Words: Eerie Rose Photographs: Ry Flint and Eerie Rose

My favourite thing about Electrowerkz, home to longest running goth night Slimelight, is that most people probably don’t know it exists. Hiding in plain sight, the ex horse stable turned metalworks turned nightclub sits right behind Angel station, up a cobbled dead-end street that hundreds of commuters pass daily without ever giving a second look. The only giveaway of it’s presence is the occasional swell of goths in the area, ascending the escalators at Angel station as if rising from the dead. The ebb and flow of the concentration of new rock boots in the surrounding streets directly correlates to the venue’s events schedule, but it would be easy to miss this clue if you aren’t paying close enough attention to the people around you. It remains, therefore, a largely unknown entity to the majority of Londoners - but to us, Electrowerkz is the beating heart of our community and culture.

It was, of course, entirely perfect to see that Moth Slut would be gracing our grimy North London back street with their most delectable darkness, climbing out from their Manchester-based crypt and visiting one of the most important buildings in London’s goth scene during their tour supporting Zetra. There’s few places that would have suited their sound as faultlessly, except Helgi’s, but I am sure that is next on the band’s agenda.

Arriving straight from work, eyeliner quickly drawn on the underground, I was relieved to be within the venue’s cold warehouse brick walls, the familiar smell of hairspray and beer melting into one: the comforting aroma of home. Making a beeline for the merch table, I was ecstatic to see so many handcrafted patches and time consuming, detailed shirt designs - I’m a sucker for bands that take the theatre side of their performance offstage too, and it’s often such a testament to the music itself, suggesting to me a project thats been carried through to it’s fullest potential. It also really demonstrates a band’s place in the community they sell tickets to - I find it often says a lot when I see a political punk band selling t-shirts obviously mass produced without environmental concern, for example. But, here it was exciting to see the DIY culture of the goth scene carried forward even into the merch designs, seeing that artistry and handmade element come through really linked up well with the music played onstage. They also had the loveliest merch ghoul Sky, which always says a lot about a band, when they have a dedicated and supportive coven around them.

Before long, it was time for the show to begin, a wave of black coats bustling into the live music room, congregating around the stage, ready for the approaching sermon. Moth Slut appear, casting black roses dramatically into the audience, utilising theatricality to summon every single soul in that room. It was impossible to look away - for a band with only two members, the stage felt full, the performance so encapsulating and all-consuming. Opening with Night of the Moth, the vampiric pair play through a set of perfectly formed darkwave, blending live guitar and bass with a synth-heavy track and a snappy, punchy drum beat reminiscent of the quick snap recoil of a flogger on supple skin. They stay true to original 80s/90s goth sound of bands such as The Sisters of Mercy using elements like this, but blend it intricately with the rhythm and pace of more modern, industrial and experimental artists such as Qual, This Cold Night or Twin Tribes. There’s also a raw edge to it, a bloodthirsty, hungry element, full of all of the dark allure and vampiric magnetism I experienced watching some of my first blood and needle play performances at the same venue as a late teenager. I enjoy the balance of both members alternating vocals for some songs, both voices being so unique and well suited to the tracks in different ways.

For a support band, the audience was captivated - it’s clear Moth Slut have developed a cult-like following, with the front row filming with excitement, bodies swaying, and excited shouts of '“This one’s GREAT!” as the person behind me recognises the intro to In The Dead Of Night. The set ends with tracks Forever, Again and Hellhound, both with an exciting pace that feels hypnotic. Moth Slut manage to maintain the assuredness that they will be leaving with your devotion, and yet carry none of the pretentiousness that is often paired with that kind of confidence. Their sound, look, and energy is entirely authentic, carried through from backstage to performance - there’s no risk of ‘breaking character,’ - these vampires are well and truly the real deal. I watched with delight as a queue forms at the merch table the minute they finish, goths of all persuasions lining up to own a part of their world and tell them how much they loved witnessing it. To say the crowd left converted is an understatement.

Moth Slut have now returned to their crypt beneath the earth, to rest amongst the shadows before they return to wreak more havoc upon the earth. To stay up to date with when this might be, you can follow them here and enjoy their recorded offerings on Spotify.

For more of Ry Flint’s gig photography, you can find them on Instagram.

Live: Moth Slut at Electrowerkz