Live Review: Blackgold - Wolverhampton
Support: Deadwax
12th September 2025
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
KK's Steel mill is buzzing tonight as latest hyped up outfit Blackgold headline a SOLD OUT show at the Midlands best venue.
When Deadwax took the stage to open the night the mood in the venue was already electric. From the get-go, they managed to seize attention: their sound was raw, trebly guitars cutting through a tight rhythm section, vocals alternately snarling and melodic, giving a taste of the edge that the crowd was there for. While they haven’t got the polish of a headliner, that’s part of their charm; there was enough promise in their performance to suggest they could headline their own show before too long.
By the time Blackgold strode on, the venue was packed to capacity; it was obvious from the first chord that this was an audience fully primed to be taken on a journey. The lighting was suitably moody, not overdone, atmospheric washes of light. Blackgold have always had a flair for dramatic tension in their songs, and live that came off strongest: smashing through the sound barrier with guitar, drums, and vocal that had the audience in a frenzy.
On a purely musical level, the instrumentals were tight, the drums particularly thunderous, the guitars switched between crunchy distortion and more melodic cleans effectively, the bass held everything together, giving weight to the riffs without ever being drowned out. Vocally, they managed both clarity and raw emotional texture with worked just so well.
What stood out just as much as the music was the crowd interaction and the energy. Wolverhampton showed up: a sold-out crowd singing along, responding to pauses and breaks, cheering loudest when the tension broke, and a pit as big as I have ever seen In KK's Lounge room. Blackgold also brought the banter — not too much, but enough to acknowledge the crowd, to draw them in.
By the end of the night Blackgold had delivered a show in Wolverhampton that justified the hype. For fans, it was exhilarating; casual attendees likely left with respect. If you missed it, you missed something special; if it’s any indication, their next tour should be unmissable.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
