Review: Mayhem Festival 

Salt Box, Nottingham (May 17^th, 2025)

Reviewer / Photographer – Dan Mann

For sleeze and hard rock fans, Mayhem Festival, held over three consecutive days at three different venues, was a must see for those who love Scandi rock!

With five bands, it was gonig to be full on. Plenty of folk dressed for the occasion, unlike the fans going into next door’s Motorpoint Arena for Bryan Adams (more about that later).

First to hit the stage were an unknown to me, Smoking Snakes. They certainly took command of the smallish stage, with a strong performance, which displayed hints of early W.A.S.P. I thought.

Certainly a band I’d like to see again.

Set list:

1. Angels Calling
2. Excited
3. Sole Survivors
4. Run for Your Life
5. Who Am I
6. There Is No Tomorrow
7. Rocking to the Morning Light

Next were another band I didn’t know much about. I recognised the name from a press release I’d received at some point, and I was therefore expecting a dark metal band. Toxic Rose are certainly more heavy metal than sleeze, with lead singer Andy sporting a Blackie Lawless style codpiece.

In fact the whole band had a unique look, it’s always good to see a band making an effort to put on a show as it were, so hats off to them for that. 

Music wise, not entirly my bag, but a could not fault their performance, one which the crowd certainly enjoyed. After their set the band spent plenty of time meeting people and posing for photos.

Set list:

1. Intro
2. Domination
3. Heroes
4. In For Blood
5. World Of Confusion
6. Blood On Blood
7. Set Me Free
8. A Song For The Weak
9. Outro

Next were Crazy Lixx, a band I’ve seen a couple of times before. They fall under the sleeze banner, but for me they’re just a decent hard rock band, one the crowd were certainly delighted to see.

With an energetic and enjoyable set, theyt delivered the goods so to speak. Always worth seeing, I must say I prefer them live to album.

Set list:

1. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
2. Hell Raising Woman
3. Little Miss Dangerous
4. Silent Thunder
5. Rise Above
6. Sword And Stone
7. Hunt For Danger
8. Xlll
9. Blame It On Love
10. Who Said Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Dead

Next on the line-up, CRASHDÏET. I wouldn’t put myself down as a fan. I wouldn’t turn off a playlist, radio etc if they came on, just not a band I would set out to play. Again they’re a band who I prefer live. As with Crazy Lixx, there’s just something about them that makes for a good live performance.

A performance that was cut short soon into their set due to a certain Mr Adams next door overloading the power and buggering up one of the phases. The result, no sound on stage or stage lighting. Que much rushing around by venue staff. The audience didn’t boo or throw a strop. Nope they carried on drinking!

Power was eventually restored and as the old adage says, the show must go on..

Set list:

1. Riot in Everyone
2. Queen Obscene / 69 Shots
3. Cocaine Cowboys
4. Together Whatever
5. Native Nature
6. Reptile
7. Falling Rain
8. Chemical
9. Straight Outta Hell
10. Breakin’ the Chainz

Encore:

1. Change the World
2. It’s a Miracle
3. Generation Wild

The headliners in Nottingham, they top three bands swopped places each night, were The Cruel Intentions. Alas due to the efforts made to restore things during CRASHDÏET‘s set, the soundboard was now at the pit enterance, meaning it was a photograph from the crowd scenario.

Mixing that with the fact I was by now struggling somewhat due to my various health issues meant I only took a few shots and didn’t hang around for their full set, so apologies to the band. As I left it was obvious to see the enjoyment of the crowd, this enthusiasm maintained during every band’s set.

A huge thank you to the Lisa, Johan, Nathan and the rest of the crew for all your help, to Geno for compairing, and of course for taking the gamble of putting on such an event. Here’s to hopefully Mayhem 2026.

Set list:

1. City of Lice
2. Chemical Vacation
3. Genie’s Got a Problem
4. Reckoning
5. Accidentally Intoxicated
6. Kerosene
7. Sunrise Over Sunset
8. Salt i ditt sår
9. Go Fuck Yourself
10. Borderline Crazy
11. Chaos in a Bombshell
12. Jawbreaker
13. Check Your Head
14. Sick Adrenaline

© All photographs are copyright of Dan Mann/RPR Photography. They may not be altered or used without express permission.