Gothzilla

Finally, then, rounding up night one, we have GOTHZILLA [9] and they get bonus points for name alone I’m not going to lie. The Scottish ensemble are performing as a five-piece tonight for a rare full band experience, and they tear through their set treating Morecambe more like Morioka. No, I know Godzilla never attacked Morioka specifically it was just for alliteration before you fact check me. Nevertheless, the old-school Goth-rockers channel the likes of Sisters Of Mercy for a truly sentimental spectacle rounding up Friday’s proceedings.

They open up with “Today Is A Good Day To Die”…and we really get a sense of classic post-punk here. The deeper vocal drawl of Tim Jarvis pays homage to the era, the genre and the vibe perfectly and the band roll back the years retrospectively with some undeniably on-point proto-Goth authenticity. Edlritch would be equal parts proud and seeking royalties had he been here tonight. Tracks like “Tightwire” are why we adore the genre…the semi-orchestral stylings of the synths add an air of grandiosity, before we get into the meat and potatoes of what is simply a catchy piece of dark indie-rock. The chorus is chock full of hooks and it’s a really driving song that you can’t help but to move to, with everything layered perfectly, and it ends on that sweet spot where you don’t want it to. It was like Gareth Edwards’ 2014 “Godzilla”…he’d always cut away too soon like an absolute tease…

Newer singles like “DES PER ATE” house wonderfully bold electronic elements, accompanying some surging guitar and percussion that subtly lean into the lighter side of industrial; it’s on the fringe and this is solid stuff. Speaking of the band also include a cover of NINE INCH NAILS classic “Head Like A Hole” and they are more than suited for this, especially on stage as a full five-piece. This, alongside popular cuts like the heavily remixed single “The Edge Of Forever” incite singalongs from the now heaving Alhambra and ultimately, night one ends successfully. Gothzilla came, they saw, they sang, and they stomped away into the night victorious, out into Morecambe Bay, but it’ll take more than a high tide to stop these Goth rockers gaining momentum - Gavin Griffiths

Next to enter the fray were the ‘Mighty’ GothZilla. There’s a reason when talking about Gothzilla that they often get ‘The Mighty’ prefix put in front. That is simply because they are. If you’re reading this and haven’t checked them out yet then you really want to go and do that now…See? Mighty indeed! Joining founding member and head Kaiju Tim Jarvis on stage was new Guitar ‘Gothzuki’ Stuart Harbut previously of Rain Children.

Considering Stu has not long been officially in the band and this was their first ‘live’ performance together then I really can’t wait to see more studio and live magic happen. Add to this the fact that they were a member down also then the sound and the volume that just the 2 of them made was indeed terrifyingly monstrous. The amps were definitey turned up to 11! Tim is easily one of the best showmen around, again as like all the bands on show here except perhaps for relative newcomer Stella, has been doing this a long time and is a highly experienced musician. This shows not only in Gothzilla’s songwriting but in the showmanship and crowd interaction. A consumate frontman; egging the crowd on to dance, get closer, sing along and and fist pump the air, penultimate track of the night ‘We Stand As One’ literally stands as testement to all of the above and by the end of the song and only the 3rd act in I was losing my voice.

Gothzilla are indeed a mighty reptile and not for the timid mammal. The sound is part deliciously danceable electronica mixed with good old Goth Rock, served with an extra helping of just good old Rock. From the first……notes of Tightwire to the last ……of Temple of Sound…… With Stu now adding his shredding guitar and energy to the ‘Zilla’s live performance and future recordings the only thing I can see that could stop this mighty Kaiju would be King Ghidorah himself and even then my money’s on Gothzilla. - Black Velvet Audio

Next up is Gothzilla who open up their set with “Today is a Good Day to Die” from 2011’s stunning Catharsis album and it just blew me away, I am a big fan of The Mission & Sisters of Mercy and this is a band truly following in their footsteps – no drummer, sampled beats along with the bass player and the two guitarists in full flow with Tim on vocals; tremendous start. We get another from the same album next with “Tightwire”, again with the sampled drums/keyboard. Tim has an amazing voice as the band grooves along behind him; I think I have found another favourite band. The haunting keyboard and guitar intro signal the arrival of the “Negative Creep” from the harder edged 2017 album The Dark is Rising, I love the laid-back vibe of this track, the band wrap us up in a “Blanket” next from the same album with its pulsing opening along with sampled choir-style background vocals, amazing with its guitar laden groove.

We get a new one now from their new forthcoming album due to be released next year as we go “Softly Softly”, if this is anything to go by then I am really looking forward to the album. We go back to The Dark is Rising for “3 Into 2 Won’t Go” with its hypnotic rhythm and great chorus rhythm, we head to the “Edge of Forever” from the same album with its great keyboard sample leading us in before the voice opens up and the band carry us along and, again, fantastic chorus lines. The band now finish up a fantastic set with “Temple of Sound” from Catharsis and I have really enjoyed their use of samples tonight as the drums/keyboards take us into the song, a great ending to a set I have thoroughly enjoyed. As I have mentioned if you are a fan of The Mission/Sisters of Mercy and that style of music then I would urge you to check out Gothzilla as you will not be disappointed, - The Moshville Times

The second album from Scottish band Gothzilla is a smorgasbord of musical sounds from new romantic to metal. Their distinctive style draws mostly on 80s bands like Joy Division and Killing Joke even adding slices of industrial with some Gary Numan laden electronic elements on tracks like Negative Creep.

Lead vocalist, Tim Jarvis's style is somewhere between the low seductive tones of Iggy Pop and the urbane charm of Billy Idol with a mid-80s David Bowie added for good measure. There's strong attention paid to the melody on the album, with all of the band members (Graeme Fulton – Bass, Neil Winton – guitar, Tony Hodge – drums) contributing to the dark and Eeyorish elements in such a way that it stops the record sounding repetitive or durgy. It may be maudlin, but it's far from dull; in fact, it's a gritty and intelligent album that has an instant appeal. The band mix Gothic lyrics about Faustian pacts, religion and vampires with more earthbound subjects of love, loss and distrust with such ease: Whipping Boy challenges ideas of faith with fiery frustration, 3 Into 2 Won't Go is a snappy goth-rock ballad and the brilliantly sincere, Remembrance, marks a dramatic shift in the album's feel with a tender and moving lament.

Gothzilla are adept at blending well-crafted lyrics and refrains you'll have no problem plummeting into the depths of their musical necropolis. - PhotoGroupie

Gothzilla are the ultimate feel-good goth band (which many would consider a contradiction in terms) - Nikolas Vitus Lagartija