Review: Joshua Hobbins
Photography: Nate Rose

Knotfest 2025 at the Brisbane Showgrounds was a sonic juggernaut! My first experience at this fest was a great, albeit very hot and sweaty one. The Knotfest Museum was an absolute treat for fans, with some awesome memorabilia ranging from masks to boiler suits, to bass and guitars that you could play and listen to the stage sounds in headphones – very (sic)! From start to finish, this was a day where heavy riffs, intense energy (from the sun and the bands), and the power of metal came together for an unforgettable experience.

The festival kicked off with an absolute bang, courtesy of San Jose’s hardcore crew Sunami. Their set began with huge double kicks that set the tone for front man Josef Alonso who was full of passion, delivering a raw and energetic performance. Their sound carried that raw, gritty, Bay Area hardcore influence, bringing an authentic edge to proceedings. The band’s energy was infectious as they played their new metal-tinged song Sweet Relief, from the Real Bay Shit compilation. Dirty Work was dedicated to Vended, Miss May I, and the hardcore legends Hatebreed, with the crowd responding eagerly in the pit.

With songs like No Heart, Y.S.A.B., and Step Up, Sunami engaged the audience with their aggressive sound, and the pit was going hard and really healthy for the first band of the day. They kept the momentum up with Weak Die First, closing the set with a massive circle pit. This was an incredibly strong start to the day, and Sunami were more than up to kicking off Knotfest 2025.

Up next were Vended, who immediately invoked nihilistic energy. The inevitable comparisons to their famous family members were unavoidable, but their own identity shone through, especially with Griffin Taylor’s powerful vocal delivery.

The crowd really connected with the band from the outset, and at one point, a punter robed up like Jesus was carried to the stage by the fans, much to the delight of Taylor and the rest of the band. Am I the Only One was a standout of the set, leaving a lasting impression with their crushing sound and undeniable stage presence. After the success of first shows down under, the band will undoubtedly be back again soon

Ohio-based Miss May I delivered a solid metalcore performance. Bass player Ryan Neff’s clean vocals were on point the whole set, adding depth and clarity to their aggressive sound. With well-known tracks Forgive and Forget and Shadows Inside, the band kept the audience engaged with their combination of melodic riffs and hard-hitting breakdowns.The crowd was treated to a stellar set of intense energy, harking back to the classic metalcore sound of the mid-2000s.

Health brought a completely different vibe to the festival. With their industrial feel, they delivered a huge sound full of ethereal vocals, bombastic drums, and bass and guitar that enveloped the crowd. Their set was like an atmospheric journey, pulling fans in with their experimental approach. The crowd was drawn into the pulsing rhythms and immersive aural textures, making for one of the day’s more sonically unique sets. It would have been great to see the performance after dark, and I’m kicking myself that I missed their tour last year.

In Hearts Wake kept the energy high with their blend of heavy melodic hardcore and environmental consciousness. The band debuted plenty of tracks from their latest release Incarnation, including Tyrant which had the crowd buzzing with excitement. Hellbringer, featuring guesties from Jamie Hails from Polaris, took things up a notch, with vocalist Jake Taylor paying tribute to Slipknot by having the audience kneel down and then jump on cue right at the Hellbringer breakdown.

Their collaboration with the Miss May I bassist Ryan Neff on Earthwalker was another highlight, showcasing the depth of talent and camaraderie within the scene. Gen Doom was huge, with dancers flanking Jake throughout the song and for the rest of the set. They closed with Orphan, leaving the crowd with some of the heaviest breakdowns of the day.

Just when we thought things couldn’t get more intense, Hatebreed hit us like a sledgehammer. Opening with Proven into Perseverance was a stroke of brilliance, setting the tone for what was a masterclass in beatdown hardcore. Jamey Jastaabsolutely owned the crowd, grinning ear to ear for the whole set as he barked at the masses. The energy was contagious, with Destroy Everything shaking the ground, and To the Threshold bringing one of the most intense moments of the day.

Giving tribute to NYHC legends Sick of It All for originating the wall of death and nodding to Lamb of God for taking it worldwide, Jasta introduced us to the Ball of Death, a massive black beach ball adorned with the classic Hatebreed logo! This was my set of the day, as they made it feel like the very earth was shaking beneath our feet and brought a new level of chaos with their trademark intensity.

The crowd yelled along to classics I Will Be Heard, Tear it Down and Last Breath before they closed with Looking Down the Barrel of Today, leaving everyone feeling like they had just been through a warzone. Can’t wait for the Triffid show on Tuesday, with Jasta promising that he and the Hatebreed lads will be delivering a very special set!

I last saw Enter Shikari at the Adelaide Big Day Out in 2008 on one of the smaller indoor stages and was blown away with their stage presence and sense of joy in what they brought. Fast forward 17 years, and again they brought their signature electro-pop-metal vibe to the stage, and the crowd was immediately drawn in.

