Words – @killermusicofficial
Photos – djsedick & lordrobsatan
Froth and Fury 2024 you did not disappoint. The day started with the early bird crowd milling eagerly awaiting the doors. Anticipation was high as we were finally here! The day had come! With smiling happy faces all around, we were ushered through the gates by the amazing and friendly staff. Once inside we did the rounds.
The first thing we see is an amazing range of food trucks, a huge hall full of vendors and all the merch you could ever want from every band on the bill. 2 huge stages on one side of the festival and a smaller but still festival-worthy stage on the other. With concertgoers starting to flood in, we found a space we could meet back at, the home base for the day, filled my water bottle up at one of the free SA Water refill stations and geared up for the first band on my list.
Now, I would consider myself to be in the “not so young anymore but still thinks he is” category. At 45 years of age, I have found myself having to slow down a little and pace myself at events like this compared to how I I would of 20 years ago. With that in mind…. The first band on my roster for the day was Adelaide’s own BIFURCATION. Brutal Death Metal at its finest. Big heavy riffs, earth-shattering breakdowns, complex bass lines and vocals that will kick you in places you don’t want to be kicked. The early crowd lapped it up with kids throwing down in the pit, leaving the stage and giving everyone their feeling we were in for an amazing day.
It’s time for a drink break, a quick feed and a sit-down. Like I said pacing myself and a good time to meet up with more friends. Next up FANGZ. I was blown away by these guys. Super catchy tunes with powerhouse vocals and a stage presence that kept me glued to the stage. Rocking the overalls from their new video “Same Old Story” they did not disappoint. Singalongs for days! I didn’t know a lot about these guys but they are a band I will be looking forward to seeing and hearing more of.
Making my way back to the Explosive stage for a band I was really looking forward to THE BLOODSUCKING FREAKS. What can you say about Adelaide’s punk rock mainstays. Pete the Stud delivered as always with chants from the crowd and reply’s from the band to obscene to write down. This was the most fun I had seeing a band in a long time. Pete and the boys played a blistering set with all the antics you would expect from the Freaks and did not disappoint. After a short intermission for more water refills, we regrouped at the home base and started to prepare myself for the main reason I was there and the highlight of the festival for myself….. DAY OF CONTEMPT.
Now I am very biased towards this band. I have seen them more times than I can count and had the pleasure of sharing the stage with these guys in my previous band (Paradise Burning). I had been lucky my enough to catch up with a few of the guys during the day already for the first time in years. This was an emotional set for me. Hearing these songs again live for the first time in well over 10 years was amazing the younger Killer inside me was freaking out! Here is where the packing myself went out the window. I started the set towards the back with some of the crew but by the 3rd song I had ditched my backpack (thank you Waff and Ads for looking out for me!) and was straight into the pit and a I was officially out of mosh retirement! Fists and feet were flying, the crowd were singing along to every word and Ben delivered his vocals with all the same convictions of the young band I remember and will always love. Watching these guys and seeing all their partners and kids’ side of the stage made this set a beautiful moment in live music for me. Finishing up the set with massive crew vocals, Ben made sure we all got the chance to sing along into the mic and I left their set with a scene of nostalgia that I didn’t know I needed so bad! Now after chucking a mosh….. I needed to chill and recoup. Like I said, I’m not a spring chicken these days and the 45-year-old body was not too happy with me! Time to hit the home base, catch up with the crew and meet up with new and old friends. I needed a little recovery time. After a little chill time, I wandered over and caught a few songs from the TESTEAGLES.
Another nostalgia-filled experience filled with songs that the younger Killer was so stoked to be singing along with. Quickly moving back to the explosive stage it was time for the HARD ONS.
Currently being fronted by the always amazing and charismatic Tim Rodger of YOU AM I and solo fame. An amazingly tight and energetic set. With 1 more band on my list for the day I eagerly awaited pop-punk veteran’s BODYJAR to hit the stage. Today really was full of nostalgia and singalongs and I left feeling “not the same”. As always BODYJAR put on a huge set full of every song you would expect to hear, hit after hit. By this point of the night the wizard in me was in full swing and good times were being had! I headed over to catch a few songs from THY ART IS MURDER, the first time I was seeing them with the new vocalist Tyler. The stage presence and energy was 10 out of 10 and although not my thing overly I really enjoyed it.
Lastly, I headed back to home base and watched PESTILENCE from afar who did not disappoint. Bring their heavy brand of Dutch Death Metal to Adelaide, with stomping guitars and drums and guitar solos you could sing along with one second then be assaulted by brutal vocals the next. And the time had finally come to say goodbye to people I had not seen in far to long, with lots of hugs, fist bumps and promises to catch up again soon. New best friends and lifelong connections were made (Dan I’m looking at you), libations we’ve had, and we left with massive smiles on our faces and memories that will never be forgotten. And with that, that long ass trip home was started and plans were made to do it all again! FROTH AND FURY 2024 you did not disappoint. Congrats to everyone involved in putting on such a massive event that honestly catered to the punters more than any other festival I have ever attended. The best times were had and this humble wizard was blown away. Until next time. Killer the wizard.
A huge thanks goes out to Froth and Fury crew for having us, check out the massive gallery below from the very talented photographers djsedick & lordrobsatan
EVERYDAY METAL – SUPPORT LOCAL HEAVY METAL
