THE PRODIGY TAKEOVER O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON FOR AN END-OF-YEAR PARTY

If there’s a band in the last two decades who knows how to put on a show, indoors or out, it’s The Prodigy. Confine their electric presence into the walls of O2 Academy Brixton for three nights, and anything can happen.

The Prodigy are one of the most successful electronic groups of all time, famous for their genre-defining sound which spans rock, dance and breakbeat. Their huge 1997 album The Fat Of The Land, which spawned the singles Breathe and Firestarter, kickstarted a new era of music.

After a triumphant return to Reading and Leeds this year, they ended 2024 with the DISRUPTA Tour. An excuse to cause havoc in four cities up and down the country before heading to Australia.

On the final night of their O2 Academy Brixton performance, you could feel the excitement. This was to be described as a ‘late show’, finishing past 1 am. The later it got, the more ravenous people became. The Prodigy tattoos were imprinted on many of those in the crowd, that or merchandise.

After two head-spinning support acts Jaguar Skills and the Radio-1 DJ Jack Saunders, The Prodigy appeared to Voodoo People. They came wielding a flag, which was then launched into the crowd to roaring applause.

“Brixton Academy is The Prodigy house, everyone here is f**king family” screams Maxim, the now-frontman of the group. This is a sentiment which will span the remainder of the show before they unleash their unrelenting energy onto a sea of souls ready to give even more in return.

The Prodigy (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
The Prodigy (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
The Prodigy (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
The Prodigy (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
The Prodigy (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)

As they powered into Omen and Light Up The Sky, the group became an unstoppable force, almost untouchable on stage.

Maxim, as always, demonstrated his incredible ability as a hype man, keeping the crowd always wanting more. This was backed by an incredible display of lasers, light theatrics and by the end, huge engaging screens. A particular favourite was during Invaders Must Die, which saw an alien takeover appear as a backdrop. An insane spectacle.

It wasn’t simply people from the UK witnessing this unfold either, many travelled from across the world for this night. One from as far as Canada, who got a special nod from the band midway through the set.

Out Space, Take Me To The Hospital and Hit The Switch were just a few of our highlights. The latter was also a debut performance.

Breathe unsurprisingly closed the set, but We Live Forever was chosen as the encore finale. “We’re going to send you into ’25 with this…” they shout. The entire room had goosebumps, and we don’t think there was a better way to round off the year than with a track that brings so much unity.

We said it before, and we’ll say it again. If there’s any band in the last two decades who knows how to put on a show, indoors or out, it’s The Prodigy.