LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: OF MICE & MEN AT ELECTRIC BALLROOM, LONDON 11/12/25 (+ GORE., GHØSTKID)
The atmosphere at the Electric Ballroom on Thursday, December 11, 2025, was absolutely dialled up from the moment the doors opened. With Of Mice & Men headlining, you knew you were in for veteran-level aggression, but the support acts turned it into an event. Gore. hit the stage first with a look into the future and a clear statement that female-fronted metalcore is just vital right now. Then GHØSTKID dragged us straight into this theatrical, industrial fever dream. By the time OM&M took over, the whole place was already cooked. This three-band punch wasn't just strong; it was a loud, aggressive reminder that heavy music is more intelligent, tougher, and more resilient than anyone gives it credit for.
Opening the night was the Texas-based quartet Gore., a band built on a powerful foundation of self-described "emotional gore." The project is the realisation of a long-deferred dream for self-taught vocalist Haley Roughton, who, alongside guitarist Alex Reyes, bassist Devin Birchfield, and drummer Wills Weller brings a distinctly feminine, unapologetically vulnerable perspective to the heavy music scene.
The band gained immediate traction online, uploading just two songs to YouTube that racked up views and earned approval from established acts such as Motionless in White, Papa Roach, and Flyleaf. Their recent signing to Spinefarm in 2024 further solidified their footing in the industry.
The six-song setlist was a dynamic showcase of their 2024 EP, A BUD THAT NEVER BLOOMS and their newest 2025 EP, IF YOU DO NOT FEAR ME...
The band wasted no time in establishing their intense range, opening with their new single 'Wrath', which instantly presented the captivating contrast between Roughton's soft, delicate cleans and her raging, guttural harsh vocals towards the end of the track. Haley Roughton's voice packs a punch: her vocals shift astronomically from delicate cleans to sheer fury in a matter of seconds.
They immediately followed with 'Sepsis,' which Roughton introduced as: "Our heaviest song we've ever written and probably will ever write" from the same record. “I love a moshpit, shake some booty, and do whatever you want to do“says Haley. Throughout the performance she has shown the audience her extremely likeable and playful personality which made it easy to connect with the band and root for them.
The set continued with the highly popular track ‘Like You Mean It' from their latest record, a track that addresses abuse, noting that it was initially thought to be a dud, but has resonated because "abuse is not gender exclusive".
The emotional weight peaked during 'Babylon,' a hyper-personal track Roughton has called a "eulogy" for a dream of conventional femininity she has temporarily set aside to pursue music, which gave me goosebumps.
This performance cemented the central truth of the band: Gore. Inherently understands how to blend delicate vocals with powerful screams and heavy instrumentation from the band, creating a unique sonic duality. Gore. understands the juxtaposition of extremes, enhancing emotional impact of both components: the quiet parts seem quieter, and the heavy parts seem heavier.
Ultimately, the show affirmed that Roughton is absolutely vital to the band's identity and power. This is the perfect example of how to lead a female-fronted metal band and create a lasting impact with powerful contrasts and fierce, likeable personalities.
Gore is poised to continue challenging norms with new music due in 2026, and something tells me they’re only getting started; the sky is the limit, considering they've already found success in under two years.
The transition to GHØSTKID plunged the venue into darkness and industrial-tinged chaos. GHØSTKID is the moniker of former Eskimo Callboy vocalist Sebastian "Sushi" Biesler, a project born from his desire to explore darker, more aggressive paradigms, blending a variety of genres including metalcore, industrial, pop, and trap. The band was formed in 2019 and quickly established a reputation for highly ambitious, genre-splicing music, having toured extensively and shared stages with notable acts such as Black Veil Brides and Blind Channel.
The current lineup, featuring drummer Dennis Vanhöfen, guitarists Jan Marco Heinz and Chris Kisseler, and bassist Stanislaw Czywil, delivered an ambitious ten-song set, equally balanced between their self-titled 2020 debut and the 2023 follow-up, HOLLYWOOD SUICIDE. The debut album, produced by Sky van Hoff (Rammstein), was a critically acclaimed effort featuring high-profile collaborations such as Marcus Bischoff (Heaven Shall Burn) on 'SUPERNØVA' and Mille Petrozza on 'CRØWN'.
