“This better be fucking good!” In the nuclear blast that was Birmingham quintet Straight For The Sun igniting the KK’s Steel Mill stage, the previous soundbite from the recorded version of Pulling Teeth may well have been lost in the explosion.
Straight For The Sun
KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton – 3 October 2025
Words: Sophie James
Photography: John Inglis
To set the scene, allow me to take you back to my only previous viewing. It was pre-Lockdown when they opened for Mason Hill and South of Salem, on home turf, at the City’s Asylum. That evening, their squad was depleted, missing an injured guitarist as well as having a temporary drumkeeper.
Still, they put on an impressive performance, but one that did not fully demonstrate their capabilities.
Fast forward to the present, where they were back at full strength, filling the Special Guest slot on the final two dates on the Kira Mac tour.
After the compelling opening slot from Europa Reign (more to follow), “Keep this energy up,” bellowed frontman Callum as the band launched into the aforementioned Pulling Teeth.
Instantly, the stage became a frenzy of bodies as the front four fully explored its expanse.
Pauly transformed from a mild-mannered pre-show merch man into a whirling axe-hero who matched the singer’s level of energy. The opening line, “I flew too close to the Sun,” provided an Icarus reference that aligned with their name, while the riffs alternated between the bombarding and the staccato.
Together with the less frenetic, more melodic elements, I picked up a Mason Hill vibe. The breakdown soon saw a few eager punters indulge in a touch of headbanging and hair swirling.
All this on the first number, and be assured, there was barely any respite in the remainder of the eight-song set.
Equally assaultive, the modernistic guitar edge of Remember Me was offset by Callum’s more traditional tones, while Jamie’s bass drums armed that onslaught.
I would say Scapegoat accelerated further, its joyous cadence proving most immediate with bassist Oz commanding the centre ground.
“Can you hear the sirens going off inside your head…..listen to your heart instead.”
There was just so much going on in Sirens, and to my ears, this was the most appealing song yet. Musically, its huge opening segued into a harmonious verse before erupting into a typically reverberating chorus.
Continuing into a middle eight which offered hints of RATM, with its ascending melody and overall rhythmic groove, there was just so much to absorb.
If only one had a ‘Live Repeat’ button.
“This is from the new album. We’re in the middle of recording it.”
Straight For The Sun have a habit of punctuating their chords with percussive detonations, and Over It is no exception. Another full-on assault, the effect of which feels more impactful following the characteristic breakdown.
The brooding Unbound leads into the deeply personal Fall Away.
“We’re going to slow it down now.
This is about my Dad who I lost to cancer 10 years ago.
I spent so long writing this, trying to get it right.”
After that introduction, it became the kind of song where anyone who has lost either a parent or a loved one desperately attempts to zoom in on all the lyrics. Resisting the temptation to soften their approach, it is equally hard hitting however its melody is inexplicably uplifting. A number I just had to revisit post-gig to appreciate its content.
“I feel you even when you’re not around…….but the memories I carry of you are keeping me alive”.
Congratulations, Callum, you nailed it.
From a piece of such heartfelt emotion to the most infectious number of the set. Walk contained the line “I need it more than ever,” prior to which Callum led the audience in a full rehearsal. The harmony, cadence and pace were almost symphonic in their arrangement and delivery. A supreme high on which to conclude.
Straight For the Sun are a band that demand your attention visually and sonically. This was a blistering performance that confirmed the progression from that distant appearance.
Callum is a most engaging frontman oozing a level of confidence that one can warm to, whether he is centre stage or down at the barrier. Pauly and Oz meanwhile, strode every inch of the performance area while Tom provided that intense rhythm from stage right.
Reflecting on the past two dates, Callum stated that they could never have dreamed they would have gone so well, clicking with Kira Mac as musicians and people.
Looking forward, he enthused, “We have been working so hard in the studio (on what will be the debut album). It’s coming along amazingly well. These are exciting times (for us), so keep an eye out.”
With a mini-tour scheduled for the end of next month, supported by Irish Nu-Metallers Cell Games, catch them if they appear in your manor and experience the storm for yourself.
