UK Death Dealers Present in association with London Metal Coalition: The Road to London Metal Pride. Signiture Brew, Haggerston 06/12/25

Gay Pride 2025 was the first ever London Metal Pride event, celebrating queer musicians in the scene. The Metal and Hardcore scenes have seen rise in non-binary, queer and trans folk in recent years so having a stage during the summers biggest LGBTQ+ event is as integral now as ever before. The event in 2025 was hosted by LMC member and Davghter Front-woman Izzy and showcases queer and queer aligned bands battling for a place for the 2026 London Metal Pride. Five bands compete (was six but one pulled out) with London True Trans Black Metal band Davghter as special headliners. But it’s the punters who will decide the outcome as each have been given a voting chip to be placed in ballot boxes after the fifth band finished.

Opening contenders Scene It All delivered some punchy late 90s/early 00s nostalgic Emo Pop Punk. Doctor Black blend heavy Alt-Metal riffs with melodic hooks and fill the air with middle fingers as the audience is asked shout ‘fuck you’ whatever makes anyone angry. Riff Dealer are a Heavy Groove Metal/Metalcore band that definitely deal the riffs out in spades. Made of members of other local bands they absolutely bring the noise to the Signature Brew and even get the pit started. Night Thieves bring their emotionally heavy brand of Alt-Metal again reminiscent of the 00s scene, the pace of their set never let’s up. Last band in contention was Progressive Alt-Metallers Clearfall. They channel grief and misery with Tool/Gojira inspired riffing and emotive soaring vocals.

Seeing Davghter announced as the guest headliners came as welcome surprise after their Co-Fest appearance which at the time time was to be the last appearance they’d make this side of Xmas.Literal flag bearers for the queer/trans alternative scene, seen at protests against the TERFS and gender-criticals forcing gender assignment on trans teens and inspiring them to forge their name. Front-woman Deadname is recovering from bottom surgery so she performs most of the set from a wheelchair, occasionally standing cautiously to walk into the pit. The rest of the True Trans Black Metal band are as tight as they’ve ever been, their masked presence now just as recognisable as the venomous harsh voice tearing through tracks from their newly released Mask Casket ep and set favourites from Silhouettes. They highlight the never ending battles for the trans community from Hiding in Plain Spite to the efforts and death of an early Stonewall LGBTQ+ Marsh P. Johnson with Rise Daughters of Marsha and Pick Up a Brick. Mourning the Mask as always is delivered poignantly with anger at those who didn’t accept them and no longer walk the earth to which as drummer/vocalist Charlotte and Deadname exclaimed ‘and good riddance!’

Back to the battle at hand between the five bands and after long evening music where everyone played their hearts out, and the where to place the one vote each attendee. Conversations around the bar seem to lean in various ways with Doctor Black and Clearfall in the conversation. But its Riff Dealer whose heavy as fuck riffage will see them play next year’s London Metal Pride along with other LGBTQ+ bands and a top shelf headliner (who I don’t think I can mention yet but, its a fucking good one). Whether queer, straight, trans or an ally, tonight was about the sheer talent of music on offer to play a unique event.