Words – @jstewby
Photos-@djsedick
After a small hiatus, it’s good to be back in Melbourne and at shows and Thursday nights offering was Flint, Michigan’s King 810 at the iconic Max Watts
With a timely follow-up to their 2024 tour supporting In Hearts Wake, this time they are the main event, and we’re keen for it.
Melbourne’s very own MELTING opened the night with a set that felt raw in the best way possible. Their sound was rough around the edges, packed with aggression & created a tense energy that had a strong grip on the room. It was the kind of performance that felt honest and unfiltered, setting a gritty tone early. The crowd quickly warmed to their intensity.
Next up were DREGG, bringing their signature chaotic blend of hardcore, metal and rap. Their set felt frantic and unpredictable, with genre shifts and explosive bursts of energy coming from every direction. The band thrived in that chaos, turning the room into a constant push of movement and noise. It was messy in a deliberate way, capturing the wild personality of their sound.
THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER shifted the night into something more calculated. Their performance was tight, precise and clearly well-rehearsed, with every transition and moment feeling intentional. The band delivered their story-driven performance with a polished, almost theatrical sense of control. Compared to the earlier sets, everything felt locked in and perfectly executed.
When KING 810 finally took the stage, the atmosphere changed instantly. Their presence was powerful and confrontational, carrying a weight that commanded the room’s attention. The band delivered their songs with a heavy, punishing intensity that felt both aggressive and deliberate. Frontman David Gunn stood at the centre of it all, outspoken and uncompromising as he addressed the crowd between songs. There was a sense that the performance was more than just music—it felt like a statement. Each track landed with a force that pushed the crowd deeper into the experience. By the end of the set, the room felt exhausted of all energy, having been pulled through a performance that was as intense emotionally as it was sonically.
Massive thanks to The Max Watts crew, King 810, The Gloom In The Corner, Dregg, Melting, Destroy All Lines and Dallas Does PR for a huge night.
