Author: Dinah Kolka

Scotland Rocks Radio concerts have become a staple of Friday evenings every other month, delivering some of the best live performances Edinburgh has to offer. After witnessing the sheer excellence of Blackfyre Rising last year, this time I had the chance to experience Black Sun, Post-Ironic State, and Gothdzilla in full force. I expected quality, and I was not disappointed. The room was packed, the air thick with excitement, and the audience moved instinctively to the rhythms.

Yet it was Post-Ironic State that stole the show. Their stage presence was magnetic, their energy almost hypnotic, and their performance left the audience (myself included) utterly enthralled. Interestingly, the demographic was noticeably different from the Blackfyre Rising gig—this time, the crowd leaned more mature, likely drawn in by Gothdzilla and Black Sun’s Gen X appeal. Regardless, the night was a triumph, and I can’t wait for the next Scotland Rocks Radio event. If you haven’t attended one yet, I strongly recommend that you do.

As usual, the gig took place at Banshee Labyrinth, a venue I’ve come to know well, and once again, its small stage was set ablaze by up-and-coming musicians who deserve to be highlighted.

BLACK SUN

Black Sun was the first one up, a hard rock trio from Edinburgh, offering solid and reliable energy and hard rock sounds, familiar to anyone who experienced the peak ‘older brother’ music. With excellent vocals from the frontman who managed to balance singing and playing complex riffs, they were comfortable in their skill whilst enjoying themselves in the process.

It was pretty clear that the members of Black Sun loved what they were doing – with a multitude of solos and catchy songs, they offered a fun experience that brought me back in time. With songs such as Tremble, Southern Comfort, or Kingmaker, they had the audience captured easily. It is worth adding that it’s quite rare for concerts to have such a big audience from the very start, yet it was clear that anybody who came in to see Black Sun, chose to remain and enjoyed the full experience without ever requiring to take a breath of fresh air outside (which, I suppose, is related to the unfortunate decline in nicotine addicts). The song titled Southern Comfort was most notable – it delivered a somewhat American vibe with solos reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd, which everyone was delighted about. The audience loved it, and as the band members launched into the guitar solo, the crowd cheered, captivated by their performance.

With intricate chord play and a paced fusion of various genres, they stole the show as they sang alongside each other. Similarly, Body Touches the Mind and its opening was a joy to listen to. The genre may be entering dad rock territory, but it certainly does not get boring, and Black Sun proved this to be the case.

POST-IRONIC STATE

Post-Ironic State was enchanting from the very beginning. From the second they started setting things up, it was clear that they cared thoroughly about their live presence. The vocalist (Jai McCann) was wearing a German military shirt, and the eerie-looking synth player, Josephine ‘JoJo’ Hawley committed to the full goth makeup up, which made them complement each other in that classic goth way, reminiscent of Siouxsie and the Banshees or Death in June (complimentary).

The band was an instant hypnotising rave for the senses – with the opening, they brought in an ethereal atmosphere that made them magnetic and the audience wild with passion. Their opening track, Resurrected from the Dead, set the tone immediately—a hypnotic blend of eerie atmospherics and raw energy. McCann’s animalistic movements, his unexpected leaps into the crowd, and his impromptu drum performance in the middle of the audience created an electrifying, immersive experience. Meanwhile, JoJo swayed behind her synth like a ghostly apparition, adding to the band’s mystique.

They played big hits, such as Citadel or Grin and Bear, which were different in style – far dancier and almost touching on mainstream, which, I suppose, explains the success of Grin and Bear, having had 59,468 plays on Spotify. Sprinkled with drum and synth solos, and the whole experience was really worth it. It almost felt like Fleetwood Mac at times, drifting through styles and vibes. I was shocked to listen to them on Spotify – their presence is very polished and perfected whereas it is their live performance that is truly their forte. Not only were they technically brilliant, but their chemistry as a band was undeniable. The way JoJo looked at McCann with admiration was a small but telling detail—it was clear this group wasn’t just performing; they were deeply connected.

GOTHZILLA

The final act of the night, Gothdzilla, shifted the energy entirely. Power, confidence, and an undeniable stage presence defined their set. While they didn’t steal the show for me the way Post-Ironic State did, they still delivered an electrifying performance.

Their sound carried a classic rock meets alternative fusion, with a touch of theatricality reminiscent of Meatloaf or Alice Cooper. From the punchy anthem Today Is a Good Day to Die to their high-energy unreleased track Desperate, they had the crowd engaged throughout. The frontman, rocking a ‘Goth and proud’ cap, clearly relished the moment, effortlessly blending charisma with vocal skill.

They also took a risk by performing without backing tracks for the first time—a challenge they rose to brilliantly. With a megaphone in hand and even some occasional rapping, they brought a mix of styles that leaned into early ’90s alternative nostalgia. Their cover of Nine Inch Nails’ Head Like a Hole was a perfect closer, leaving the audience more than satisfied.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, Scotland Rocks Radio brought together a truly eclectic collection of bands, an experience that I truly strongly recommend. This was certainly a fantastic way to spend an evening and I have to say, where I often feel ambivalent about the bands I hear live, this time, I walked away with my Spotify playlist updated with a whole lot of new songs.

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Feature photo credit: Scotland Rocks Radio / Jai Dee Photography.