Words – Shelby Lane
Photos – @photo.amai
MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD didn’t just open for Better Lovers in Melbourne – they set fire to the room. Taking the stage at MAX WATTS ahead of one of the most anticipated heavy shows of 2026, the Melbourne duo delivered a set that felt less like a support slot and more like a statement. From the first blast of distorted pop-punk chaos, Elly and Dan had the crowd locked in, whipping up movement, noise, and a sense that something special was already underway before the headliners even appeared.
Their chemistry was impossible to ignore. Swapping instruments and vocal duties with effortless confidence, Mannequin Death Squad balanced razor-sharp riffs with infectious hooks, injecting humour and raw intensity in equal measure. The room, still filling when they began, was packed and buzzing by the time they finished – a testament to a set that didn’t simply warm the crowd up but actively pulled them forward priming the pit and raising the collective pulse of the night.
BLIND GIRLS are our new screamo/hardcore pals from the Gold Coast who became a thunderous force who changed the room into an outright frenzy.
Blind Girls came into the tour with a reputation for raw, cathartic noise – a band forged in the DIY hardcore scene and known for turning intense emotion into sonic assault. Their recent album ‘An Exit Exists’ had already earned praise for razor-sharp delivery and unrelenting urgency, and the live performance only amplified that reputation.
From the moment they launched into their first riffs, there was no mistaking their presence. Erratic guitar lines, thunderous drums, and visceral vocals cut through the air with a ferocity that felt both chaotic and precise – a controlled demolition of sound that grabbed the crowd from the outset. Moments of brief and sparse respite, almost fragile interludes, were there not to calm, but to make the ensuing explosions hit even harder. The tension between those extremes was palpable, each surge sending bodies forward into pits that formed with a kind of instinctive urgency.
UK newcomers SPLIT CHAIN set the tone with a confident and immersive support set that quickly won over the crowd. Blending hazy shoegaze textures with punchy alt-metal and post-hardcore grit, their sound felt both atmospheric and urgent, gradually enchanting the punters. By the end of their set, curiosity had turned into genuine engagement – a rare feat for an Australian debut.
Their set unfolded with patience and confidence, allowing swirling guitar textures and dynamic shifts to gradually lock the room into their groove.
The band’s ability to balance atmosphere with intensity gave their performance a distinct identity, setting them apart from typical support acts. By the end of the set, it was clear they’d successfully carved out their own space on the night – leaving a lasting impression and setting the stage perfectly for what followed.
BETTER LOVERS hit Melbourne like a wrecking ball, delivering a set that was equal parts precision and pure chaos. From the medley of love songs which masterfully built tension , the band commanded the room, turning MAX WATTS into a boiling pressure cooker of bodies, noise, and sweat. Every riff landed hard, every tempo shift felt deliberate, and the momentum never dipped.
Greg Puciato was magnetic at the centre of it all – unhinged yet controlled – driving the crowd into constant movement as the band tore through a relentless run of material. The performance struck a rare balance: brutally heavy without losing clarity, aggressive without sacrificing emotion. Breakdowns detonated, pits churned, and the energy between band and crowd fed back on itself until the room felt ready to collapse.
By the final notes, there was no doubt – this wasn’t just a strong tour stop, it was a statement. Loud, confrontational, and uncompromising, Better Lovers’ Melbourne show proved they’re not living off reputation, but building something powerful and very real in the present.
Thanks to Mannequin Death Squad, Blind Girls, Split Chain, Max Watts and Dallas Does PR.
