Whether the timing is intentional or not, with The Only Heaven You'll Know Caskets continue a bi yearly tradition of releasing a banger of a new album, providing fans with a consistent stream of music. The Leeds metalcore outfit have continued this output through challenges that included a forced name change, struggles with imposter syndrome and band member departures.

Providing the perfect appetiser in music form are The Word Alive, a seamless pairing with Caskets. Journeying from Phoenix, Arizona in the US, the band explode out onto the stage to '2012' an early-doors smack in the face for the gathered fans.

"We are The Word Alive. Let's get this shit started" vocalist Tyler Smith growled at the crowd. "Show me the first mosh pit of the night London!" he continued and the crowd certainly obliged to 'Trapped'.

"This one goes out to our friends in Bad Omens" Smith announced to introduce 'One of Us' the huge collab between the two bands. Phones went up all over the room to record this moment and on 'Nocturnal Future’, guitarist Logan Abernethy took the lead for an impressive guitar solo. 'NO WAY OUT' brought the phones out again but this time for a torches moment, lighting up the room up beautifully.

It's been almost two years since The Word Alive were in the UK supporting Novelists on their tour. For drummer Devin Attard and guitarist Logan Abernethy, who both joined the band earlier this year, it's their first time and Smith asked the crowd to 'take care' of Attard as he had a moment in the spotlight and went for a crowd-surf.

As the mosh pit participants waved around lost phones, beanies and glasses to be reunited with their owners after a particularly lively jump around to the set's closing track, 'Life Cycles', The Word Alive left the stage victorious and having thoroughly warned up the room.

Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer', the opening track for Caskets - the song's message apt for a band that singer Matt Flood has described as a 'last run' at making it in music. Whatever needed to click, clicked for the Leeds quartet and at the Electric Ballroom in London the penultimate show of the 'The Only Heaven You'll Know' tour attracted scores of fans, a testament to the hard graft and raw honestly Caskets put into the music they make.

Beginning, somewhat ironically with 'Closure', one of the first tracks released from the new album, Flood's soaring vocals were accompanied by guitarists Benji Wilson, Craig Robinson and drummer James Lazen by forming a tight and engaging show. Although this tour was primarily focused on the new music and new era of Caskets, old favourites weren't forgotten, with the band featuring many tracks from 2021's 'Lost Souls' and 2023's 'Reflections'. 'Hold Me Now' from the former, the first foray into Caskets back catalogue.

The blending of these eras is pretty seamless. Caskets evolution is minimal sound-wise, the newer music demonstrating slightly more polished production and a stronger lean into modern metalcore sounds but the change is more pronounced in topic. The newest album a journey into Flood's personal struggle with faith, the title track from the album laying this bare with a captivating chorus and sincere vocal work.

'Holy shit, there's a lot of people here' Flood noted, gazing around the packed room. The whole Europe and UK run so far, a massive success with multiple sold out dates, the energy and electricity in the air in London a continuation of this fervour.

'Sacrifice' another new track, began quite unassumingly before providing one of the best singalong moments of the night. Similarly, the ever-popular 'More Than Misery' featuring Telle - solo project of Smith from The Word Alive - another big moment in the set. Rounding off the night with an encore of 'Glass Heart', Caskets headed off to Bristol for the final night of three weeks on the road before Christmas.

Looking into 2026, the band are set for a jaunt across the US with Currents and Erra as well as all the opportunities 'The Only Heaven You'll Know' will bring them.