BLACKGOLD + PENGSHUI – CHALK, BRIGHTON 30.4.26
Chalk, Brighton was pushed to its limits on 30th April as a sold-out crowd packed into the venue for a night that felt primed to erupt from the outset. Promoted by Lout Promotions, the bill pairing Pengshui with masked Nu Metal headliners BLACKGOLD proved to be a masterstroke—two acts perfectly suited to turning anticipation into full-blown chaos.
Opening the night, London trio Pengshui – Illaman (vocals), Fatty (bass) and Pravy Prav (drums) – did far more than warm up the room. Their genre-blurring fusion of metal, punk and rock, spliced with grime and hip-hop, hit with immediate force. It’s a sound built on gritty, rapid-fire vocals and heavy, uncompromising basslines, and in a live setting it lands with visceral impact.
From the first track, their set was ferocious. Chalk quickly transformed into a sweatbox, the energy in the room escalating with every passing minute. By midway through, a circle pit had opened up, bodies colliding as the crowd fully gave themselves over to the intensity. A standout moment came with their cover of ‘Omen’, which sparked a massive singalong, the entire room seemingly locked into the same rhythm. With a solid run of major festival appearances already under their belt—including Glastonbury and Download—Pengshui played with the confidence and control of a band who know exactly how to command a crowd.
Pengshui
Illaman – vocals
Fatty – bass
Pravy Prav – drums
By the time BLACKGOLD took to the stage, the venue was heaving. The buzz of anticipation was tangible, but there was something different in the air—this wasn’t just another stop on a tour, this was their crowd. Having built a reputation through support slots and festival appearances, Blackgold now find themselves backed by a growing and fiercely loyal fanbase, and the diversity in the room—spanning generations—spoke volumes about their reach. There was a genuine sense of inclusivity and camaraderie, a shared investment in what was about to unfold.
Remaining true to their aesthetic, the band appeared masked and clad in black and gold, their anonymity part of the allure and a nod to the influences that shape their sound. Musically, they fuse nu-metal with rap and hip-hop, drawing clear inspiration from the likes of Rage Against The Machine, Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill, but delivering it with a fresh, modern edge that feels distinctly their own.
From the moment frontman Spookz stepped in, the reaction was explosive. Phones shot into the air, capturing and streaming as the crowd surged forward, arms raised and voices united. Despite the masks, there was an undeniable sense of joy in the performance—you could feel the smiles behind it all.
The set balanced power and playfulness with precision. Covers such as ‘Sound Of Da Police’ paid homage to their roots while slotting seamlessly into a set packed with original material that already feels embedded in the hearts of their audience. Tracks like ‘Social Blackout’ landed hard, met with huge crowd response and mass participation.
Sonically, Blackgold are a formidable force: thunderous drums, crunchy distortion, sharp DJ interplay and tightly constructed beats, all underpinned by clear, purposeful vocals that cut clean through the mix. There’s humour and banter, but it never detracts from the momentum—everything is geared toward maintaining that relentless, pulsing energy.
The result was a set that was sweaty, infectious and impossible not to get caught up in.
With a busy summer ahead, including a return to 2000trees, BLACKGOLD are clearly on an upward trajectory. This show didn’t just meet expectations—it confirmed that the hype surrounding them is well deserved.
Nu-metal continues to evolve, refusing to be confined to nostalgia. On the strength of tonight’s performance, BLACKGOLD are not just part of that evolution—they’re helping lead it.
BLACKGOLD:
$pookz – lead vocals
Lux
SP3
Judge
6Six
BLACKGOLD (probable) setlist:
‘Intro’
‘Wake Up’
‘Social Blackout’
‘Today’s My Day’
‘It’s Art’
‘One Chance’
‘Old School Sound’
‘Intergalactic / Dre’ (Beastie Boys cover)
‘Wu Tang’
‘Cash Rules’
‘Dance Like That’
‘Brind The Noise’
‘DJ Solo’
‘Crazy World’
‘On Another Level’
‘I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That’ (Cypress Hill cover)
‘Boogeyman’
