Review: Joshua Hobbins
Photography: Nate Rose

Deathcore/death metal thrives on precision, power, and presence, and on a packed Brisbane night at The Triffid, New Jersey’s Fit For An Autopsy delivered all three in devastating fashion. With support from Florida bruisers Bodysnatcher, and Newcastle’s Volatile Ways and Pain Body, the night unfolded as a relentless showcase of modern heaviness, from raw technicality through to bone-crushing groove.

Pain Body opened the show with zero excess and maximum impact. Their no-frills technical death metal hit hard and fast, immediately setting a high bar for the night ahead. Super tight across the board, the band’s brutal vocals and surgical precision locked in quickly, but it was Jesse Beahler on drums who truly stood out, phenomenal in both speed and control. As an opening act, Pain Body were deeply impressive, leaving no doubt that Newcastle’s heavy scene continues to punch well above its weight.

Volatile Ways followed with a set built on sheer low-end force and drawn mostly from their excellent debut album Perfect Dark. Their sound was thick, sludgy, and unapologetically heavy, rattling the Triffid floor from the first note. Vocalist Emily Beekmans brought huge energy to the stage, commanding attention with ferocity and presence, while the band leaned into crushing grooves that landed hard with the crowd, especially on Goddess of Rot, Perfect Dark and my set highlight God Will Be Cut. Extra points for the filthy textures and vocal interplay between Emily and guitarist Brock King. My set of the night for sure, and my new fave Aussie band!

Florida heavyweights Bodysnatcher were super tight and relentlessly punishing, their trademark slowdowns were met with instant approval, the adoring crowd reacting to every drop with movement and violence. Having already impressed touring with Lorna Shore last year, Bodysnatcher somehow managed to feel even sharper this time around, with a much bigger sound and a fuller low-end.

Frontman Kyle Medina was a constant focal point, bringing strong stage presence and genuine crowd connection. His shoutouts to classic Australian bands including The Red Shore, Boris The Blade, Signal The Firing Squad, Thy Art Is Murder, and Vegas In Ruins earned huge respect and an audible surge of support. Tracks like Behind the Crowd, Take Me To Hell, Open Wounds, and King of the Rats hit hardest, with the latter standing tall as the clear crowd favourite.

By the time Fit For An Autopsy hit the stage, the Triffid was primed for impact. What followed was a commanding, technically flawless headline set that reinforced why the New Jersey outfit sit amongst the top tier of modern extreme metal. From Lower Purpose through It Comes for You and Red Horizon, the band sounded immense. Guitar and bass tones were huge without becoming muddy, and the rhythm section locked in with machine-like consistency.

Joe Badolato’s vocals were commanding throughout, effortlessly shifting between crushing lows and menacing aggression while maintaining absolute control of the room. Mid-set highlights like Black Mammoth, Hostage, and Pandora showcased the band’s ability to balance sheer heaviness with atmosphere and intent, while Warfare and Absolute Hope Absolute Hell reignited pit chaos. The back end of the set The Sea of Tragic Beasts, Savior of None / Ashes of All, and Far From Heaven landed with emotional weight as well as physical force, closing the night on a powerful, uncompromising note.

From Pain Body’s precision to Volatile Ways’ sludgy grit, Bodysnatcher’s crowd-commanding brutality, and Fit For An Autopsy’s masterclass headline set, this was a night that celebrated heaviness in all its modern forms. Brisbane showed up loud, engaged, and hungry, and tonight served as a reminder of how strong, diverse, and unified the heavy scene continues to be in 2026.

 – GALLERY –