Words – Mark Jenkins
Photos – dannomc
The queue snaking around the block was the first warning sign. Seventy-five deep and stretching further than I’ve witnessed in half a decade, punters knew they were about to witness something biblical. This wasn’t just another metal show—this was grindcore resurrection, with Virginia’s Pig Destroyer finally returning to Australian soil after a 17-year exile that felt like purgatory for local devotees.
TONGUE SCUM: Local Legends Claim Their Throne
Before the international heavyweights could spill blood, Melbourne’s own Tongue Scum had to prove they belonged on this altar of extremity. And fuck me, did they ever. Frank and his crew of local legends faced a packed room—not the typical opener’s half-empty venue, but a seething mass of bodies already primed for violence.
The crowd response was nothing short of vindication for these underground stalwarts who’ve been grinding Melbourne’s bones for years.
Their set was a masterclass in controlled chaos: ferocious, crushing, and delivered with the confidence of a band that knows they’ve earned their stripes the hard way. Watching these guys finally get the recognition they deserve, commanding a room this size with this level of energy, was genuinely moving. This is what the underground is about—persistence, authenticity, and the eventual payoff when the scene recognises real ones.
WORMROT: The OG Lineup’s Devastating Return
Singapore’s Wormrot took the stage with something to prove, and their original lineup delivered what can only be described as their most devastating Australian performance to date. This wasn’t just better than their previous visits—this was a complete annihilation that left their earlier shows looking like warm-up exercises.
The precision was surgical, the ferocity unmatched. Arif’s vocals cut through the mix like razor wire, while the rhythm section created one of the most sizeable and convincing circle pits I’ve witnessed in recent memory.
The pit churned relentlessly through most of their set, a testament to both the band’s unrelenting assault and the crowd’s complete surrender to the chaos. This was Wormrot at their absolute peak—flawless, punishing, and utterly convincing in their grindcore supremacy.
PIG DESTROYER: Ruthless Grind Perfection
When Pig Destroyer finally emerged, Max Watt’s transformed into a pressure cooker ready to explode. But here’s where things got interesting—and where photographer Dan dropped the night’s most quotable observation: “Grind keyboard. It’s a thing.”
The band’s keyboard player (whose manic energy deserves special mention) was performing like he’d mainlined the entire ’90s industrial catalogue. Think Rhys Fulber’s chaotic live contributions to Nailbomb or NIN—pure synth-destroying behavioural excess that turned what could have been standard grindcore into a full-blown event. The hyper-kinetic performance was simultaneously ridiculous and brilliant, adding a layer of theatrical madness that elevated the entire experience.
Every member was locked in perfect synchronisation, creating a dominating and utterly memorable performance that proved live chemistry can transcend studio recordings.
Look, I’ll be honest—their catalogue besides Prowler in the Yard and Book Burner has been inconsistent at best (yes, I spent half the night arguing this point with fellow devotees), but as a live entity, Pig Destroyer remains untouchable. This was grindcore perfection: energetic, engaging, and ruthlessly entertaining from first blast beat to final feedback squeal.
THE MERCH MASSACRE
The merch situation deserves its own paragraph because it was genuinely unprecedented. The line stretched from doors through three-quarters of Pig Destroyer’s set—I’ve never seen demand this rabid. Arif, doubling as Wormrot’s vocalist and Rotworks artist, nearly sold out everything except a handful of small tees. Your humble scribe left empty-handed despite targeting multiple items, a victim of the feeding frenzy that consumed everything in its path.
FINAL TRANSMISSION
This wasn’t just a concert—it was a reminder of why we submit ourselves to this beautiful punishment called grindcore. From Tongue Scum’s well-deserved moment in the spotlight, to Wormrot’s flawless devastation, to Pig Destroyer’s unrelenting grind theatre, every element aligned to create something genuinely special.
Melbourne’s grindcore faithful waited 17 years for this moment, and it delivered beyond expectations. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another two decades to witness this level of extreme music mastery again.
The ringing in your ears is proof you were there. The bruises are badges of honour. The memories are forever.
Make sure you catch Pig Destroyer on the remaining dates of their epic tour and a special thanks goes to Cult Etiquette PR and the crew at Max Watts for having us!
Links:
TONGUE SCUM
https://www.facebook.com/TONGUESCUM
WORMROT
https://www.facebook.com/wormrot
https://www.instagram.com/rotworks/
PIG DESTROYER
https://www.facebook.com/TheRealPigDestroyer
