Body Count tore through the Kentish Town Forum last week in London, leaving a moshpit-ravaged landscape in their wake. Their Merciless Tour stop was a potent display of the band’s enduring power, effortlessly weaving together crossover thrash anthems, blistering social commentary, and a taste of upcoming brutality.
The night erupted with the pulverizing one-two punch of “Body Count’s in the House” and straight into a surprising, but very much welcomed Slayer medley of “Raining Blood” and “Postmortem.” Ice-T, a towering figure of stoic charisma, strutted the stage with swagger, his vocals cutting through the surging guitars with razor-sharp precision. Even at 66, his presence remains as intimidating as ever. The crowd, a diverse mix of generations united by their love for heavy music and hard-hitting lyrics, roared their approval.
Body Count unleashed classics like “Bowels of the Devil” and “There Goes the Neighborhood” with relentless ferocity. The mosh pit was a maelstrom of chaos, bodies colliding and thrashing in unison, creating one of the most brutal scenes ever witnessed at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town. “Necessary Evil” and “Manslaughter” hit with the force of a sledgehammer, proving the band hasn’t lost a step, their signature blend of thrash and groove metal sounding more potent than ever.
One of the highlights of the night was the relentless energy brought by Ice-T’s son, Little Ice. Stage diving and flying around the stage, Little Ice kept the energy at an atomic level, ensuring the mosh pit was fierce and never seemed to stop. It was one of the heaviest shows I’ve ever seen, full of surprises, including two new songs, “Psychopath,” which is old-school metal at its finest, and “The Purge.”
But Body Count are more than just musical bruisers. Their music has always been a potent platform for social commentary, a fact further emphasized by the scorching delivery of “Point the Finger” and the bleakly relevant “No Lives Matter.” Ice-T’s stage presence transformed during these moments, becoming a firebrand, spitting lyrics that resonated deeply with the audience. At one point, he paused to mention how fortunate everyone was to be at the show enjoying the music before calling for a global ceasefire, a poignant reminder of the times we live in.
The band showcased their versatility with a cover of The Exploited’s “War/UK 82/Disorder,” further amping up the energy before launching into fan favourites like “Drive By” and “Voodoo.” A surprise appearance by Ice-T’s daughter for “Talk Shit, Get Shot” injected a welcome dose of youthful exuberance into the set.
The legendary “Cop Killer” closed out the main set, leaving the crowd breathless and wanting more. Thankfully, Body Count obliged with a three-song encore, featuring the pulverizing “Born Dead,” the high-octane adrenaline rush of “This Is Why We Ride,” and a surprisingly powerful rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” The latter, a bold and unexpected cover, showcased the band’s musical chops and ability to weave outside the box.
Body Count’s performance at the Kentish Town Forum was a masterclass in ferocious live entertainment. Their music remains as potent and relevant as ever, a blistering soundtrack for these turbulent times. The inclusion of new material hints at what’s to come on their upcoming album, Merciless, expected to be released sometime this summer. This album follows their 2020 release Carnivore, which won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance. With their trademark blend of musical fury and social commentary, Body Count continues to be a force to be reckoned with.
