Live Review: ten56., with Cabal, VCTMS, and The Dali Thundering Concept at The Dome, Tufnell Park, London (10/09/25)

I absolutely love nights like this. Where miserable weather (classic London, eh?), a significant tube strike, and gigs galore elsewhere, doesn’t stop a mass of people getting their arses to The Dome in Tufnell Park and having the best time watching four bands at the top of their game deliver riotous and anthemic heaviness. It was a special night, and it needed to be, as this was ten56.’s first ever headline tour and the first of the UK dates of the tour (it kicked off on the 8th in Belgium). Thankfully, London came out and gave it all they had, and then some. Which, in turn, saw ten56. dig down deep and pull out all the stops to ensure everyone left the venue absolutely buzzing.

They were brilliant, especially as they came armed with a brand-new album that is phenomenal (read the review here) but before I go into more detail about their set, let’s take a look at the rest of the bands on the bill.

The night started (post pizza and cocktails in Aces & Eights across the road) with France’s The Dali Thundering Concept, a modern metal band with progressive/djent leanings. You’ll hear metalcore in there, but there’s also no doubt that they are the most unique band on the bill, especially as they thrive on being experimental, even in the live environment. They are an impressive band with a titanic soundscape and they do a really great job of grabbing the crowd’s attention and holding it for the majority of their set. I’m not overly familiar with their music, but this show left me convinced that I was going to have to change that sooner rather then later.

It’s a night of being impressed though and an already high bar is blown into the stratosphere with the immense VCTMS, who have come all the way from Chicago and are the only American band on the bill.

Out of place?

Not on your life as their modern metalcore sound fits this bill nicely, and – this is important – they are f**king immense. Showcasing so much exciting variety, chaotic intensity, lovable ferocity, and anthemic heaviness for 30 minutes that felt like half that. On a night where you can barely put a piece of paper between the bands as far as quality goes, it’s the small things that make the difference and in the case of VCTMS, their energy stands out.

Summation? VCTMS were pure class and the vigorous, smile-inducing, infectious brilliance of the set will live long in the memory.

Though that’s not to say anything that came after was lacking. Far from it, as Cabal are the heaviest band on the bill, sitting more on the deathcore side of things and delivering a set that is belligerent, bullish and brutal in all the best ways, especially if you’re a breakdown fan. The Dane’s are on fine form, and get some of the wildest pits of the night. Yet, it’s fun. Sure, it’s aggressive as only metal pits can be, but everyone is smiling. When someone goes down, they’re picked up, and nobody is out to hurt each other.

It’s freaking awesome to see but even more awesome to a part of a show as strong as this. Cabal had a very tough task being sandwiched in between an inspired VCTMS and the band we were all there to see, the mighty ten56.

I mean that too. They’re mighty as hell and have grown in confidence to such a degree that they have zero problem controlling and commanding a crowd for about an hour (especially vocalist Aaron Matts). As I said already, they come armed with a new album and a lot of these tracks absolutely slay live. ICU (potent), I Know Where You Sleep (dangerous), Pig (irresistible), and PTY FCK (chaotic) are staggeringly good, and alongside a bevy of ‘classic’ tracks, it ends up being the most exhausting set of the night.

Do you know what else was also really cool about ten56.‘s set? They looked like they were having the best time up there. That s**t was infectious, and you can tell they appreciated everyone in the venue that was losing their mind to the cacophony of mind-melting, face-ripping, and soul-rendering music. On a night when every single band was on form, it speaks volumes that ten56. were still the most unforgettable of all. Roll on the next time they’re in London!