I am so very sorry to you all, the bands especially for the delay in publishing this piece, life threw me a curveball that was unexpected.
It’s my second time seeing Death Goals, first was at Supersonic earlier this year and what an absolute treat they are. Energised to the max from that appearance they continue to fly the flag for humanity. I am joined by my Professor of Death, Dr David Gange of Why Metal Matters, an important voice on alternative culture and its impact on societies across the globe. Also, my Decapitated friend, Siân, the blue -haired mythical queen of the Death scene, was in attendance, her connection to the audiences is a sight to behold, always smiling, friendly and welcoming, all the qualities we seek in this life.
‘There should be no trans awareness week, there should be no POC week, we are all one species’
The duo, Harry Bailey and George Milner are as incendiary as they come, unafraid and launching little fireballs of fury into the crowd. Their stance on life and all the misery it attracts will always be a talking point, they make no bones about standing with what is right. A militant yet mellow and unpretentious band, who are here to entertain as we wait for the ‘two professional bands to follow’ – a soupçon of modest humour is always good.
These guys leave you with ‘A Different Type Of Headache’ one that celebrates the ‘Year Of the Guillotine’ only this time you may lose more than your head, but that’s no reason to be horrible or miserable about it.
Dani Nightingale jumps aboard the Death Goals Enterprise, a sign of support, togetherness and an affirmation that we are one.
We end the set on a high, believe me you’ll be hearing colours by the end of the show.
Pijn; Dutch word meaning pain.
Ok hands up, how many of you bastards said ‘pigeon’? Well, you can join me in the leper colony and think about what you’ve done and there you will remain until you can behave yourselves. Somehow everything for me tonight harks back to Supersonic, intergalactic, interstellar and extra-terrestrial, not of this earth but it bloody well belongs here. We communicate sonically with Pijn, just gliding through the galaxy, channelling our debris and replacing it with the perpetuity of stardust. We bathe in a glow that I have not felt since Blanket covered ‘Knife Prty’ as I marinate and luxuriate in the anaemic and sweet, soothing, intricate and velutinous, and I’m not sure I’m making sense right now, but this night is branded in my soul.
Pijn are a band I had heard of but never had the pleasure, so this was a night of discovery for me. A band similar in nature and substance to Moin (also at Supersonic this year) there is mystery without malice, I let myself get lost in their aura. I love classical music, so it was great to see a cello, played gracefully by Maggie Lister. Pijn are Joe Clayton vocals/guitar, Nic Watmough drums/piano and Luke Rees on bass, adding other instrumentalists along the way, wherever their path takes them. All culminating in a whole new world of sounds and sensations, pure unadulterated joy.
They leave us with the utterly breathtaking message
‘but in the end, my friends, everything will mend’
A night to achieve some Death Goals and catch that Pijn now!
Azra Pathan
Death Goals/ Pijn – 14th November 2025, The Asylum, Birmingham.