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Live Review: HRH Goth London & Leeds. 11+12/9/21

Writer's picture: Canis LewisCanis Lewis

*Rave The Requiem, Grooving In Green, and Cold In Berlin did not attend and were replaced by Novus UK, FyreSky, and Witch Of The East.


Welcome! This is going to be a different sort of live review for a change with Elektro Vox. On this occasion we had myself down at the London show with a media pass to get some interviews in; and Mr Smith up at the Leeds half of the show with a pit pass to get the juiciest photos that my Iphone could never live up to! Now I spent most of the first day trying to grab bands and the second day taking time to enjoy my friends' company so I can't say I paid a great amount of attention to each band to write anything in depths for many of them and Mr Smith is busier than he's ever been with new found photography success. So it is for these reasons that the band reviews will be very short but in essence what I truly seek to review is the festival itself!

Scroll down for a vast array of images and interview videos! This was the first ever HRH Goth (Incorporating HRH Industrial) and many of the original line up were not able to make it due to Covid, travel restrictions, probably something Brex-Sh*t related no doubt, and some other rumoured issues.

Now I will admit that I had been very sceptical about this festival because for one, I knew very few of the bands, and secondly it seemed to be marketing itself as 'the first true UK Goth festival experience' which seemed like quite the unresearched slap in the face towards Infest, Resistanz, and Whitby festivals and I found the lack of line up change info disturbing.

Having said that.. What I expected was a fairly poor weekend, what I got however was an incredibly friendly, helpful, and thoroughly enjoyable experience even if I didn't agree with a few of the line up. The staff were incredible, the bands performed their hearts out, and long needed socialising was had in a great atmosphere, minus two small instances that is.

Having got my passes agreed only the day before from an incredibly helpful Holly and Toby over the phone, I was then introduced to the lady in charge, Charlotte (Charl) and Harry at the venue. Having had a misunderstanding with my media pass' access rights, I was led up to Charl once again by security supervisor Lee. Charl was amazingly friendly and issued my partner and I with higher passes and Harry showed us to a room that we could use all to ourselves for interviews upstairs in the Foyer. Perfect! So first day was full of great first impressions even with the confusion.


Near the end of the first night, a friend in my group was approached by a far less than pleasant man who I had to make leave for reasons I wont' go in to. Having worked in security for many years I couldn't help but keep an eye on him all evening, and when I noticed him repeating his mistakes with other women in the venue I quickly had a team of security staff huddled around to get a good look at him, and sure enough he was spoken to shortly after and then I imagine, escorted out. The next day Lee the security supervisor assured us he would be on a last warning should he return and the wonderful HRH team lady at the front desk offered my two female friends royalty passes to be able to escape upstairs when necessary. Now THAT is how you handle festival problems, I was beyond impressed at the staff's ability to empathise, react, and assist; So in terms of safety and customer service 10/10!


Anyway, enough of that for now, on to the bands!


Novus UK


A good friend once told me that a show should always start on a banger to get the audience's attention and Novus opening the festival was a super enjoyable experience to start with, that's for sure! A three piece band looking incredible from the start with PVC galore, powerfully positive energy, and catchy track after catchy track made for a set deserving to be much higher on the billing.

Vocalist Sarah looked truly at home on the stage with Peter and Angie both looking absolute fire and like they couldn't quite believe they were there; Their last minute placement however was definitely well deserved and made for a great feel-good kick start of Gothic rock!

9/10


Leeds photos:

London Photos:

Interview:

"From an artist perspective.. One of the best organised events we have played and especially in London, the sound and stage guys were amazing. Could not be Nicer or more willing to help."

-Peter Jones ~ Novus


"Both Venues were excellent, all the staff and crew were super helpful. The crowds at both cities were really into the music from all the bands. In Leeds the lights were amazing, especially for Auger."

-Sarajane Farr ~ Novus

FyreSky

I only managed to catch the last two songs of this band having been interviewing Novus but from the fire filled energy of their exiting numbers that put me in the mind of 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn' came a jaw dropping smile across my face (Let's ignore the logistics of that statement!)

The lead singer hypnotised the audience with one hell of a powerful voice and charismatic edge weaved in to every word. The other members of the band were ecstatically energetic and owned every inch of that stage, and even the pit as the two guitarists threw themselves at the audience! Absolutely wonderful stuff that I wish I had seen in its entirety.

9/10


London Photos (Did not play Leeds):


St Lucifer


A super well rounded sound that brings a smile from start to finish. St Lucifer really is a band that can appeal to every taste which is a rarity. A wonderful statement of diversity and pure enjoyment of time spent dedicated to music. There wasn't a single moment where I wasn't enjoying the beats and vocals, constantly bopping my head along and smiling at the profoundly positive vibes pouring out of the band.

8/10


Leeds photos:

London Photos: