LIVE FROM THE PIT: Unprocessed and Of Virtue

As fans gathered in the heart of Camden Town in the aptly named Electric Ballroom, an undeniable buzz of electricity of anticipation and excitement filled the air. Returning to the UK on their headlining Angel Tour, German melodic tech-metal collective UNPROCESSED graced our stages for the second time this year after supporting JINJER back in January. 

On the day of their three-years-in-the-making album release, Death Of The Alter, US alt metal four-piece OF VIRTUE took to the stage to share their offering with the eagerly awaiting crowd and set the pace for the night ahead, proving to be the perfect warm up. It appears that this powerhouse band have really found and honed in on their sound since their last album Omen, released in 2023 and last played live to UK audiences in April of 2025, the hard work and dedication really shining through. Between a mix of new songs such as Flatline and Death Of The Alter, and old favourites Hypocrite and Sinner, the crowd matched the high intensity OF VIRTUE brought in spades, keeping spirits high enough to fill the rafters. 

But it wasn’t all unrelenting, high octane energy, lead vocalist Tyler Ennis taking opportunities between songs to slow things down and show appreciation and adoration for his fellow bandmates and loyal fans alike, accrediting their support in the success of his sober journey of one year. With this powerful and triumphant message resonating across the crowd, voices raised in cheers and fists punched the air, punctuated by the start of well loved song Sober. Rounding off the set with new song What’s It Like To Be Happy?, OF VIRTUE went out with a bang, receiving nothing but love for the newly presented material in what could be considered a real time listening party and album review, and cementing their well earned success. 

The lights lowered to almost darkness and smoke filled the stage, spotlights hitting the marks of where each band member of UNPROCESSED would be standing in a few short moments, prompting fans to roar with excitement. Out they came, full of energy and dived right in with the opening track 111. Despite releasing instrumental EP Lost Tapes in August, fans were left to wait a little longer to hear new songs live as the quartet kept the set almost exclusively to the track list of previously released album Angel, along with a few most popular songs such as Hell, Glass and Thrash. Even in a packed out room filled to each corner with gig-goers, UNPROCESSED proved that in a dimly lit, hazy room accompanied by smooth guitar riffs that scratch a musical itch and almost hypnotic polyrhythmic grooves, tech-metal melded with ambient synths and heavy percussion can be intimate and personal. A no easy feat, but for this incredibly talented group, it seems as if it is second nature. 

At the height of the night, when the energy of the room was palpable, the crowd were treated to a METALLICA cover of Creeping Death and as cheers erupted, the pit was opened, and moshers did what they do best. A moment between songs was seized for lead vocalist Manuel Gardner Fernandes to proudly tell the story of how far the band have come, from forming at age 16 in a small town in Germany and playing to small audiences with nothing but a dream and ambition, to now being frontrunners in the genre-bending alternative music scene. This was shown to be true by the guitar shredding from guitarist Christoph Schultz, blast beats from drummer Leon Pfeifer and background accompaniments of cello from bassist David John Levy, aiding the weaving heavy screaming and softer vocals on the well loved track Dark, Silent and Complete. And further proving that being a genre-fluid collective provides something for everyone, fans sang as one, echoing lyrics back towards the spotlit stage, some with hands raised in elation, others holding onto one another with tears in their eyes. A true testament to their ability to touch on raw emotions in all forms. 

But although the crowd were happy and satisfied at the end, the chants for more came thick and fast, all too eager to hear even more of the music they adore. And of course, UNPROCESSED delivered, coming back for an encore and playing tracks Terrestrial and arguably their most loved and well known, Deadrose.

Not stopping to even catch their breath, UNPROCESSED continue on with the rest of the European leg of the tour, before keeping up the momentum in China in November.

Words and photos: Ashleigh Robinson