One Minute Silence + Will Haven + Sugar Coma. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 2001. On this day 21 years ago, I got punched in the balls and One Minute Silence rocked my world again. I wrote a review (second picture): The bastards. They’re incapable of disappointing. After being only mildly impressed by Sugar Coma’s brand of metal, and missing most of Will Haven’s set because of the old “some-twat-in-the-pit’s-fist-in-my-groin” syndrome, I was half expecting to have a dull night. One Minute Silence spoilt that before they even came on stage, with their intro tape that built the anticipation spectacularly. Their furious opening of 1845, followed in quick succession by a snappy rendition of their classic pit catalyst South Central, marked the beginning of the rest of the night. The set from then was a fairly equal mix of songs from the band’s two albums and material which the band plan to start recording for their third album in January–material which is, by the way, fantastically promising. Brian “Yap” Barry (vocals) did a lot less ranting than he usually does–in my experience–with only one explanatory speech before the new Representing the Poor Man. This song, among the longest they play live, is not only an effective mix of calming guitar noise (the watery sound of which helped give it the working title The Shark Song) and intense build up to a rolling chorus, it is a clear cumulation of the band’s admirable political message. The lyrics, as they so often do, betray Yap’s self-imposed political consciousness, which the whole band share. Once again, One Minute Silence have given me the feeling that I’m part of the show. In this, they never fail. In particular, Eddie Stratton’s rolls in Roof Of The World helped me connect with the music; this band’s live show has a way of making you feel their music. #onthisday #oneminutesilence #willhaven #sugarcoma #wulfrunhall #gigdiaries #ticketstub #throwback (at Wulfrun Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clk5SyPIjn3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

















