At MetalTalk, we are so proud to champion emerging rock acts. So tonight we headed to the hotel home of Iron Maiden, The Karma Sanctum in Soho, where all the music stars like to stay and play, for a gig with breaking rock talent Dylan Gers.
Dylan Gers
Karma Sanctum Soho London – 15 July 2025
Words: Sara Harding
Photography: Eric Duvet
On this sunny Tuesday night, rock royalty was in town with the Dark Lord himself, Alex Milas, and Kerrang! Legend Xavier Russell all here to have a pre-gig libation.
The Trooper lagers and real ales sink nicely during this exceptional evening. We gathered in the hotel’s roof terrace bar, complete with hot tub, views of London’s rooftops and delicious cocktails. As always, when we visit this hotel hotspot, we bump into charismatic owners Mark Fuller and Tamar, top geezer actor and bloody lovely fella.
Having enjoyed a couple of lady petrols, we all head down to the cinema room/boutique gig space and sink into our comfy sofas to await Gers and co.
With baggy jumper and killer leather trousers, Dylan Gers bounds on stage and from that moment on we were all blown away. 
Dylan Gers fires up into Talisman, playing a Flying V guitar solo, then jumps into the crowd. What a way to kick off a gig. This trio are a tour de force of energy. Drummer Cameron is playing Nicko McBrain’s practice drum kit, which he keeps at the Sanctum to play with whenever he is back in London Town.
With the Gers DNA of guitar greatness running through his veins, Dylan’s guitar chops are up there with the best. And what a voice. I always thought Dylan’s songs were Iron Maiden meets Radiohead with soaring vocals that take you to another place, yet packed with powerful rock guitar punches.
It is light and dark, heavy and soft. And live, his vocal range does not disappoint. It’s almost like having another instrument on stage. 
We caught up with Dylan to chat about the new EP drop, and he said of this track, “Talisman came from a place that felt almost ancestral with the homage to the devil at the Crossroads. It’s somewhat about bargaining with your demons, carrying your past like a charm. I wanted it to feel ancient and futuristic at the same time.”
Talisman is a choon! Anthemic, pulsing and out there pushing new rock boundaries. This new sound of music is so exciting. It’s like Muse 2.0 but with hints of the best of ’80s punk/rock/indie thrown in.
As the song ends to rapturous applause, Dylan thanks his Jackson guitar as he lays it down to pick up another axe.
Gers then introduces us to his next guitar, which he has lovingly called Jasmine! That’s a first, having an intro to a guitar, but it really works as some of us lesser guitar nerds would not have known which axe it was.
The next song Fly Fly Butterfly from the new EP slows things down with an anthemic song, again completed with Dylan’s unique voice. All of us journo’s, the Gers family who have turned up in force and fans of Gers all look at each other and nod in agreement that we are all witnessing something very special.
Gers doesn’t ride on the coat-tails of others. His music is unique and unapologetic.
“My sound is atmospherical folky dark rock,” Dylan Gers told us. “Melancholy and upbeat, my songwriting consists of stories and experiences with ambiguity, from which you can take what you want. Each song is an experience.”
In this part of the show, we get to savour the whole trio, with Cameron on drums and Vasi on bass. What a talented threesome. They all shine in a kind of jamming segment, which was very Cocteau Twins-ish.
Then the Theremin is switched on. It is as exciting as when Jerry Cantrell brings his Vocoder on for Man In The Box. The only other rockstar to use this incredible outer space instrument is Faith No More’s Mike Patton, and its unique sound is equally as well known for its use as the theme music to Midsomer Murders.
With guitar and Theremin, it’s this far-out kind of noise as guitar meets outer worlds sound. Gers shouts, “That’s me in the morning,” and we all laugh!
Feel My Heart is next on this short but sweet setlist, and it’s his brand new single, drop out now. The bass and drums shine in this as the backline is sublime. This is another craftily concocted song with major guitar chops.
Moonlight Lies takes us on a sonic sound trip. You can hear a pin drop in this awesome venue with slight vibes of Echo And The Bunnymen, yet maintaining a modern, relevant twist here. Wow, the guitar! Seriously, Gers is a wizard on his guitar, Jasmine.
Then a solo vocal with the Theremin which has the crowd cheering once again. Dylan Gers takes it all in and says, “This sick innit.” We all agree.
Dylan thanks us for coming and introduces his bandmates for this gig – Cameron on drums and Vasi on bass, then Jasmine, the guitar, gets another shout out.
It’s time for another song from the new EP entitled Young Boy. It starts off slow, then builds and then slaps you in the face.
White Swan is a song that old punks, Metalheads and us gals love. It appeals to all genres and generations. As Gers drops to his knees for yet another soaring solo, we are all mesmerised.
We are all happy for more guitar showmanship as Dylan plays out his solo behind the head, then with the Hendrix teeth! The light and the shade is unique in this track.
The Flying V is back for the encore, Red Skies, kicking off with another soaring solo and vocals. Looking very Jim Morrison back in the days with the swagger and the hair and the leather trousers but also humility, it’s a joy to watch this young band at the beginning of their rock odyssey.
Almost virtuoso guitar, raw, stripped back, unique and bloody brilliant.
As his last twang rings out, an exhausted Gers drops to the floor for a hot minute as the audience keeps on clapping. We’re exhausted too. What an aural journey we have been on.
As we retire to the roof terrace for a nightcap, Dylan makes a point of coming around to all of us to thank us for coming. The bar is alight with music journalists, fans and friends alike all saying the same thing, “What a gig.”
Sometimes I pinch myself when I am at a band’s inaugural gig at an iconic venue, and we all know Gers is the real deal. I was there at the beginning of Muse, Black Stone Cherry, Gwen Stefani, Slipknot, Machine Head and so many more bands that are now stars of the world stage.
I am sure that Gers will be there with them. 
