BarricadeUK

Over the years, the Roundhouse – a former turntable engine shed turned performance venue in the early 60s – has built a reputation for hosting some of the biggest and most influential artists to pass through London. The Doors, Hendrix, Bowie and The Rolling Stones all tested the room long before it became a staple stop for modern heavy music.

On the 21st of December, a few days before Christmas and the end of the year, Swedish five-piece Imminence didn’t just add their name to that list; they sold the venue out on the final night of their most successful tour cycle so far, marking ten years as a band.

Imminence currently sit near the top of the modern metalcore landscape, coming off a full run of European festivals, a world tour, and the extended edition of their album The Black.

Released independently in March 2025, The Return Of The Black adds more weight and reach to an already dark, emotionally driven record, helped by a series of notable collaborations: Scott Kennedy (Bleed From Within) on “Heaven Shall Burn”, Joel Holmqvist (Aviana) on “The Call of the Void”, Niklas Karlsson (Orbit Culture) on “Continuum”, Tim Charles (Ne Obliviscaris) on “Come What May” and Lucas Woodland (Holding Absence) on the re-imagined “Death By A Thousand Cuts”.

Armed with a string quartet, an immersive set design and a powerful opener, Imminence are ready to show London why Swedish metalcore has been on a consistent rise in the last few years.

Ne Obliviscaris (Latin for ‘Forget Not’) open the night in a thunder of sound. The Australian prog metal group relied on a mix of violin, harsh vocals and extended song structures, with Tim Charles’ violin and clean vocals cutting through the mix from the first note.

Haunting melodies are accompanied by guttural vocals (James Dorton) and atmospheric haze. 

The band is not new in the scene, having formed all the way back in 2003 in Melbourne, but they definitely won the London crowd with their heavy and melodic blend.

When time comes for Imminence to take the stage, the lights dim and every voice in the room erupts as a hooded figure holding a victorian lantern walks across the stage to a somber track playing in the background.

They start their first amplified set with songs exclusively from their re-released The Return Of The Black, Come Hell or High Water, Heaven Shall Burn and Come What May with Tim Charles joining Eddie Berg for a beautiful double violin performance. 

Their acoustic set slows things down, haunting acoustic guitars accompanying Eddie Berg’s softer voice as the band plays through some of their older songs. 

The 5 track set made out of Saturated Soul, Alleviate, Continuum, This is Goodbye and Love & Grace gives the crowd a chance of hearing the staple tracks as never before. 

The second heavy set is a blend of tracks from Turn the Light On (2019), Heaven In Hiding (2021) and The Black (2024). 

By the time God Fearing Man reaches its peak and Harald Barrett is lifting his bow through the snow storm they set on stage, signalling the band’s most well known breakdown, the crowd knowns that they are nearing the end.

The night closes with a full-band rendition of The Black, followed by Le Noir, a violin-led outro that leaves the venue in near silence as the lights fade around Berg.

Imminence are one of the strongest presences in modern metal and this show was probably one of the most immersive ones I’ve ever attended. The strong songwriting, powerful visuals and the heavy/symphonic blend, whilst not a new recipe in the world of metal, the Swedes have definitely mastered it. 

Imminence are playing next in the UK at Download Festival 2026 followed by another European festival run. 

Can’t wait to see what comes next!

Gabby Adler