irresistibly fun.
The in-between audio snippets, echoing mixtape and sample culture, kept the tension high, with an especially fun Christmas-like jingle bells interlude that was suddenly followed by the filthiest drop and the most gut-wrenching squeals known to humankind.
Peeling Flesh bridge the image of the street culture that shaped so many millennials. Kids that used to watch American gangster films, rapped along to Eminem and Dr. Dre and drooled over Pimp My Ride cars moshed relentlessly during their set. Women in the crowd did not shy away from the centre of the storm, usually reserved for those who want to experience an unruly battlefield.
Some of them must have crowd-surfed a dozen times. I kept seeing the same faces pushing their way back into the melting pot, ready to ride the wave again and again.
I walked away happy, yet I could not shake the feeling that all of this would have been even cooler as a no-barrier set. Maybe next time.
Vulvodynia
This was my second time seeing Vulvodynia, and in stark contrast to the previous show at the grand Roundhouse, this smaller gig at the O2 Academy Islington brought you up close and personal with their insane riffs and squealing tales.
Their drummer filled the space with countless sub-drops, which made a huge difference to the overall feel of the band. They sounded more explosive, far more aggressive, and dare I say even slightly maniacal.
What we experienced was the perfect storm crafted by these South African marvels of Death Slam, dubbed one of the most exciting acts coming out of their continent.
Sadly, their set was short, with only seven songs filling the precious 30 minutes on stage. I felt we could have done with much more.
Entabeni, their latest release, was celebrated the most. This album showcases a more mature side of Vulvodynia, as it explores topics beyond the genre’s usual violent and gory materials.
The added depth comes from reflections over important historical events that marred their home country, introducing the shadows of a real pain confronted by the people from their part of the world.
Acranius
The sleepy German city of Rostock should be proud to call itself home to this brutal slamming Death Metal band. Acranius cleverly blends aggressive sounds under Hardcore and Deathcore influence, making their music simply barbaric.
If the opening act was already so murderous, what should we expect from the bands that are yet to come on stage? That is what I kept asking myself as I held my beer tightly to my chest, dodging the flying limbs of everyone around me, expressing their joy to the sound of music.
This band has seen continuous lineup changes over the years, yet what remains unbothered is their drive to create and release new music. This gives them a sense of freshness, even though they have been present in Europe for almost two decades.
Their new single, Synchronised, released a few weeks ago, is hopefully a sign that a brand-new album is on the way. Live the song sounded vicious, filled with guttural screams that induce nightmares and heavy, intense breakdowns attacking you from all directions.
