Live Review: The Witches & Kings Tour 2026 feat. Burning Witches and Hammer King at The Dome, London (23/01/2026)

Burning Witches arrive in the UK for the first of 3 dates here, with Hammer King as part of their mammoth The Witches & Kings Tour 2026 European headline tour.

Friday, January 23rd saw the Witches & Kings Tour roll into The Dome in Tufnell Park, London, bringing a co-headline pairing of Burning Witches and Hammer King. Framed as a celebration of classic heavy metal in its modern form, the tour unites the Swiss outfit’s blazing riffs and soaring vocals with Hammer King’s epic, anthemic grandeur. With both bands touring on the back of strong recent material, the promise was simple: loud, traditional heavy metal delivered with conviction.

Everything felt geared up for a strong night early on. The Dome was already half full well before showtime, steadily filling with a mixed crowd that leaned heavily towards old-school metalheads out for a fix of traditional heavy metal. The downside was the lengthy wait, with no opening band to bridge the gap. Doors opened at 7pm, but Hammer King didn’t hit the stage for another hour. It was hard not to think a smaller, local band could have filled that time, keeping momentum high while giving an emerging act a valuable opportunity.

Still, the retro atmosphere was fully embraced, even in the pre-show playlist, with songs like Van Halen’s Why Can’t This Be Love playing out before the lights dropped, adding to the traditional feel. I guess the one benefit of there being no one else playing is the stage itself looking splendid and dressed for the occasion with Hammer King banners hung high and large candelabras in place, building anticipation for what was to come.

Hammer King

Hammer King opened theatrically, the stage bathed in blue as the band emerged, presenting the King and his massive hammer to the crowd. They launched straight into Kingdom of the Hammer King with the lights low, shrouding them in darkness, and immediately showcased strong vocals, soaring power metal riffs, and relentless energy. King for a Day and Make Metal Royal Again followed, maintaining the momentum, while the singer kept the audience engaged with instructions to shout, hail, and whoah. Theatrical touches — a maid delivering his drink in a golden goblet on a tray, shirts tossed into the crowd, and each band member introduced individually — added to the spectacle.

Pariah Is My Name stood out for its energy and showmanship, and König und Kaiser further demonstrated the band’s knack for epic, anthemic passages. The banter before Danger Zone was genuinely endearing and funny, with the singer repeatedly expressing how playing London was a dream come true along with mentioning brining the 80’s back from the states with them. A camera on a pole filming the crowd highlighted the connection between band and audience. They closed with Major Domus and a return to Kingdom of the Hammer King, finishing with a nearly acapella outro and leaving the crowd buzzing. Just shy of an hour, it was a fully worthy headline set that flew by.

Burning Witches

By the time Burning Witches took the stage, the Dome was near capacity, the crowd clearly drawn by their reputation and energy. They kicked off with an emphatic Sanguini Hominum before diving into Soul Eater, immediately setting a high-octane tone. Shame and Dance With the Devil followed, with killer vocals, powerful riffs, and leads that really cut through the mix. Maiden of Steel kept the momentum going, the energy in the room palpable.

The band’s banter was minimal but genuine, adding a human touch without slowing the set. Inquisition ramped up the theatrics, featuring a smoke-trailing old-school witch on stage with a broomstick, blending fun with their already tight performance. Release Me provided a breather, a beautifully sung ballad that showcased the vocalist’s range and gave the crowd a moment to catch their breath. Tracks like Black Widow, Lucid Nightmare, and Hexenhammer kept the intensity high, while Wings of Steel and The Witch of the North continued to impress with soaring melodies and precision riffing. They closed with Burning Witches, leaving the audience buzzing and fully satisfied after just over an hour of high-energy metal.

The Witches & Kings Tour lived up to its name, delivering a night of traditional heavy metal at its best. Hammer King brought theatrical grandeur, crowd participation, and epic power metal, while Burning Witches kept the energy relentless, blending soaring vocals, precision riffs, and genuine showmanship. Between them, the Dome was treated to nearly two hours of engaging, high-octane performances. A long wait at the start was the only minor blip, but by the time the bands were done, the audience was left buzzing — a celebration of metal that was loud, proud, and thoroughly satisfying.