Creeper // The Howling // The Sangui-tour // Live Review // The Limelight II // Belfast
So here we are out on a midweek rock and metal safari, back in Belfast at the Linelight for the first time in a while, we have a break from Metal 2 The Masses and are back out with the good sheeple of Northern Ireland as one of their fave Goth Rock bands, Creeper, have landed in the city on their Sangui-tour.
Now I have to admit I was only recently introduced to the band, I think in the last year, when they released their Sangivour II: Mistress Of Death album in 2025, and I dig it! Now, I have said many a time that I was not the most musically exciting. I had what I liked on continuous repeat as a young lad, and I had blinkers on. I didn’t deviate too much, but with the life of a rock n’ roll journalist these days, I have had to broaden my horizons and listen to all kinds of genres, bands and beyond. For that, I will always be eternally grateful. And for that reason and that reason alone, I am here this evening taking in Creeper for the very first time live. #squeekybumtime
In support, The Howling. Again, a band I have never had the pleasure of catching, so this will be a left field moment for Mark N’ Load. 8 pm.
Sharp and with the sound of Scooby Doo’s ringing throughout the venue, The Howling make their entrance and take to the stage. In a sonic explosion, they set off like a greyhound from a trap, and the pace is just relentless for the opening three tracks. The band has a really easy-on-the-ear sound. They look every inch the rock stars they are and play a blinder of a set to warm up the Belfast crowd. Believe me, they have turned out in force for Creeper, but The Howling have stolen their hearts. This tasty four-piece has laid down a blinder of a set to prize away these lil’ Creepers, a firm fave goth rock, horror punk band. Naughty naughty. The Howling but equally well played 🔥toss in a Madonna cover and you’ll have them by the balls. #saynomore
The Howling was great! A spectacular way to kick off this evening’s proceedings, and a crowd that was fully in with the band, great to see. But now for the main course! A quick turnaround as the stagehands pile onto the stage to clear and set up for Creeper. This will be an interesting one for sure 👌
Photography by Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
So, the stage was cleared, and at 9 pm, the lights dropped to an almighty roar as Creeper made their way onto the stage. Now you know you’re not in Kansas anymore, one look around the room tells you something pretty special, pretty unique is going down tonight. As the band whip their way into the set and their opening number’ Mistress Of Death’, The Limelight is whipped up into a frenzy! Right away, you get the energy in the room, the fanatical nature of these fans, the energy from the band that feeds the fans and the fans’ electricity that feeds the band; it is totally symbiotic, and it is a beautiful thing to see. As the band races through ‘Blood Magic’ and ‘Lovers Led Astray’, you can’t help but appreciate the vibe that Creeper brings to the live stage; it’s way beyond what you normally get with your traditional rock bands. I have been moaning for a long time about the lack of theatre and drama in the rock and metal world in 2026. So many bands turn out and go through the motions with their live shows, but not Creeper. It’s all drama, nuances, atmosphere, and personality! What’s not to love?
The music is rocking, we knew it was, and they deliver it on the live stage with an abundance of showmanship. You get lost watching it all unfold right before your eyes, every band member plays their part in creating a show that is part magnetic and part musical genius. Everyone plays their part so well, pulling the fans into the show along with the band so that those who crave that level of attention can feed their dark, dark souls to their hearts’ content. We had keyboardist and vocalist Hannah take to the front to show off her skills and change the dynamics on a whim. Everyone will have their own idea of what their perfect setlist would be, but judging by the smiling faces all around the room, there do not seem to be any complaints here. it is a SiZeAbLe setlist! I can see it on the floor, and it looks like there are around 18 or 19 tracks to get through; it will feel like Christmas here for the band’s devotees. The blistering guitar work, with solos cutting through the mix and the interchanging guitar players taking centre stage on the raised platform, allows everyone to dig in hard when they need to. The bangers are dropped like power kegs, ‘Headstones’, ‘Spook & Mercy’, ‘Pray For The Night’ all met with wails of delight, the band constantly intercating with those lucky enough to be upfront, close and personal with their heroes.
It has been a long time coming getting to catch these cats live, but it was well worth the wait. A crazy visual explosion both from the stage and the devotees in the crowd, you don’t quite see that every day, a celebration of individualism, in a community that celebrates its community when they come together in a packed-out room such as this. Tonight was good for the soul; it was great to see two killer bands light up a room the way they did, to see an army of fans exploding with joy at having said bands in this compact, bijou venue, so that their musical heroes are literally at reach-out-and-touch distance. It’s one of the great things about the Limelight II in Belfast, the pit is pretty non-existent, and you mostly look up the nose of the artist, but equally, they are in your face while shooting, and the fans are rammed behind you, clambering to feel the heat from the stage. Well, Creeper brought the heat tonight. They laid waste to Belfast and, no doubt, made a lasting impression on everyone in the room. If you were a Creeper virgin like me, get out there, pop your cherry, and you can thank me later.
Photography by Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
