Godsticks / The Globe / Glossop
Godsticks are a band I’ve wanted to see for some time, and several friends have told me they’re excellent live and well worth seeing. Today was my lucky day, as a long trip to Huddersfield for the football, meant I was not far from Glossop, where Godsticks were playing on their 2026 “VOiD” album tour at the Globe !
A wonderful venue, an old school pub, with music venue above, it just drips atmosphere and history and, as if often the case with smaller grass root venues, a pride in having fantastic lighting and sound !
First up in support is a short set from Leeds based Knim, a progressive rock band formed in 2022, debuting with the single A Prisoner On The Seas and releasing the EP “When A Star Falls”.
A fantastic set, that filled the small space, resonating off the walls back at us. Their sound is a heavy mix of choppy riffs with the addition of atmospheric synths and fantasy-based storytelling lyrics. The songs contain intricate time changes, and complex melodies that build a delightful sonic soundscape. Highlights of the set for me were Visions and the final track Trail of Echoes a lengthy, classic prog way to finish any set.
A great introduction to KNIM and there sound, and a band I’d love to see again sometime soon to explore their sound further.
Setlist
Moments
Visions
Epitaph
Fugue
Trail of Echoes
Godsticks are a progressive rock/ metal band from Newport, Wales. Formed back in 2006 they released their self-titled EP in 2009 and their debut album “Spiral Vendetta” in 2010. They have released seven studio albums to date, the latest being the excellent “VOiD” released earlier this year. Godsticks are Darran Charles (guitar & vocals), Francis George (bass), Gavin Bushell (guitar) and Tom Price (drums).
They open their set with the excellent If I Don’t Take It All from the 2023 album “This is What a Winner Looks Like”, which sets the scene immediately. Powerful effect driven riffs, and strong (well balanced in the mix) bass driving it along, they immediately show just what a talented band they are.
Darren is an excellent frontman, expressive in his playing style, pouring his heart and soul into his craft, and with a witty sense of humour making the frequent between song audience interactions a joy. Darren and Francis also face up, and play to each other, broad grins across their faces as they genuinely revel in the joy of playing live for an audience.
The setlist is a great mix of highlight tracks from across their career to date, with a good mix of new material from “VOiD” thrown in as well. If you haven’t heard “VOiD” yet, I strongly recommend you give it a go, it’s packed with some mesmerising tracks and spellbinding playing. Hold Back is one such example, a song that Francis tells me he loves performing live because of its complexity. And for the audience, there is something fascinating about watching a band of this calibre, effortlessly flow from song to song, whilst clearly having incredible fun while they do it.
New track M.I.A. is a blast, packed with raucous energy and pounding riffs, while Hope is Burning delivers a slowed down, finer experience, with intricate tones intertwine to deliver a complex and emotional track which reminded me somewhat of Riverside.
The new album “VOiD” is outstanding, and its tracks sit well alongside their more established hits. What is clear is this is a band that can transfer the studio sound and quality to the live setting.
The set ends with a grandstand double whammy of Unforgiveable from 2017’s “Faced with Rage” and “Exit Stage Right” from 2015’s “Emergence”. The latter delivering power in droves – fast. And furious guitar riffs and heavy drums give it a raw power and punch – the perfect set closer !
Heavy, intricate and packed with joy – just how I like my metal. One of my friends described them as ‘criminally underrated’. I couldn’t agree more. Why Godsticks aren’t known to a wider audience is beyond me ! More people need a bit of Godsticks in their life, and the world would be a better place for it.
Setlist
If I Don’t Take It All
Denigrate
Victim
Hold Back
Mayhem
Hope is Burning
Angry Concern
M.I.A.
Emergence
Can’t Withstand
Hard to Face
Surrender
Ruthless Coward
Unforgiven
Exit Stage Right
