Review: Joshua Hobbins
Photography: Nate Rose
Killswitch Engage are back on Australian shores just two years after their last visit, this time bringing UK heavyweights Sylosis and Melbourne’s Heists along for the ride. With a career spanning more than two decades and a catalogue packed with genre-defining tracks, the Massachusetts metalcore legends have lost none of their appeal, and Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall was in for one hell of a Tuesday night.
Melbourne’s Heists got things underway, with their drummer Dean emerging first to deliver a solo before the rest of the band joined him. It was a great way to kick things off, and while the pit was relatively small, those who had arrived early weren’t shy about getting involved.
The band sounded excellent, particularly Dean and vocalist Chris, who were both impressive throughout the set. Submerged In Pain, Left To Loathe and Terminal Unrest showcased their brand of modern metalcore, while Defeated featured one of the biggest breakdowns of the evening’s opening set.
By the time they reached Miles Away, the band were clearly having a blast, genuinely appreciative of everyone who had made the effort to get down early on a Tuesday night. A strong opening performance from a band well worth keeping an eye on.
Next up were Sylosis, and from the moment they launched into Beneath the Surface, it was clear we were in for something special. Ridiculously tight, blisteringly fast and packed with shredding guitar solos, the British four-piece showcased their take on modern thrash and melodic death metal.
Frontman Josh Middleton was in outstanding form as the band tore through Poison for the Lost and Erased. Erased was an early highlight, with the crowd throwing their fists in the air before the song finished with an enormous breakdown.
Lacerations was another standout, balancing technical guitar work with some seriously head-bobbing grooves. There was plenty of headbanging onstage too, with some impressive windmilling from guitarist Conor Marshall.
The intensity barely let up through All Glory, No Valour, Mirror Mirror and Pariahs, before Deadwood took things to another level. The crowd opened up for not one but two walls of death during the song, while Ali Richardson’s drumming was absolutely phenomenal. Closing with The New Flesh, Sylosis left little doubt about why they’ve become such a respected name in modern metal.
Then it was time for Killswitch Engage, and what better way to kick things off than with Fixation on the Darkness? Adam D’s legendary, obnoxious guitar squeals rang out across Fortitude Music Hall as the band launched into one of the heaviest tracks in their catalogue. It’s pretty wild when a song that could comfortably close a set is used as the opener.
This Is Absolution followed, with arms waving throughout the chorus and Jesse Leach sounding absolutely incredible. I’ve seen Killswitch a number of times over the years, and his voice just seems to get better with every performance.
Then came The End of Heartache, and the entire Fortitude Music Hall erupted into one enormous singalong. For mine, it’s the greatest metalcore song ever written, and hearing a room full of people singing every word was a genuinely special moment.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Killswitch Engage show without a bit of comedy. Jesse took some time to discuss his visit to the art museum to see a Jim Henson exhibition, which led to a conversation about Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal and David Bowie’s rather prominent package in Labyrinth.
Aftermath then gave way to A Bid Farewell, and there’s something about those older Killswitch tracks that just hits differently. In Due Time brought another massive chorus singalong before To the Sons of Man took things right back to the Alive or Just Breathing era. It’s still an incredibly heavy song, with Adam D’s guttural backing vocals complementing Jesse perfectly. Meanwhile, bassist Mike D’Antonio was having the time of his life, headbanging and windmilling his way through the set.
Before Unleashed, Jesse dedicated the song to anyone who had been forced to cut ties with a best friend or family member because they were, in his words, a “piece of shit”. The track also featured a cool little reggae-inspired breakdown that added an unexpected twist to proceedings.
Hate by Design, Where It Dies and Forever Aligned kept things moving before The Signal Fire provided another highlight, with guitarist Joel Stroetzel nailing the vocal harmonies during the chorus.
As the set moved into its final stretch, I Believe and Daylight Dies led into Rose of Sharyn, another classic that had the crowd singing at the top of their lungs. This Fire and My Curse followed, the latter producing yet another huge singalong. At this point, it felt like half the set had turned into a mass karaoke session, and nobody was complaining.
The night finally came to a close with My Last Serenade, but not before Adam D decided to take things into the crowd, adding one final memorable moment to an already brilliant performance.
More than two decades into their career, Killswitch Engage remain one of the most entertaining live bands in heavy music. The songs have lost none of their impact, Jesse is singing better than ever, and the chemistry between the band members is still a joy to watch. With Sylosis delivering an outstanding supporting set and Heists making the most of their opening slot, it was a fantastic night of heavy music from start to finish.
– GALLERY –
