Mushroomhead w/ Helgrind – Islington O2 Academy, London: Live Review

By Graham Hilling on 17th August 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

Mushroomhead bring their unique brand of metal to the London stage….we went along to see if they still bite!

HELGRIND

Arriving at the Islington Academy in time to catch the support, Helgrind, from Herfordshire/London there is already a very long queue for the merch stall, selling new Mushroomhead stuff. In the main hall, there is a fair crowd awaiting the arrival of Helgrind too, good news given there are other notable gigs this evening and we’ve just had Bloodstock and this will mean a good few people who would normally be here will still be recovering!

So, Helgrind take to the stage, these guys play old school thrash with more than a passing nod to the likes of Slayer, Kreator et all. Vocalist Paula Nelson dominates the stage and the band make the best of working around the Mushroomhead paraphernalia on the stage which limits space quite a bit, with the drum kit being squeezed into stage left.

I’ve not heard of them before despite being in existence for a number of years. There are clearly a few people here familiar with the band though, and they bash through a shortish set with some gusto. Guitarist, Si Ellis, in particular shines with some very slick guitar solos. The songs are firmly grounded in thrash but do touch on a various other metal sub genres, the band are squeaky tight too which is always a pre-requisite for thrash done well!

The song titles could be lifted from any Slayer album, and the music is pretty relentless and brutal, highlights of the set are Burn (which rocks along at an eye watering pace) and Prophecy Of Destruction both from the current album Inquisition. The set ends with the familiar Ballroom Blitz which gets the crowd singing along, audience suitably warmed up, job done!

Entertaining for sure and I’d go see Helgrind again but I have to admit that by the end of the set, my ears did need a bit of a rest!

MUSHROOMHEAD

So, after a brief pause, the lights go down and it is time for a Mushroomhead show! Fresh from an appearance at Bloodstock and on a quite extensive Euro tour, this evening promises to be a bit special.

Starting with Eye To Eye from the current album, Call The Devil, immediately makes its mark with the crowd. This isn’t an album I was overly impressed with if I’m honest but listening to this live it takes on a new life and sounds very impressive. I need to give the album another listen by the looks of it!

The triple vocal attack of Scott Beck, Jackie LaPonza and Steve Rauckhorst works very well, with each adding their own unique spice to the music. Scott Beck in particular looks very happy to be performing, spending a fair bit of the show this evening crowd surfing! At one point he spends almost a whole song in the crowd, held up by a multitude of arms. Once back on the stage he comments “…and that is how you crowd surf!” Even LaPonza gets in on the act with regards some crowd surfing.

The sound this evening is also pretty good, with both bands getting a fair crack. Nice clarity and you can hear all of the elements in the mix. Security also do a fine job keeping everyone hydrated to ensure there are no unexpected issues! With all of the crowd surfing they’re kept busy all evening!

A Requiem For Tomorrow hammers out across the venue, an excellent track from what I think is one of the best Mushroomhead (MRH) albums – A Wonderful Life. This sees the arrival of the water drummers at the front of the stage which ensures that the first couple of rows behind the barrier (and the photographers) are kept suitable wet!

Having seen various comments online about MRH not being the original band and it’s true that they have gone through so many different iterations and band members that the band we see today is not the band I’d have seen a couple of decades ago. However, how many bands would this be true for. As far as I’m concerned, MRH today play the same songs with the same energy levels and continue to bring their own unique approach to metal to the stage and long may it continue!

Fall in Line” is another track from Call The Devil which takes on another life live. Qwerty and Solitaire Unravelling take us back in time a little. Both massive crowd favourites and happy faces all around. The Heresy slows things down and allows LaPonza some space to flex her vocal muscles. While this this song is not overly heavy, its brooding, edgy nature is pure MRH and allows an element of sing-a-long too.

We’re then treated to two more songs from A Wonderful Life – Madness and Seen It All, both excellent and showcasing, once again, how MRH stamp their very own individual take on the metal scene while staying true to their roots and fans. Only Jenkins on guitar tonight, firmly rooted behind the water drums stage right, Dr F in the same position stage left, avoiding being soaked for the most part.

When Doves Cry (the Prince song) is interwoven with Among The Crows and this bleeds into 12 Hundred. The set is closed with another combo song, Born Of Desire morphing into the familiar War Pigs. Scott Beck is wealding a cricket bat on the stage, narrowly missing his fellow band members before the music concludes and the gig is over. No bullshit encores, just a cracking gig!

Once again MRH have brought an energy infused show to London and conquered all. They remain relevant, avant garde and as strangely enticing as ever. The live performance is second to none, with a genuine warmth for the crowd paired with killer songs and huge energy levels that really hit the mark. So, yes, this evening was a thoroughly enjoyable affair, can’t wait for them to come back again, hopefully with a new album to promote!