Typically cloaked in black, the O2 Forum Kentish Town, when MetalTalk rolled through, was transformed into a riot of sparkle, fur, and unapologetic femininity as American Bimbocore icon Scene Queen took over North London, presenting a pledge of allegiance to the cult of chaos, glitter, and radical self-expression.
Scene Queen
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 6 September 2025
Words: Rhys Tagg
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
The night kicked off with two UK-based support acts: opinionated Pop provocateur Girli and Alt-Metal duo Lake Malice. Both stirred the pot with their own blend of chaos and charm, priming the crowd for the pink glitter bomb to come.
Their sets were declarations of sonic rebellion, each artist adding their own shade to the hyper-femme palette.
From the moment Hannah Collins, aka Scene Queen, stepped onto the stage, with a sickly sweet pink bubblegum backdrop and giant light-up balls, her self-proclaimed “Twerkle Pit” was ready, like a sparkling army.
From the opener, BDSM, tonight felt less like a gig and more like a homecoming. “It feels like a second home, like I’ve been adopted!” she squealed, visibly elated. And it rang true, her gratitude and humility pulsed through every breakdown and bass drop.
She announced she had played Manchester the night before, loud enough to rival a jet engine, and challenged London to keep up. The crowd shrieked back in sweaty solidarity.
As she launched into Pink Push-Up Bra and Finger, Collins declared she was mad at some man somewhere, which, let’s be honest, most of the crowd probably were too.
Her set was a rollercoaster of hyper-femme anthems and Metalcore breakdowns, laced with Trap beats and Screamo vocals. From the nostalgic sample of the Pink Panther theme on the track of the same name, to the brand-new Platform Shoes, each track detonated like a glitter grenade of empowerment.
Scene Queen’s lyrics are raw and honest, tackling womanhood, mental health, and sensuality with Bubblegum Pop flair and a scream. This is feminism with a wink and a breakdown. Think Barbie & Ken meets Slayer, but bathed in gems and fur rather than Reigning Blood.
What stood out most was the wave of expressionism across the venue. The crowd wore their personality and their sexuality literally on their sleeves. Fur, sparkle, pink, loud, ornate, and theatrical. It was fun. It was safe.
At one point, dripping in sweat, Collins teased, “Speaking of hot…” before launching into Hot Singles In Your Area. The crowd roared in agreement, a sweaty, glittery communion.
She spoke candidly about VIP ticket pricing, her small-town roots, and the importance of inclusion. Then came one of the night’s most touching moments as she pulled fans onstage and inducted them into her sorority, Bimbo Beta Pi. A pledge to be a friend and ally, to look out for those on their own, those who fall down, those who need an extra sparkle in their day. It was sweaty, loud, and safe.
The word safe is intentionally being repeated here because that is the ethos of this crowd, being created and led by Scene Queen.
This is an artist who is truly pointing a spotlight on the industry and making people squirm. But with that bright light comes a sanctuary and harmony. On this night and at these shows, the Heavy Metal world is getting flipped on its head, and it’s having a ripple effect, drawing in new fans and inspiring more artists to do the same.
The night closed with 18+, the most powerful message in the Scene Queen repertoire, a final chance to shake off oppression and scream out the last bit of angst. It was catharsis in glitter form.
Scene Queen baptised London in pink. The night was a celebration of hyper-femininity, anti-misogyny, and infectious hooks that left the crowd dripping in sweat and sparkle.
Without a doubt, Collins is the absolute Queen of this Scene.
