Words – @ladylane____
Photos – @photo.amai
Naarm-based heavy hitters DETESTOR warmed the crowd up with a boundless and unrelenting ferocity. Kicking off their set with their gnawing track ‘Selfish Tragedy’, punters immersed themselves in the frenetic and chaotic energy DETESTOR are known for. Already cementing themselves for their robust and compelling Melbourne acts to see, DETESTOR take no prisoners as they surge through ‘Evangelion’, ‘Agnostic Disease’ and ‘ButDidn’tWeFindPeace’. Rounding out their audacious sonic offering with ‘DROWN ME in my own self guilt’, DETESTOR managed to harness a level of chaos many bands seldom do.
Gold Coast stalwarts DIESECT were next on the bill, stepping up with a commanding presence that immediately reinforced their growing reputation. From the moment they launched into their set, it was clear why they’ve become such a compelling force in the heavy music circuit. Showcasing their undeniable appeal, the band leaned into their intricate fusion of nu-metal and metalcore, balancing groove-driven aggression with tightly executed technicality.
Each track unfolded with precision, yet never felt overly clinical – DIESECT have a knack for weaving complexity into their sound while keeping it visceral and engaging. Their performance navigated themes of internal chaos and external pressures, channelling emotional weight through crushing riffs, dynamic shifts, and an intense vocal delivery that resonated across the room. It’s this ability to marry introspection with raw energy that sets them apart from their peers.
Following the release of their ‘Hide from the Light’ EP, DIESECT continue to build serious momentum. Their set felt like a statement of intent: refined, confident, and unrelenting. With each live appearance, they solidify their place within the heavy music scene, proving they’re not just riding a wave but actively shaping it.
As the room swelled with anticipation, VARIALS took the stage with the kind of no-frills intensity that has defined their rise from Philadelphia’s underground to global heavy hitters. Formed in 2013 and known for fusing metalcore with hardcore and nu-metal influences, the band have built their reputation on sheer emotional weight and groove-laden aggression and live, that ethos hits even harder. Touring off their 2026 album ‘Where the Light Leaves’, the set felt both calculated and chaotic in equal measure, launching straight into a relentless barrage of downtempo riffs, punishing breakdowns, and tightly locked rhythm work without unnecessary pause.
Front man Skyler Conder proved a formidable presence, leaning into themes of mental strain and internal conflict with a delivery that felt as raw as it was controlled. Behind him, longtime members Mike Foley and Sean Rauchut anchored the performance with crushing low-end and precision drumming, while the guitars cut through with that signature blend of nu-metal groove and metallic bite. The set moved with deliberate efficiency – songs bleeding into one another, breakdowns landing with purpose – keeping the energy consistently high. On a stacked bill, VARIALS didn’t just hold their own; they delivered a commanding performance that reinforced their place as a band still evolving, yet firmly rooted in the raw intensity that defines them.
There’s heavy, and then there’s SPITE – a band that doesn’t just play breakdowns, but weaponises them. Headlining MAX WATTS as part of their 2026 Australian run, SPITE delivered a set that felt less like a concert and more like sustained impact. From the moment they stepped on stage, the room was thrown into chaos – front man Darius Tehrani pacing like a coiled spring before unleashing a vocal performance that was equal parts fury and control. Opening with the pulverising “New World Killer” before tearing straight into “Gavel,” the tone was set early – brutal and relentless. Tracks like “IED,” “Snap,” and “Made to Please” hit with uncompromising force, each breakdown landing like blunt trauma while the crowd surged in response.
True to their ‘all gas, no brakes’ ethos, the band barely paused between songs, maintaining a suffocating intensity that kept the pit in constant motion. Their setlist pulled from across their catalogue, flowing with surgical precision through ‘Lights Out,’ ‘Psychopath,’ ‘Shallow,’ ‘Shedding Skin,’ ‘Pledge,’ and ‘The Root of All Evil,’ before pushing even harder into ‘Dedication to Flesh.’ Closing moments ‘Kingdom of Guts’ felt like a final escalation rather than a wind-down, leaving the room in complete disarray. On a stacked bill alongside VARIALS, DIESECT and DETESTOR, SPITE didn’t just headline- they dominated, delivering a performance that reaffirmed why they remain one of the most punishing forces in modern deathcore.
Thanks to SPITE, VARIALS, DIESECT, DETESTOR, MAX WATTS and BIGMOUTH PR
