With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

Mayhem Virgins – Sue Denim April 1, 2026

Filed under: Mayhem Virgins — justwilliam1959 @ 9:39 pm
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This is the 28th entry in the Mayhem Virgins series which has been running since 2018. Here is where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of the wonderful Sue Denim. Do you remember English electro punkers Robots In Disguise? I do, in fact I saw them once back in 2008, at the Reading Festival. The band operated from 2000 to 2011 and released four albums. They got back together in 2019. There was a changing line up of backing musicians but the core of the group was always Dee Plume and the subject of this Mayhem Virgins post, Sue Denim!

The band ceased to be as, like for many of us, life got in the way. I had the pleasure of bumping into Sue Denim on the eve of the Unconvention event in Manchester last November. She is a delightful human being and she gave me a copy of her latest solo album on CD. It’s called ‘And The Unicorn’ and was released on Halloween 2025. Her solo music veers into leftfield compared to her work with Robots In Disguise. Her music is quality lofi built on a bed of wonderful whimsy. The emotions run incredibly deep but are buoyed by the simplistic almost childlike quality of her writing. Songs like “Superunicorn” and “Bicycle” are gorgeous. Some reviewers have described the current album as a Marmite collection in that you will either love it or hate it. Personally I disagree. For me if you love great music you will love this album and the music of Sue Denim!

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Bruise Control – The Fulford Arms York – Thursday 5th March 2026

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 6:51 pm
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Another night at the fabulous Fulford Arms, was it another great night? Read on to find out. The evening was set up to showcase the launch of Bruise Control’s new EP titled ‘Bruise Control’. There were a couple of support bands and the first was the rather spiffing Mr. Shiraz from Huddersfield. They deploy some mightily magnificent riffage in their excellent melodic punky metal songs. There was some extremely funny comic banter between songs. The whole set was a highlight but I really loved “Boomerang” and the epic set closer which I didn’t get the title of. This bunch are well worth checking out. The second band on stage was Hidden Youth from Leeds. This was a set full of passionate pop punk with a huge emphasis on the punk side of the equation. Their hooks were heavenly and hypnotic. “Upright” is an absolute towering banger. I am now definitely a Hidden Youth fan.

Wigan’s Bruise Control are a vivid and fierce example of what punk rock should be. They channel the raucous fiery energy of the Damned circa ’76/’77, the hard and heavy side of Motorhead and the best pop hooks you can imagine. The screaming banshee guitars are intertwined with some effervescent and explosive effects that add a layer of prog to some mighty punk riffs. They are the most intense band I have seen in ages, fucking awesome! The band is made up of Niall Griffin on guitar, Ru Gilfillan on bass, drummer Tommy Victor Morris fronted by hugely talented lead singer and frontman Jim Taylor. It felt like Taylor was born to be frontman of a punk band. Bruise Control have the potential to break really big. Festival stages await them!

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