Camden’s Dublin Castle has long been a proving ground for bands, but it’s rare to see one come in for their first ever London gig with the kind of confidence Oswald Slain brought. The Bristolian outfit, fresh off the release of their debut EP 'Kiss Me on the Mouth', hit the stage with the kind of presence that suggested they already owned the place.

They kicked things off with 'Cranberry Juice', a taut, Bluesy opener that immediately set the tone. From the first note, it was clear that Oswald Slain aren’t about fluff. Every song feels deliberate, charged with raw energy. 'Terrible Neighbour' followed, introduced with a dry aside: “It’s about a noisy neighbour… but don’t let that stop you.” The crowd needed no further encouragement. The track, like much of their material, blended sharp storytelling with tight, restrained musicianship, all underpinned by a simmering frustration.

'Firing Line' kept the momentum up, its brooding riff and steady rhythm pushing things forward. 'Road Runner', formerly known as 'Sean Paul', arrived next with a stripped-back, Desert-Blues feel. Its guitar lines wound like an open road beneath the night sky.

Before 'Have You Got What You Came Here For', the frontman, Charlie Fitzgerald, made a playful nod to his outfit. “Made the effort to put a suit on tonight”, he said with a grin, and the crowd responded with knowing laughter. The song itself was a surprising shift in direction, with an upbeat groove that evoked the loose, funky feel of the Happy Mondays. With an infectious rhythm and carefree bounce, it turned the Dublin Castle into something closer to a baggy, late-night rave, but still with Oswald Slain’s signature twist. The reverb-heavy vocals added an extra layer of depth, giving the track a dreamy quality that made it stand out in the set.

Then came 'Bucky', a slow, brooding number that paid tribute to the infamous Buckfast tonic wine. The pace slowed, and the mood shifted. It was the moment of introspection in an otherwise high-energy set. It felt less like a performance and more like a shared moment of reflection, with the crowd hanging on every word.

The night wrapped up with 'Happiness is Overrated', a thumping, cathartic closer that left the room buzzing. Its heavy, melodic charge was the perfect conclusion to a set that had already delivered so much. By the time the final chord rang out, Oswald Slain had earned their place in Camden’s live music lore.

For their first London gig, Oswald Slain brought nothing but confidence and craft. 'Kiss Me on the Mouth' may have introduced their sound, but tonight proved they’ve got the live chops to back it up. Loud, loose, and full of swagger, Oswald Slain are the real deal, and if this performance is anything to go by, they’ll be back in London soon enough.

Ivan De Mello

Photos: Bruce Biege