Live Review: GHØSTKID with Within Destruction & SETYØURSAILS at The Garage, London (20/10/24)

There’s no creative line that GHØSTKID aren’t willing to cross, no emotion that they aren’t willing explore, and no fear of what the response to their music will be. It’s simple really, GHØSTKID say they are doing exactly what they want in the way they want to, and prove it unequivocally. It might result in polarising music, but it’s music that everyone inevitably takes note of. Especially because so much of it is so anthemic.

This is a paragraph from our review of the new GHØSTKID album, ‘Hollywood Suicide’, that was released earlier this year (full review here). Words that still ring true and words that can also apply to the live Ghøstkid experience too.

It’s an Autumnal Sunday night in London, and there doesn’t seem to be a venue in the capital that doesn’t have something going on. This month has been simply insane for live shows, to the point where a Sunday can have Alice Cooper and Dream Theater playing in huge venues on different sides of the city. A stone’s throw away from this gig is Mallory Knox, over in New Cross, Fulci are tearing it up, and in Camden, Batushka are spreading their wicked word.

The choice rock and metal fans have at the moment is insane, so it’s no surprise that The Garage isn’t exactly at its fullest for this show. Disappointing? Of course, but credit to the bands, who play with such gusto, it ends up feeling packed to the rafters.

Up first? It’s German modern metalcore band, SETYØURSAILS, buoyed massively by the impressive release of their second studio album, Bad Blood, earlier this year (read our review here). An album that genuinely stands out as a contender for the best of the year. Filled with infectious bangers that ooze vitality, something that is heavily reflected in their live show too. Not just excitable, but filled with heartfelt passion and a ton of emotion. Be it melodic and slow, or hyperactive and heavy, SETYØURSAILS are an immense live band and at their current trajectory (and based off the crowd response here), they could be headlining a venue like this in a few years’ time.

One particular highlight? How beastly Bad Company sounds live. Although a shoutout to Camden’s stalwart shop, Cyberdog via vocalist Jules Mitch’s first time experience, is funny. Even if they lose half a point because they complain about being old in their 30s. There are a few greyer and wrinkled folks in the crowd who take that with a wry smile. This reviewer too, who just turned 40 a few months ago.

Talking of sounding beastly though, Within Destruction are an astounding band to experience and you can tell that some in the crowd struggle to mesh with their genre-bending ways. At times, pure metalcore as we know it. Then, it’s deathcore with grind-infused mania and pig squeals to boot. Is that a bit of cybergrind in there? Maybe, or maybe it’s just an intense showcase of electronica. Regardless, they slam a load of differing creative ideas together in impressive anthemic fashion.

Vocalist Rok Rupnik works his ass off trying to get the crowd moving, resulting in an amusing telling off for a really lacklustre circle-pit near the end of the set, which does at least get a heftier looking one going, following a fairly tame wall of death. It’s all done with fun in mind though, which is even more amusing when you take into account that lyrically and tonally, some of their music is very nihilistic.

They’re at the absolute best when vocals are being shared as guitarist Howard Fang has an immense clean singing voice and the two vocalists bounce of each other brilliantly. Overall, it’s a brilliant set that definitely won Within Destruction some new fans.

About halfway through their set, GHØSTKID (aka Sebastian Biesler) asks the crowd if they’ve seen GHØSTKID live before and only a few voices respond in the positive. GHØSTKID haven’t been over here much (and had to cancel a few tours too) and it shows by how few have experienced them live before. Yet, there is never going to be a better time than on their debut headline tour, and with that in mind, the band give this their all. Taking an arena level show (lighting, outfits and makeup, setlist, and more) and applying it to a club show.

It’s this level of dedication that ensures this show will live long in the memory. That, and a blistering showcase of everything GHØSTKID is. From the songs that cause carnage in the pit, such as FSU, MURDER, and SUPERNØVA. To the songs like S3X that make you want to hold someone dear that little bit closer. From the songs that make you feel optimistic, like DRTY and BLACK CLOUD, to the songs that make you feel pessimistic, like UGLY and DAHILA.

Ghøstkid has it all, but most all, they have alternative anthems and there may be no track to better show their anthemic ways than THIS IS NOT HOLLYWOOD. Amusingly, Biesler momentarily forgets the lyrics (it’s a tough song to sing), laughs it off, and recovers in stunning fashion. An absolute pro, who joking acknowledges the choice of outfit tonight is causing problems and he’d rather not give the front row a sight they didn’t ask for.

He is amazing to watch as an artist (as is the rest of the band), delivering every song with incredible energy but also pouring all his emotion into a set that is detailed and varied. Any doubts about the willingness to be open and vulnerable disappears with HEAVY RAIN. A track that he admits to struggling to perform, and a track that clearly takes a toll on him.

It is just one of many mesmerising moments of a show that was GHØSTKID’s proper arrival on the live scene. Their first headline tour and certainly not their last.