Two nights after I had witnessed a relatively sedate evening at this venue, where the accessible area was almost fuller than the main standing area, there is an air of malevolence crossed with palpable excitement as the queue for Whitechapel, Northlane and Profiler, which stretches way around Electric Bristol, slowly shuffles from the welcome heat to an initially cool and temperate interior.
Whitechapel – Northlane – Profiler
Electric Bristol – 16 June 2025
Words And Photography: Paul Hutchings
There are big guns in town tonight, and the Bristol crowd has responded with a huge turnout. Plenty have clearly come for an intensive cardiac workout, for the swirling pits that start during Profiler’s opening set are still swinging wildly when the headliners hit the stage over 90-minutes later. 
Whitechapel
Fresh from their appearance at Download Festival the day before, Whitechapel are not viewing this as an opportunity to relax. Far from it.
As with all bands tonight, the stage is bathed in blues, pinks, reds, and ample swirling dry ice. It is a tog’s nightmare and leads to some puzzled looks in the rather busy photo pit. That gets even busier when security flood in to ensure that the inevitable deluge of crowd suffers begin their assault on the front lines.
Led by founder member Phil Bozeman, whose guttural roars are something to behold, Whitechapel savage the venue like a dog with a play toy, delivering a crushing display of brutal Deathcore, which is relentless from start to finish. 
With over an hour to pulverise the packed room, Whitechapel do just that, and their three-pronged, multi-stringed guitar assault provides more riffs than one can cope with.
At times, the barrage is almost overwhelming, but in a satisfyingly good way.
Whitechapel have accumulated a hugely dedicated following over the two decades since they formed, and they know what they are doing. It is intense, highly charged, and bloody warm as bodies fly over the barriers, giving security plenty to occupy themselves.
Behind the front few rows, the pit swirls, the bodies slam into each other, and the fire rages. Yet, all around, there are smiles on faces. Yes, despite the sheer aggression that simmers, it’s all good-natured, as we would expect.
The set includes a good chunk from their latest album, the impressive Hymns In Dissonance, with the album opener, Prisoner 666 and the title track reigniting the already simmering floor. It is a steamroller to the aural senses without a doubt, and the band are focused on doing the business.
There are few smiles on stage; this is serious stuff. 
Fourteen songs provide ample time for the band to stretch across their discography, which they do with ease. They dip into several releases, including a bruising A Bloodsoaked Symphony from Kin and a blistering Hate Cult Ritual from the latest album that sees Bozeman don his now instantly recognisable mask from the cover of Hymns In Dissonance.
It is a gimmick and lasts seconds, but the crowd roar their approval. 
Even though this is far from my natural go to listen, there is something compelling about Whitechapel. Maybe it is the honesty and integrity that they bring. Maybe it is the constant pounding of drummer Brandon Zackey, whose blast beats are incredible.
Or maybe it is just the sheer energy that they bring which crackles through the audience. Whatever, I did enjoy this more than I expected, and one can see why their following is large and devoted. 
As they reach their finale, The Saw Is The Law, bodies are broken, surfers are still flying across the venue, and people are happy.
For a Monday night, Whitechapel have pulled in an almost capacity crowd. That alone tells the story. One, I suspect, has plenty of pages yet to be completed.
Northlane
Billed as a co-headline bill, one reflects that there is a slight mismatch here in terms of sheer muscular power. The Australians Northlane are not in a competitive mood, letting their slightly more complex Metalcore take its own path around the almost full building.
Northlane’s style is slightly less in your face than the headliners, but they complement them well and are no slouches when it comes to getting heavy.
There are riffs galore, plenty of massive, sonically charged breakdowns, and, in Marcus Bridge, they possess a very solid singer. His range switches throughout, and along with his snazzy linen suit, he is probably the most eccentrically dressed tonight as well. The jacket was soon to be removed due to the sweltering heat inside Electric Bristol.
Bridge is flanked by Jon Deiley, who cuts the lead work along with ample programming, and newish rhythm guitarist Josh Smith, who deals with some of the harsh vocals well.
Bridge swirls and flits, up and off the box he has at the front of the stage, conducting the crowd, many who are word perfect.
Northlane’s style allows a little opportunity to slow the pace occasionally, which suits both the crowd and the watching media. They take mainly from their more recent records, Obsidian, Mirrors Edge and Alien, all songs getting a roar of recognition.
4D stirs things early, Bloodline reaches deep, and Clarity pushes the pit harder. They end on Clockwork, from Obsidian, and then they are gone.
The crowd roar their appreciation, and I think that Northlane have truly cemented their reputation in the UK.
Profiler
It is a demonstration of the love of live music in this part of the world that openers Profiler draw a very healthy audience. Singer Mike Evans love of Linkin Park is well documented, although the band work their way around the periphery of said band.
Not that this is a tribute, for Profiler have enough in their locker to plough their own furrow. Sure, they take from many other bands, but hey! Who does not?
They are energetic and engaging and, over their 30-minute slot, fully engaged. It is vibrant, and from the balcony, I can see the pits that will explode later in the evening, warming up nicely.
If I have any criticism, it is merely that their music does not float my boat, but that is my taste. There are plenty that are enjoying everything that is going on, and by the end of their 30 minutes, Profiler have gained a lot of new friends. 
