Thundermother, Cobra Spell and Vulvarine took shifts rocking the living daylights out of Highbury and Islington’s The Garage last week. From rock god worthy guitar riffs to singing from atop the bar, it was one hell of a rock ’n’ roll session from three very addictive bands.
Thundermother – Cobra Spell – Vulvarine
The Garage – 11 February 2025
Words: Lucy Dunnet
Photography: Robert Sutton
Thundermother
With a name like Thundermother, there was only one way to build crowd anticipation ahead of their set opening: an ominous thunderstorm soundscape with a voiceover declaring the time had come to “restore the power of rock ‘n’ roll.” With this being a special tour – as they had just released their first album with the new Thundermother lineup – the four mothers of rock ‘n’ roll that stormed onto the stage meant business. 
Thundermother dove straight in with Can You Feel It from their latest album, Dirty & Divine, a slow-pounding hit that already feels like a classic rock anthem. Air guitar solos from singer Linnéa Vikström added to the epic guitar riffs from Thundermother’s founder, guitarist Filippa Nässil. Vikström’s vocals were addictive from the get-go, but when the harmonies in So Close hit, the band took the words right out of our mouths: “So good, so fine.”
Thundermother owned the stage. The musical camaraderie between Nässil, Vikström, bassist Majsan Lindberg and drummer Joan Massing was undeniable, and I couldn’t be more delighted to agree with MetalTalk’s Brian Boyle that “lineup changes can’t dull their fire.” 
“London, are you ready for rock ‘n’ roll?” Thunderous cheers followed Vikström’s crazy question: of course, we were ready, and Thundermother confirmed that they, too, had “never been more ready.”
“Finally I get the chance to spend some time in London with my favourite women on the planet.” Thundermother navigated the stage with ravaging slickness and knew just how to engage with the crowd in a way that made everyone want to either be them or be with them.
Bright Eyes, Take The Power, and Dead Or Alive had the Garage crowd rocking hard and testing out their own powerful vocals, although the only harmonies we managed to produce were the result of beer-induced tone-deafness.
Shouts of “skål” as we raised our beers to cheer these Swedish rock ‘n’ roll goddesses were followed by a drum solo of roaringly epic proportions. The Thundermother banner flashed as hit by lighting as Joan Massing demonstrated precisely why she was Thundermother’s chosen drummer: “She sold her soul to rock ‘n’ roll.”
The flaunting of Thundermother’s rock ‘n’ roll lifeblood reached a climax when Vikström strutted out into the crowd and climbed onto the bar at the back of The Garage. We were surrounded on both sides by Thunder Mother’s rock music storm. The delight on Vikström’s face at the size of the double pint she had been handed was priceless: all the more to share with her band mid-strum and mid-drum.
A night of slapping beats, glorious rock riffs and badass harmonies, Thundermother were so much damn fun.
Cobra Spell
Dutch sleaze rock band Cobra Spell began their set with a team huddle that erupted into untameable headbanging. The band’s latex, fishnets, chains and spikes enraptured our eyes while the 80s-inspired rock ‘n’ roll snaked its way into the soul of every single crowd member: it was impossible to deny the magic of Cobra Spell. 
Vocal enchantress Kristina Vega was extraordinary. I accidentally blurted out “Wow” within seconds of hearing her first few notes in the flesh, and I can now fully appreciate her mystical title. Hale Naphtha also added to the vocal brilliance of Cobra Spell, in addition to lashing out hard rock beats and an omnipresent grin.
“What if I say: Satan Is A Woman!” Then, Kristina, we would absolutely believe you. Especially when under the riff spell placed upon the crowd by Sonia Anubis’ insane guitar solo, filled with rock addictiveness. 
For their first time in the UK, Cobra Spell drew an impressive reaction from the crowd. The energy from the five-piece was deliciously dark and utterly fuelled by rock ‘n’ roll. “It’s been a pleasure.”
Vulvarine
I still haven’t seen Deadpool & Wolverine, but now I don’t have to: Move over, Wolverine and Vulvarine are here. Hailing from Vienna, this rock ‘n’ roll sisterhood brought to The Garage a magnificent abundance of energetic attitude and vulva rock—the unique term Vulvarine used to describe their raw punk meets hard rock sound. 
In addition to Vulvarine’s punk-fuelled riffs and high-energy beats, vocalist Suzy Q constantly streamed percussion surprises, including a fling with a tambourine and a cabana. Good Time and Rock Bottom were particular Vulvarine highlights, with Suzy Q getting up close and personal with the crowd as she sang right into the faces of the front row and even blessed one member with a high five. 
“Don’t expect us to be silent.” A destructive laugh and drumstick smacking introduced Vulvarine’s next track, White Pricks, a powerful melodic punk giving voice to the band’s distinct feminist values.
The four-piece rock gang’s infectious energy convinced even the most stubborn of heads bobbing. Vulvarine was fucking cool, and I definitely left the show wanting to “grab my guitar and make some noise, girl!” – despite never having picked up a guitar in my life, Vulvarine made me believe I could. 
