Review and photography: Nate Rose

No strangers to a regional tour, Alpha Wolf last hit the Gold Coast supporting heavyweights The Amity Affliction in 2024. Now on a meteoric rise, Alpha Wolf leads the new wave of Aussie heavy music, headlining across regional Australia with their Terrible Days Across Australia tour — and they brought along one hell of a lineup with them in Malevolence, Inertia, and Zuko.

With a lineup like that, you knew things were going to get wild. Tonight’s stop at The Coolangatta Hotel pulsed with raw, anticipatory energy long before Alpha Wolf took the stage.

Brisbane’s Zuko have been making waves recently, releasing a killer single and building a reputation for high-energy live shows. Zuko definitely wasted no time making their mark tonight. Fusing metalcore with nu-metal elements, the band delivered a punchy, groove-heavy set that had the early crowd moving from the first breakdown.

Opening with Hatred off their EP of the same name, their brand of metalcore hit especially hard live. Frontman Jesse Bruce is a commanding presence with vocals to match.

“Let me see you bang your fucking heads,” Jesse demands from the crowd, and the crowd obliges through songs Callous and Broken Neck. Chaotic energy is one way to describe this band — and I’m all about it. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there’s something about opening bands at the moment. So many shows I’ve recently been to, the openers have really stood out, and Zuko was no exception. Their presence was commanding, breakdowns hard as fuck, and songwriting on point. I really look forward to seeing where this band goes next.

Next up were Inertia from Sydney, a band who are part of the esteemed Resist Records roster. These guys brought a more refined, atmospheric metalcore approach. Tracks like Dying to Let You Go and Static showcased their use of ambient textures and clean choruses, which added a unique melodic tension to the evening.

Vocalist Julian Latouche delivered impassioned vocals, switching seamlessly between harsh screams and soaring cleans. I just have to say — he has the best set of pipes I’ve ever heard live, hitting every note, and his falsetto was absolutely perfect.

“I need you to show Malevolence and Alpha Wolf how to fucking circle pit,” demanded Julian as the band swung into the heaviest track of their set, Dominion.

Where Zuko ignited the chaos, Inertia brought precision and emotional intensity. Guitarist Mark Williamson is a key driver behind Inertia’s layered sound. He balances technicality with atmosphere, alternating between dense riffage and spacious, ambient passages. Josh Taylor is a powerhouse behind the kit — live, he performs with surgical precision, maintaining control even during the most chaotic breakdowns. These guys are another band starting to make a solid name for themselves and one to keep an eye on in the future.

UK heavyweights Malevolence turned the night on its head. From the first riff of Malicious Intent, it was pure carnage. Their blend of hardcore, groove metal, and Pantera-esque swagger translated perfectly to The Coolangatta Hotel’s now totally packed room.

Frontman Alex Taylor was an unstoppable force, pacing the stage like a man possessed. “Time to wake the fuck up and grab this week by the dick,” proclaimed Taylor. “So far you’re a 5 out of 10. I want to take this up to an 8 — everyone in the pit, it’s your time to shine.” The crowd turned hostile—in the best possible way—with endless circle pits, windmills, and spin kicks as Self Supremacy turned things up to a 9. Guitarist Josh Baines’ tone was absolutely massive, and each breakdown hit like a wrecking ball.

What sets them apart isn’t just the heaviness — it’s the precision with which they deploy it, and the emotional nuance beneath all that aggression, which both shine through on new track If It’s All the Same to You from their upcoming album Where Only the Truth Is Spoken (which I’ve had the pleasure of hearing in full — and holy hell, it’s damn good, but more on that shortly in my album review).

“This one is for Zuko,” said Alex, as Zuko frontman Jesse Bruce joined in on vocals for Keeping the Distance, holding his own right next to the powerhouse Taylor.

They closed out the set with fan favourite On Broken Glass, which had the whole crowd singing along in unison as the band couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces.

Each member of Malevolence contributes something vital, and together they form one of the most cohesive and exciting live bands in heavy music today. Whether you’re there for the mosh pits, the melodies, or the message — Malevolence deliver with conviction, and they’re about to take over the world.

By the time Alpha Wolf took the stage, the room was near boiling point. The lights dropped and chants of “Alpha Wolf” engulfed The Cooly as the band entered, wasting no time flying into A Terrible Day for Rain — then all hell broke loose.

The Melbourne outfit proved why they’re leading the new wave of Australian heavy music. Frontman Lochie Keogh delivered a vocal assault that was visceral and brutal. Alpha Wolf’s chemistry is unmatched live, bouncing off each other with calculated chaos.The crowd, drenched in sweat and adrenaline, obeyed every command. Crowd surfers flew during tracks like Mangekyo.

“They tell me all the pretty boys come from the Gold Coast. How do you feel about that?” questioned Keogh, as they swung into Pretty Boy off their huge 2024 album Half Living Things.

Standouts like Creep and Sucks 2 Suck showcased the band’s versatility — balancing groove, blast beats, and breakdowns. Their blend of nu-metalcore and deathcore sensibilities landed perfectly in the intimate chaos of The Cooly. Guitarist Sabian Lynch was brutal and mechanical on Bleed 4 You, and drummer Mitch Fogarty has to arguably be one of the tightest and most creative drummers in modern metal. His playing live is just surgical.

Finisher Akudama had the whole venue rattling, with the crowd going berserk and singing right back at the band.

Alpha Wolf tonight was a clinic in modern heavy music — violent, emotional, and meticulously performed, showing just why they’re at the top and still on the rise. Shows like this don’t happen too often on the Gold Coast, so let’s just say a big thank you to the Alpha Wolf team for making a show like this happen on the shores of The Cooly Hotel. Maybe we’ll see a CVLTFEST hit this town one day — if we’re lucky.