Live Review: To the Grave, with Osiah, Beyond Extinction & Dead Flesh at The Underworld, London (29/08/25)

The Underworld in Camden, London has gone a bit extreme, but even though the four bands on the bill come from the heavier side of metal, there is variety, and that is what helps make it a night to remember. Although the obvious quality of the four bands certainly helps too.

So, what brought me to the Underworld? Death. Specifically, Australian deathcore unit To the Grave. Who are in town, alongside deathcore heavyweights, Osiah, brutal death metallers Beyond Extinction, brutal deathcore group, Dead Flesh.

It’s the kind of line-up that guarantees one hell of a heavy night, promises ear-bleeding noise, and suggests violent pits will happen. All of which proves to be the case, and not just for the headliners. In fact, it is downright heartening to see so many people in the venue for Dead Flesh, who are on stage at the ungodly time of 6:30pm (it’s a club night, so early doors) but set the bar high. Smashing through some of their strongest songs (Bodies Upon Bodies is so savage live) and encouraged by a pit that didn’t stop for the entirety of their set. A massive round of applause to those folks who helped make Dead Flesh (and the night in general) one to remember.

The crowd had good reason to be encouraged though, and while Dead Flesh are coming off the back of something momentous (opening Bloodstock 2025), Beyond Extinction are gearing up for their momentous thing – namely the release of their debut album, ‘Where They Gather’, which is out on September 26th. Much anticipated, it is an album infused with blood, sweat, and tears, and it’s going to slay, evident by the singles we’ve heard so far and how strong Beyond Extinction are on stage now.

It is a night of quality metal, but Beyond Extinction threaten to steal the entire show and it’s all thanks to the anthemic aspects of the band’s sound. For an extreme metal band, they are have a daringly accessible sound, and on stage, they deliver an electrifying experience. One that creates carnage in the pit, sees a sea of heads being banged (the crowd really swells for their set), and leaves plenty of ears ringing afterwards.

They’re flying at the moment, with a ton of momentum behind them, and if this album lands as hard as it seems like it’s going to, 2026 could be their year. I know that’s cliched, but I mean it, and performances as tight as this prove it.

Speaking of tight though, Osiah are my band of the night, proving that a genre placement (in their case, deathcore) will simply not give you the full picture in the slightest. They are so much more, while still being unmistakably savage, and their technical prowess is startingly strong.

They were phenomenal, holding the crowd in the palm of their hands, commanding attention from everyone in the venue. This is how it’s done.

Though that doesn’t mean any other band was lacking, least of all the headliners, To the Grave who have a unique connection with the metal scene. Garnering a ton of praise for their dynamic deathcore style but pulling in plenty of hate too for their pro-vegan/anti-meat stance. Which would sound weird, hating a band for being pro-vegan, until you remember that there are quite a lot of people who make liking bacon their entire personality and throw a hissy fit if you dare to ask for a steak well done. Even though they’re not the one eating it.

As you can you probably tell, I’m on board with who To the Grave are, their messages, and their music, especially as live, it comes with extra beatdowns. I enjoyed the hell out of this, and so did a busy Underworld where the crowd, somehow not exhausted by the night, went nuts for about an hour. I didn’t stay to the end (about 45-50 minutes) as Moon Reaper were playing in The Dev down the road, but I left thoroughly impressed by my first To the Grave live experience. However, it was the night overall and the fact that I got to experience four mighty examples of death metal/deathcore that leaves me looking back at it fondly. Sure, I had some serious aches and pains the next day (I didn’t go near the pit either), but it was worth it.