Page 50 - Black Velvet Issue 97

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SULPHER / DEADFILMSTAR / SIMAI – BIRMINGHAM ASYLUM 2, 26.04.18
Sulpher released their debut single and album, ‘Spray’, back in 2002, although members went on to other projects, putting the outfit on the back-
burner. Frontman Rob Holliday in particular went on to join bands/artists such as Marilyn Manson and The Prodigy, while drummer Steve Monti became
a member of The Jesus and Mary Chain. Fast forward to 2018 and the band have released a new single, ‘Take A Long Hard Look’ and have an album
due out soon. So it’s no surprise that various live shows have been booked, including one at the Asylum 2 in Birmingham.
Opening band Simai are originally from Bulgaria, although now based in Birmingham and just in case you need waking up on this Wednesday
evening, they have definitely brought the metal. Inspired by bands such as Rage Against The Machine, the young five-piece inject a dose of rap into
their metalcore. You can definitely hear the rage as their ferociousness boils out from the stage.
There’s a slight 80s appeal to deadfilmstar, a Midlands-based band that err on the side of industrial gothic shock rock. These guys (and girl) are
a really entertaining bunch. The fact that they have black face paint on shows you the lengths they go to to put on a show. Gary Mobley on vocals (or
soapbox, as their Facebook page says) and all in black, struts, preens and poses for the cameras with his jacket sleeves rolled up to show he means
business. The band have been going since the late 90s and credit to them for keeping on. With songs such as ‘Hello, Cruel World’ parading a sleazy,
ghoulish pitch, they definitely make the evening a lot more bewitching and the world a lot more entrancing.
Sulpher also have that creative edge, but the quality of their music takes things to another level. But that’s only to be expected when you look at
their CVs. Vocalist/guitarist Rob Holliday spits out troubled lyrics over a bed of programmed synths and live guitars, bass and drums. Rob is joined by
Steve Monti on drums, Andy Spillane on guitar and Davey Bennet on bass.
Polar opposites to what The Prodigy are,
Sulpher grapple with darker industrial rock
amidst a cloud of fog. Songs such as
‘Scared’ are like psychotic nightmares; they
pound and force their way into your head
with their sonic heaviness and electronic
beats. One minute Rob is sadistically whis-
pering, the next he’s tormentedly shouting
his guts out. He has a joke fight with bassist
Davey, while new song ‘Take A Long Hard
Look’ speeds out of the starting blocks like a
racing car on acid. “I think I just gave myself
a hernia singing that,” says Rob afterwards.
‘You Ruined Everything’ is a vicious, hard-hit-
ting, cyber metal brain-melter, while final
song ‘Spray’ is fermenting fury that finishes
what the band set out to do. With their new
album set for release later this year, we look
forward to hearing how their new songs are
going to sound on disc. And if you love bands
like Nine Inch Nails but haven’t checked out
Sulpher yet, make sure you do soon.
YYYY
Shari Black Velvet
Rob Holliday (Sulpher) Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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