LIVE FROM THE PIT: SiM and DeadWax
- Amy Smyth
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
SIM have travelled six thousand miles over to the UK to play at Slam Dunk Festival, so while on their trip over, they surprised their London fans with a one off show! Taking place at the Signature Brew Blackhorse Road, the small venue was packed to the brim with their biggest fans. Their last show in London was in November 2024, so it is needless to say the fans have been waiting patiently.
Supporting them was the UK’s own DEADWAX, coming over from Yorkshire. The band brings together a rare mix of nu-metal, grime, dubstep and garage, among other things depending on the track. They threw themselves onto the stage and the crowd immediately returned their energy, you could visibly see the band's surprise at the reactions they got. Throughout the set they both fed off each other, ramping up and accelerating making the room immensely sweaty and rowdy.
The bass shook the room and from the first track the crowd were off their feet and jumping despite maybe not knowing the music. Lead vocalist Jake Milburn owned the stage, utilizing every bit of space he could and making it his own. Most of the tracks feature him rapping over a metal instrumental, his bars were impressive as the crowd found themselves wondering when he had time to breathe. He also punctuated some tracks with short bursts of fry screams that were an exciting display of another talent he has.
Although it might not be matched with the genres the crowd enjoys, the band got the crowd joining in, pointing fingers to the sky for their drum and bass tracks and doing frequent call and response with the crowd keeping them on wavelength with the music. They of course gave many thanks to SIM for having them open, it was a display of great showmanship when playing to a crowd that isn't your own.
After a short break with enough time for everyone to grab the pints they needed, SIM finally made their way onto the stage. As the music ramped up there was a small ruckus in the middle, nothing out of the ordinary. That was until the first track actually started and the pit immediately engulfed the entire floor, a mosh pit the size of the venue appeared in front of your eyes. It was an instant reflection of how much energy the fans had just for the band, more and more fans joining by the second.
They opened with the devastational Five Times Dead which the entire room seemed to know the lyrics to. Lead vocalist Mah marched up and down the stage singing and connecting with every fan he could. The band had VIP meet and greet tickets available for this show, as well as multiple speeches throughout the set that really showed how much the band cares about their connection with the fans.
Their songs amalgamate genres and stitch them together using elements of nu-metal, hip-hop and most notably ska. The songs flip back and forth between genres making each section so unique. Different instruments being highlighted meant the respective band members coming forward and taking the spotlight, the band worked really well together leaving no inch of the stage empty for more than a moment. Energy poured from every molecule of their performance, it could not be overstated how much of a show they put on, the kind you can imagine would fill a stage even in the biggest arenas.
Every song started with an eruption of applause and screams from the crowd, it didn't even feel possible that they could get louder and yet they did every single time. A few songs in Mah asked for a circle pit which began right after his word, again filling the entire floor just leaving a few stragglers on the outside stuck to the walls. As the setlist carried on, more crowd surfers and stage divers started to appear, some making it all the way from the front to the back of the venue.
About half way through the set the lead vocalist prepared the crowd “This is the big one!” Mah warned, shortly followed by a fist on his chest and the introduction to The Rumbling. It's arguably the band's most well known song as it features in the popular anime Attack On Titan, and the fans undoubtedly knew it. Many fans put their phones in the air to capture their highlight of the gig while others launched themselves straight in the devastational mosh pit.
Mah flaunted his out of this world vocals with various screams mixed of both fry and pig squeals that echoed through the venue then flipping to various vocal tones as well as sprinkled in raps. They played all their hits like Killing Me, Red and Devil In Your Heart as well as playing some newer tracks like the just released Blindeyes and the unreleased DALALA – both from their album arriving into the world on September 2nd.
In a break between songs the band shared how surprised they were that they had so many fans waiting for them despite being a band from so far away, they also shared that they wanted to choose a smaller venue so they can continue to rise. Their tour next year as them headlining a show at Electric Ballroom in Camden, a lot of fans at this show cheered when asked if they’ll be attending this show during their 2027 tour, HOOMAN AFTER ALL.
They finally drew the show to a close with perhaps the heaviest breakdown of the setlist f.a.i.t.h from their 2013 EP EViLS. Mah asked everyone to get down on the ground and everyone got involved, you could see all the way from the very back to the stage, before all jumping up in unison.
It cannot be stated enough how much fun each individual in the room looked like they were having, the band have clearly created an escape at their shows. As Mah said himself “Forget everything you carry and just get the fuck up” the room escaped all outside worries and judgment and just let themselves go in the pit.
We look forward to catching SIM again during their 2027 tour where they will be attending more UK cities so keep an eye out for them!
Words: Amy Smyth
Photos: Katerina Stepanikova
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