The Warning: O2 Forum Kentish Town, London – Live Review

The Warning
O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
27th April 2024

The Warning, rock’s most powerful Mexican sister trio concludes their European tour with a sold-out show in London, raising the bar for live performance high.

It hasn’t been long since the three Villarreal Vélez sisters have been to London and here they are again, at a venue ‘double the size’ from their previous tour (as they told us), a packed and sold-out O2 Forum, Kentish Town in London. The rocker trio, hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, have gained a lot of attention lately despite their young age, finding themselves at Download Festival or supporting Muse and Royal Blood as well as their headline shows all over Europe. They have risen to fame by covering Metallica’s Enter Sandman in 2014, showcasing their versatility and musical powers, and now they are having a sold-out venue sing along to their songs, characterised by powerful vocals, intricate guitar riffs and dynamic drumming, as well as rock theatricals on stage.

Just before the trio hit the stage, their dedicated fan base called ‘The Warning Army’ was already vibing, headbanging and singing along to their opener band, the all-female Conquer Divide. I didn’t manage to catch their whole set, but they did a great job of raising the energy and the anticipation in the venue. A lot of people around me enjoyed the set of intricate melodies and diverse vocals – impressively, they had two singers who merged screamo and clean vocals. The crowd was already making a head start to enjoy the headliner’s set, with the singalongs being heard even outside the venue. Even before the set started, the audience was singing along to Zombie by the Cranberries, showing that there was intense anticipation for The Warning’s set.

The Warning instantly captures their audience’s eyes with their intense stage presence and energy on stage. With influences from old-school rock, rock n roll and hints of metal, the guitar solos, intense drumming and powerful vocals had the crowd singing along for the whole night. Their vibrant energy pulsated through the walls of the venue, having the crowd erupting into cheers. Exuding confidence and charisma, the three girls kicked off the set with their hit song S!CK, followed by Z and Choke. The first two songs delivered an infectious energy, while the latter felt like a ballad at the start – but no, it wasn’t.

Following their captivating performance, the undeniable chemistry of the sisters, their playful interactions and their onstage banter kept the audience entertained, making us all feel special to be there. Most notably, there were a lot of people singing along in Spanish to their song Qué Más Quieres, as well as other famous hits such as More and Money.

As the night drew to a close – and it definitely didn’t look like it – The Warning left the audience wanting more. After informing us about a fresh new album coming out soon, they performed some of their mostly fan favourites, the electrifying songs that made everyone breathless. With a lot of cheers and headbanging, the band performed Hell You Call a Dream and Martirio, as well as encore songs Narcisista and EVOLVE. The energy in the room was palpable as the fans kept cheering, a testament to the band’s magnetic stage presence and talent.

All in all, it was a great show that left me with an aftertaste of inspiration. The Warning demonstrates that rock music can still unite people and bring talent into the scene, proving the group’s position as one of the most exciting emerging bands in recent years.

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You can find more photos by Charis Lydia on Instagram