Review: Overmono excel at sold-out Alexandra Palace show

Leading pioneers within the electronic music landscape, Overmono have continued to prove over the last couple of years that they are among the most undeniable talents the international music scene has to offer. Renowned for their bass-driven, experimental sound – one that effortlessly weaves elements of garage, rap, jungle and UK rave heritage – the duo have attracted a fast-growing global audience seeking something beyond the formulaic norms of club culture. Their discography, now sprawling enough to cater to contrasting moods and tastes, stands immersive, emotive and impossible to fully define without simply experiencing it.

Last Friday’s sold-out show at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace felt like a culmination of the momentum they’ve been building over the last few years, and notably their biggest London venue show to date. Having seen them perform across clubs and festival stages, from 5 am sunrises in Barcelona to the Roundhouse and O2 Academy Brixton, this night already carried the weight of expectation, but more so the excitement of seeing them shine on such a huge scale. And that scale is, of course, Ally Pally… one that demands artistry that can fill not only the room, but the atmosphere surrounding it. Overmono did exactly that.

Arriving in a room already humming with anticipation, the crowd erupted as the duo opened with an intro blending straight into the ‘If U Ever VIP’ – a bold, high-octane start that instantly set the pace for the night. The early run of ‘Gunk’ and ‘Freedom 2‘ landed with immediate energy as the Monmouth-hailing duo got straight into things, the latter marking the first major peak of the evening. Their highly popular collaboration with Kwengface, brought to life on the towering stage, marked a defining moment and reinstated one of their strengths, highlighting the rapidly solidifying bridge between electronic music and UK rap that pushes the boundaries of both. The heavy kicks and deep, shadowed basslines turned Ally Pally’s expanse into a chamber of pressure, with Kwengface’s presence injecting an unmistakable raw edge and adding the element of spoken crowd interaction that is otherwise compensated by electrifying bass.

Mid-set, Overmono leaned into the heart of their sound with the’ So U Kno VIP’, ‘Guillotine Edit‘, ‘Is U‘, ‘Cold Blooded‘, and the euphoric swell of ‘Walk Thru Water‘. Flashes of unreleased IDs and edits kept the energy unpredictable, a reminder that part of their magic lies in refusing to let the crowd settle, with older joints such as an edit of Joy Orbison collaboration ‘Bromley’, catering for those who were in the know back in 2019.

One of the night’s most moving moments came when For Those I Love took to the stage for ‘I Have A Love‘. Even within a set defined by intensity, the emotional gravity of this track cut straight through. The combination of spoken word, swelling pads, and that perfectly measured build created a moment of stillness in a venue otherwise vibrating with bass, the captivating nature of For Those I Love’s vocal delivery striking happiness, sadness and euphoria throughout the ten thousand strong crowd in the room.

A closing stretch consisting of ‘Paradise Runner‘ and ‘Good Lies‘ was the release of everything the night had held. ‘Good Lies‘ rang out with a unifying warmth that carried across generations in the crowd. People on shoulders, hugging, hands in the air – a new definition for euphoria might just be the closing minutes of an Overmono set. The demographic blend was a testament to what they have achieved – a sound rooted in UK rave lineage but refreshed for a new era.

Alexandra Palace proved to be the perfect setting – its vastness filled, its acoustics pushed, its audience completely locked in. If there was ever a question of whether Overmono could command a stage of this size, Friday night made the answer clear.

Their constant evolution, boundary-breaking collaborations, and instinctive grasp of what makes electronic music feel alive continue to set them apart. And if you ever get the chance to see them live – whether in a club, at sunrise, or in one of the capital’s most historic venues – take it. Every show is its own moment. And this one was theirs.

9.5/10

Photo Credit: James Patrick Smith