Derby based These Wicked Rivers have just wrapped up their UK tour that boasted multiple sold out dates, with support from The Karma Effect and Bea Burridge went down to O2 Academy Islington to see what all the fuss is about.

From the moment you entered the O2 Academy, you were greeting by a vast array of beautiful and intricate These Wicked Rivers merch of every variety; from tin mugs to socks, patches and scarves, there was something for everyone and straight away you know this band means business. Not to be overshadowed, The Karma Effect also brought their merch A-game, showing they are much more than a support band.

For The Karma Effect, a London based band, this was a homecoming show and they burst the stage with a bang. Owning the space they went straight into their track Wrong Again which has racked over an impressive 72,000 plays on Spotify. Despite the stage being small, The Karma Effect managed to move about the stage as if it was a stadium show. This band play together so tightly, with immaculate harmonies and embody the music as one rather than individual musicians. During their set, The Karma Effect played brand new single Livin’ It Up and unreleased song All Night Long, and did so without any lull in the energy, which, is where so many bands can fall.  The band were not scared to get the crowd involved and the audience hung on every note of the call and response.

The Karma Effect are electric on stage and if there is a God to believe in, front man Henry Gottlier has been given the gift of an incredible voice.

After the high of The Karma Effect, when These Wicked Rivers took the stage the crowd greeted them with an excitable roar. Opening with the title track from their forthcoming album Force Of Nature, These Wicked Rivers are everything you would hope from men with long hair, majestic beards and wonderful hats, but with a thousand times the impact. They ripped through their set from start to finish without a single misplaced note from a voice or instrument, which truly is a rare occurrence. The band are so in sync it is as if they are one, from drums to harmonica, bass to harmonies, the sound is so full and together you cannot help but feel totally trusting of the band.

In the latter half of the set These Wicked Rivers play their acoustic song Lonely Road and you could have heard a pin drop. The mesmerising vocal was bewitching to everybody present.

These Wicked Rivers are a band that would not have been out of place headlining Woodstock 1969 and yet there is something so modern about their sound. If you are a fan of Clutch, Black Crowes or the roaring riffs of Wolfmother, these are the band for you.

I cannot recommend enough, go see both of these bands live as soon as you can!