The band's performance was highly theatrical, a carefully crafted aural exorcism. Sushi's presentation - with face and body paint, pigtails, a skirt, and dark tights - created an atmospheric, and intentionally alter-ego genderless look, immediately drawing comparisons to the stage presentation of Sleep Token and Motionless in White. The band leaned into the visual concept that ghosts are not gendered, but dark spirits that survived bodily death.
The stage show was enhanced by personalised lights around the drum kit and under Stanislaw’s hood, emphasising the ghost feature.
They opened with the anthemic 'SUPERNØVA' and quickly moved into 'HOLLYWOOD SUICIDE,' a track exploring themes related to the dark side of ambition and pain that can accompany the persuit of fame, and heavy hitter 'CRØWN' which immediately saw Stanni join the crowd.
The mid-section of the set dove further into personal darkness and catharsis. Tracks like 'YØU & I,' 'FSU,' and 'S3X' explored raw, primal urges and the complex relationship dynamics that often accompany them, offering a therapeutic and aggressive release. The band maintained this intensity with 'DRTY,' 'UGLY,' and 'MURDER,' tracks whose titles alone signify the diving into discomfort and disillusionment that is a hallmark of GHØSTKID's sound. Eerie soundscapes from the production enhanced the atmosphere throughout the entire performance.
Sushi also introduced the drummer Dennis Vanhöfen stepping in for this tour to cover original drummer Steve Joakim. "He'll be with us for the rest of the tour; this is the first show he's playing with us." Despite his nervousness, he performed flawlessly, filling in without missing a beat and anchoring the band’s frantic energy.
Sushi introduced the final song, 'Heavy Rain' as "a track going out to those who are currently having a tough time right now." The song is talking explicitly to the devastating effects of domestic abuse and the loss of one’s own identity.
The performance was a powerful reminder of the band's mission: GHØSTKID's music is not just noise, but a powerful form of therapy delivered on stage.
Headlining the evening was the veteran American rock band Of Mice & Men (OM&M), whose enduring career spans over a decade and includes nine studio albums. The current lineup, featuring Aaron Pauley (bass and lead vocals), drummer Valentino Arteaga, and guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, has successfully steered the band through an evolution toward a potent blend of nu metal and alternative metal. The band has achieved major success, with albums like Restoring Force (2014) peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and their early album The Flood (2011) peaking at No. 28. Their extensive history includes headlining tours and multiple appearances at major international music festivals like the Vans Warped Tour (multiple years, including 2025) and Soundwave Music Festival.
The band's 13-song setlist expertly wove together material from their entire career, balancing their established hits with new material from their recent album ANOTHER MIRACLE (2025).
The stage was meticulously prepared with steps and fragmented LED panels that served as a dynamic backdrop, building palpable tension between songs. They opened with 'Another Miracle' from their 2025 album, before a quick guitar swap led them into 'Feels Like Forever,' a track from RESTORING FORCE (2014) which immediately triggered waves of crowd-surfing.
Pauley, whose voice masterfully blends cleans and harsh vocals, introduced 'Troubled Water' as a deeply moving song about grief - the feeling of “missing someone who is no longer here but whose presence is still felt inside”. This track has become a major radio and streaming success for the band. The band's setlist was a masterclass in balancing their catalogue, delivering both new melodic depth and classic OMAM intensity. The set continued the pace with fan favorites like 'You Make Me Sick' and the classic hit 'Would You Still Be There,' a major 2014 radio success that showcased their melodic shift at the time.
They were careful to thank both the support bands and the crowd: "You guys are incredible. Thank you for coming to support us."
The night culminated in a run of their most essential tracks: the early metalcore anthem 'O.G. Loko,' 'Bones Exposed,' and the iconic set closer, 'Second & Sebring' (from their self-titled 2010 debut).
This show was a fun and chaotic lesson in resilience and adaptation. While Gore. offered a potent glimpse into the future of metal, and GHØSTKID delivered a theatrical, heavy, therapeutic performance, Of Mice & Men showed that they still are a true pillar of the scene. They proved, with every riff, that pushing past setbacks and embracing musical evolution is the only way to endure. This is precisely why, even after years of touring and an unexpected change in band members, OM&M continues to own stages and headline venues like the Electric Ballroom with ease.
Words by Vlad-Paul Ghilaș (Platform ‘96)
Photos by Julia Jevzikova