LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: BREAKING BENJAMIN AT THE O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON, LONDON 17/07/26
There is a specific kind of magic that occurs when a foundational 2000s post-grunge powerhouse collides with a classic British summer heatwave. Inside the O2 Academy Brixton the atmosphere was electric, the air conditioning was seemingly non-existent, and the energy was delightfully old-school. For the final stop of their EU/UK tour, Breaking Benjamin brought a masterclass in nostalgic intensity, a touch of family business, and a whole lot of sweat.
Opening the evening were rising rockers Return to Dust, injecting some brilliant, gritty old-school grunge energy right from the first chord. Delivering heavily on their signature "old-school energy," the band tore through their tracks with the kind of angst that instantly calls to mind the golden eras of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.
Following them, the legendary Chevelle took to the stage, keeping the momentum surging and ensuring the crowd was thoroughly primed before the main event. ‘‘It’s hot and sweaty like we do in the States’’ said Pete Loeffler to the thoroughly warmed up audience.
Despite the temperature, the Loeffler brothers (Sam on drums, accompanied by Kemble Walters on bass/backing vocals) proved exactly why they remain platinum-certified legends of the alternative metal world, tearing through hit after hit. By the time the closing notes of ‘Mars Simula‘ echoed through the venue, the crowd was thoroughly primed, entirely breathless, and thoroughly drenched.
Breaking Benjamin hit the stage moments later under loud cheers and instantly unleashed a barrage of hits. Opening with ‘I Will Not Bow,’ ‘Until the End,’ and ‘Evil Angel,’ they proved that two decades in, their songs still pack a massive punch.
The night's biggest emotional moment happened early on. Vocalist Benjamin Burnley stopped to proudly introduce his son, ‘‘Little Ben’’ to the crowd: “This is my son, he is going to join us for the rest of the tour.” and indeed, Ben Jr., who is on backing vocals and rhythm guitar duty, confidently addressed the crowd, stating “We love to see the support here in London”.
While the band didn't talk much between songs, the music was enough to spark a huge mosh pit despite the brutal heat. ‘Polyamorous’ brought fierce, dual screaming vocals, while ‘Dear Agony’ turned into a giant singalong that completely overpowered the speakers. Amidst all the heavy riffs, Burnley spent the night throwing up heart-hands to the front rows, bringing pure warmth to the sweaty room.
The younger Burnley also took the mic to tease the band's upcoming album, chatting about his own whispered vocal features on the tracks. Stepping up for ‘Something Wicked,’ he looked out at the roaring room and added, “So happy that I get to perform here in London.”
As the set headed into the home stretch, the band tested the crowd's remaining energy. “London, you’ve been doing an amazing job singing along to every song out there, we need you for this next one,” the lead vocalist urged, right before launching into a massive performance of ‘Breath,’ followed closely by the anthemic ‘Failure’ and ‘Awaken.’
Before diving into the highly popular ‘Dance With The Devil,’ Burnley took a final moment to soak in the tour's grand finale. “Thank you London, are you guys having a good time out there? This is the last show of the EU/UK tour. I wanna say a humongous thank you to London and the UK for the support, and we give the love right back. We love you so much, thank you so much.”
Saving the absolute best for last, the band closed the night with the fan favourite, ‘The Diary of Jane.’ Every single voice in the room joined the iconic chorus, capping off a night that felt like a massive celebration of legacy and heavy music.
Breaking Benjamin left everything on that stage, and judging by the state of the crowd walking out into the cool London night, so did the audience.
Words and photos by Florelle Servageon.
