Imagine Dragons O2 Arena, gig review: Marrying mainstream pop to rock-styled lyrics

It’s impressive for a band that used to get by playing covers in Las Vegas’ casinos

(Ryan Burdett )

Two years since their last London show and the Las Vegas four-piece return to the O2 tonight as they continue to promote their second album, Smoke + Mirrors.

Opening with dance-rock single, “Shots”, the band dive into their catalogue of hits including ”Demons“ and ”Radioactive,“ with its plush pop synths and electronic sub-bass accompanied by some air-punching drumming.

Though Smoke + Mirrors offers more of the epic lyrical romances of Coldplay and the rousing choruses of Mumford & Sons’, songs are continually swamped by mind-numbing synths and digitised pop breaks that reduce guitars to melodic stage ornaments and the percussion left to embody the band’s rock intention.

Mid-way through, lead singer, Dan Reynolds introduces their current single “I Was Me” with an emotional appeal to the crowd to help with the relief efforts in the Refugee Crisis by buying the song, the proceeds of which will be donated to the UN Refugee Agency.

By the time we get to the encore of “The Fall”, Imagine Dragons have proven to have struck gold by marrying mainstream pop to rock-styled lyrics and delivery. It’s hardly groundbreaking stuff but it certainly sells and impressive for a band that used to get by playing covers in Las Vegas’ casinos.