Their set was packed with cool synths, heaving bass, and drum and bass loops and samples that complemented their high-energy, politically charged electronicore, making for a truly engaging performance. Songs like Sorry You’re Not a Winner, Mothership and A Kiss for the Whole World gave fans the perfect balance of heavy and atmospheric moments, showing that there’s always room for something a little different at a festival like Knotfest.

Dutch Symphonic metal giants Within Temptation made their debut Brisbane appearance, offering a dramatic shift in sound and energy. Their performance was grand, theatrical, and nothing short of epic. Sharon den Adel captivated the Knotfest crowd with her powerful vocals and passionate delivery, and the band’s intricate instrumentation brought a sense of class and grandeur to the festival.

Their set was a break from the chaos, a chance to take a breath and appreciate the artistry behind their music. They delivered songs from across their vast catalogue, with closer Mother Earth delivering a folky and cinematic end to a well-received set.

After a few sound issues, Slaughter to Prevail were finally able to deliver the full force of their brutal deathcore sound with opener Bonebreaker. Once the tech glitches were sorted out, the sound was thick and dense, with massive breakdowns and front man Alex Terrible’s insane vocals shaking the foundation of the venue.

The band’s chemistry was on full display, with drummer Evgeniy Novikov putting in an absolute beast of an effort behind the kit. The crowd went wild when a young fan, Oscar, was invited on stage to play Viking, creating an unforgettable moment for both him and the band. Behelt, inspired by the Japanese manga series/anime Berserk, was a set highlight, as were Alex’s comedic monologues. They closed with the mighty Demolition, ending in an explosion of massive riffs and relentless energy.

Polaris brought the Aussie metalcore heat with their tight performance, complete with engaging visuals and a sound that packed a hefty punch. The crowd response was incredible, showing just how strong the Aussie metal scene is right now. Their set was energetic, and the crowd was right there with them, headbanging and moshing to every riff.

What is it with bass players and great singing? Bassist Jake Steinhauser is such a great foil to vocalist Jamie Hails, keeping the low end tight whilst delivering an impressive vocal performance throughout the set.

It was awesome to see them absolutely killing it on a stage of this size, and Hails and the band were blown away by the response and the crowd interaction from the Brisbane punters. Very worthy to be sitting this high on the bill, and it won’t be long until they step up to headliner status.

And then, of course, came Babymetal, who were a sight to behold. Their live-action, 80’s cartoon theme song vibes were pure fun, and the crowd loved every minute of it. The band’s impeccable choreography created the super-joyful vibe, with plenty of singalongs from the crowd. After BxMxC, each member of KAMI took their own solo, showcasing their impeccable talent and strength as a band.

During METAL!!, lead singer Suzuka had the entire crowd crouch down and then jump up in unison, followed by footage of Tom Morello’s guest solo, creating an electric moment. RATATATA was a definite crowd favourite, full of high energy and including footage and audio tracks from Electric Callboy. Set closer Road of Resistance was my highlight, with KAMI showcasing the speed and power of Dragonforce and sending the crowd into one final frenzy.

A Day to Remember delivered their signature blend of pop-punk hooks and metalcore heaviness, opening with The Downfall of Us All from their classic Homesick album. The crowd was singing along, moshing, and generally losing their minds throughout their set, with crowd favourites like I’m Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?, All I Want, and All Signs Point to Lauderdale leaving no one standing still.

Make it Make Sense and LeBron, from their new album Big Ole Album Vol. 1 were standouts, showing that the band can still write great riffs and hooks. Vocalist Jeremy McKinnonmused that their second last track, If It Means a Lot to You, was probably the softest song to ever precede a Slipknot set, but the crowd lapped it right up. A great return to Oz and a worthy warm up for Slipknot.

From the moment they took the stage, it was clear that Slipknot were in their element, and the crowd responded accordingly. The iconic masks, pyrotechnics, and explosive percussion made for a perfect storm of madness. The band delivered a blistering set of some of their greatest hits, including Spit it Out, Psychosocial, (sic), People = Shit, The Devil in I and The Heretic Anthem, each song hitting harder than the last.

As Corey Taylor roared into the mic, the crowd followed in unison, headbanging and thrashing to every single note. The performance was pure catharsis, a testament to why Slipknot has remained at the top of the metal world for nearly 3 decades. Unfortunately, Clown could not be on this tour due to family reasons, but the band played tribute to him across the set, with Taylor twice giving him a shoutout and asking the crowd to send their thoughts and prayers to him and his family.

Surfacing was a great encore prelude to the definite set highlight, Scissors, which showcased the band at their doomy, creepy, heavy best. An epic way to end an epic set from the masters of horror and mayhem.

Knotfest 2025 was everything a metal festival should be and more. From the crushing hardcore of Sunami, to the monstrous performance of Slipknot, it was a day that showcased the power, diversity, and intensity of the heavy music scene. The atmosphere was electric (but bloody hot and humid!), the bands were firing on all cylinders, and the crowd was absolutely relentless all day.

This was a celebration of metal in all its forms/genres and, apart from the soul sucking heat, it was a day Brisbane won’t soon forget. Bring on Knotfest 2026!