Carpenter Brut & HEALTH @ O2 Academy Bristol - 04.11.26
Carpenter Brut: Dark, destructive and ridiculously entertaining
Tonight, Bristol is in for a decadent serving of neo-industrial and dark-synth opulence, courtesy of Carpenter Brut with support from HEALTH, performing at the O2 Academy. Both these bands are no strangers to Bristol either – HEALTH were last here back in 2011 while Carpenter Brut have played at the O2 Academy back in 2022.
HEALTH have carved out a distinctive place in modern industrial rock, combining punishing electronic beats, distorted guitars, dark synths and an almost overwhelming wall of sound. Their live performances bring together the aggression of industrial metal with the hypnotic energy of electronic music. HEALTH commence tonight’s aural assault with ‘VIBE COP’ – it is quite the remarkable sight, as vocalist Jake Duzsik delivers the chorus of “Follow your dreams, just keep them to yourself” and a wave of the audience surges forwards, arms held outwards towards Jake.
From there onwards, ‘TRASH DECADE’ delivers an immediate injection of industrial aggression. Relentless electronic percussion, distorted guitar textures and pounding rhythms create an enormous sonic presence. HEALTH's music thrives on contrast, and the combination of Duzsik's understated, almost fragile vocal delivery against the crushing instrumentation is one of the band's greatest strengths. ‘HATEFUL’ and ‘SHRED ENVY’ pushes the intensity further, demonstrating just how effectively HEALTH can combine crushing heaviness with infectious electronic hooks. The performance of ‘FEEL NOTHING’ provides one of the set's defining moments. Its combination of melancholic melodies, industrial percussion and emotionally charged vocals captures everything that makes HEALTH such an interesting proposition. There is a genuine emotional vulnerability beneath all the distortion.
‘ANTIDOTE’ and ‘CRACK METAL’ continue the assault, while ‘CHILDREN OF SORROW’ and ‘ASHAMED’ highlights the band's darker, more atmospheric qualities. The arrival of ‘MAJOR CRIMES’ brings about different emotional dimension to the performance. Its more accessible melodic structure offers a welcome contrast to the heavier material, demonstrating that HEALTH are just as comfortable delivering memorable hooks as they are unleashing industrial chaos. ‘TEARS’ is another highlight of the night – bassist and producer John Famiglietti pauses the performance so that a fan, by the name of Adam, can propose – “she said YES!” Congratulations are in order and the band moves into the closing stretch of the night with ‘WE ARE WATER’, ‘YOU DIED’ and ‘DEMIGODS’. The intensity continues through ‘FUTURE OF HELL’, ‘ORDINARY LOSS’ and ‘DON'T KILL YOURSELF’, with ‘DSM-V’ bringing the main set to a suitably uncompromising conclusion.
The setlist demonstrates a strong emphasis on the band's more recent material, particularly RAT WARS and CONFLICT DLC, while still making room for some older favourites. There is something wonderfully unsettling about HEALTH. The Los Angeles band have spent years developing a sound that refuses to sit comfortably within any single musical category, blending industrial metal, electronic noise, alternative rock and haunting melodies into something entirely their own. And tonight, their Conflict: Europe tour has brought that uncompromising approach to the stage. HEALTH delivers a compelling demonstration of why they remain one of the more distinctive acts operating within the modern industrial and alternative metal scene. What makes the band particularly compelling is their ability to balance aggression with vulnerability. One moment the music feels like an industrial machine threatening to consume everything around it; the next, it becomes something hauntingly beautiful.
Carpenter Brut have never been particularly interested in doing things quietly. Combining the sinister atmosphere of 1980s horror cinema with pounding electronic beats, heavy metal guitar riffs and unapologetically cinematic synthwave, the French project has developed a reputation for delivering spectacularly intense live performances. A Carpenter Brut show is less a traditional electronic gig and more an explosive collision between a late-night horror movie, an underground rave and a heavy metal concert. And when the music hits, subtlety goes straight out of the window.
The opening sequence, Ouverture (Deus Ex Machina), sets the scene perfectly, building anticipation before launching into ‘Major Threat’. The transition is explosive, immediately establishing the dark, futuristic atmosphere that defines Carpenter Brut's sound. ‘Leather Temple’ and ‘Roller Mobster’ are early highlights, delivering the sort of enormous synth hooks and relentless beats that make it almost impossible to stand still. The newer material sits comfortably alongside the established favourites. ‘Neon Requiem’ and ‘She Rules the Ruins’ adds cinematic depth, while ‘Start Your Engines’ injects another shot of adrenaline into an already ferocious performance. The guitar and live percussion adds a welcome physical dimension to the electronic arrangements. Rather than simply reproducing studio recordings, the live setup gives the music a heavier, more aggressive personality.
‘Leather Teeth’ brings a welcome dose of retro-futuristic menace, while ‘Day Stalker’ and ‘Night Prowler’ continue the dark cinematic journey – a massive mosh pit breaks out in the middle and there is a fan in the audience dressed up as a white chicken, who is having to duck from time to time to avoid the waves of crowd surfers – EPIC! ‘Iron Sanctuary’ is another standout, highlighting the heavier side of Carpenter Brut's musical identity. However, the biggest reactions are reserved for some of the established favourites. ‘Disco Zombi Italia’ delivers infectious dancefloor energy, while Speed or Perish accelerates the evening towards its climax.
Then comes ‘Turbo Killer’ – one of Carpenter Brut's signature tracks, it is an absolute monster in a live setting. Its driving rhythm, colossal synthesiser melodies and relentless intensity make it an obvious highlight. And just when things seem to have reached their peak, ‘Le Perv’ raises the temperature again. The closing cover of Michael Sembello's ‘Maniac’ is a wonderfully entertaining finale. Transforming an unmistakable 1980s pop classic into a darksynth spectacle is exactly the sort of theatrical madness that Carpenter Brut does so well. Carpenter Brut occupies a fascinating space between electronic music and heavy metal. Their sound is dark, aggressive, atmospheric and unapologetically theatrical.
What makes the project particularly exciting is its ability to appeal to audiences from completely different musical backgrounds. Synthwave fans get their enormous electronic melodies, metal fans get the heaviness and aggression, while fans of 1980s horror and science fiction get an immersive cinematic experience. Tonight’s performance demonstrates the strength of that combination. There is no need for endless guitar solos or traditional rock theatrics when the music itself creates such an enormous atmosphere. Carpenter Brut understand that a great live show is about creating an experience, and their combination of electronic intensity and cinematic presentation delivers exactly that. Dark, destructive and ridiculously entertaining, Carpenter Brut provide the perfect soundtrack to a dystopian future.
