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ASKING ALEXANDRIA
+ Wage War
+ The Gloom In The Corner
@ Max Watts, Melbourne,
20th March 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Tristan Skell

Photos by Drew Hill (@drewhillphotos)

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ASKING ALEXANDRIA / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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As Knotfest approaches, several bands scheduled for the festival have arranged standalone shows across Australia, offering fans the option to catch specific acts without committing to the entire event. Max Watts was host to performances by Asking Alexandria and Wage War, with support from Melbourne’s own The Gloom In The Corner.

To start off the evening, The Gloom In The Corner played what you would call their anthem, “San Quentin” by Nickelback, a song that has become a recurring element in their sets. Following the conclusion of the Nickelback track, vocalist Mikey Arthur and bassist Paul Musolino took the stage, joined by tour fill-ins Josh Clinch, drummer from Earthcaller, and guitarist Jesse Abdurazak from Silverfang.

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GLOOM IN THE CORNER / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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They kicked off their set with “New Order,” a track from their latest album “Trinity,” with elements of layered soundscapes and dynamic contrasts.

Midway through the set, Gloom unveiled a new track titled “Jericho Protocol,” offering a glimpse into the next phase of the saga involving “The Unholy Trinity.” This song pushed Mikey’s singing vocals further throughout the track, preceded by a breakdown that reverberated throughout the entire venue.

Concluding their performance, Gloom closed out their set with “Obliteration Imminent” from their album “Trinity,” energizing the crowd and preparing them for the next act to grace the stage, the renowned metalcore icons, Wage War.

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WAGE WAR / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Originating from Florida, USA, and last touring Australia approximately four years ago, Wage War band members took the stage, with Briton Bond delivering heavy vocals, Cody Quistad on rhythm guitar and clean vocals, Seth Blake handling lead guitar duties, Chris Gaylord on bass, and Stephen Kluesener behind the drums. They kicked off their performance with the iconic track “Stitch” from their 2017 album “Deadweight.” The atmosphere escalated both figuratively and literally, with the air thickening as bodies in the crowd engaged in moshing and enthusiastic jumping, intensifying the concert experience. To maintain the high energy in the venue, Wage War continued to deliver phenomenal performances of songs like “Low” from the album “Pressure” and “Circle The Drain” from “Manic.” The crowd remained relentless, never faltering in their energy levels. With the mosh pit pulsating with movement and crowd surfers soaring overhead, Wage War was thoroughly impressed by the Melbourne crowd.

To close out their set, Wage War delivered a powerful performance of “Manic,” the title track from their latest album. The anticipation built with each crescendo leading to the chorus, sending shivers through the crowd. Every member of the audience was poised to shout “Manic” in unison, their collective roar echoing throughout the entire venue, drowning out all other sounds. Bond’s smile was visible from every corner of the venue, and understandably so. It’s an indescribable feeling to witness your music resonating with countless people in one space. For Wage War, it marked a triumphant return to Down Under, an unforgettable moment.

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WAGE WAR / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Closing the show, metal legends Asking Alexandria took the stage with a powerful start, treating longtime fans to “Closure” from their 2011 album “Reckless And Relentless.” This was a special moment for fans who have witnessed the evolution of the band’s sound over the years. With Sam Bettley handling bass, Cameron Liddell on rhythm guitar, James Cassells on drums, and Paul Bartolomé filling in on live guitar alongside Danny Worsnop’s vocals, the crowd was unprepared for the sheer magnitude of this performance.

Throughout the set, the stage radiated unparalleled energy, matched only by the crowd’s fervor below, despite the sweltering conditions similar to an oven. Danny even joked about regretting wearing his jacket during one of his mid-set talks. However, an abrupt interruption came with the chant of “shoey!” from the crowd, displaying a stereotypical piece of Australian culture where audiences urge headliner bands to perform a “shoey” on stage. Despite Danny’s natural refusal, he persuaded Cameron to take on the challenge. The relentless crowd wouldn’t settle until someone drank from a shoe. Cameron reluctantly accepted, taking a sip from a female fan’s boot, his expression: repulsion. Meanwhile, the rest of the band joined in with shots of vodka. After the deed was done, Cameron promptly returned the shoe directly to the fan.

Midway through the set, the entire band exited the stage, leaving Danny alone with just an acoustic guitar. He transitioned into a heartfelt acoustic rendition of “Someone, Somewhere” from their album “Reckless And Relentless.” Keeping the guitar after the song, the band rejoined Danny on stage to deliver a rendition of “Moving On” from album “From Death To Destiny.” Danny dedicated the song to his friend Craig Mabbitt, vocalist for Escape The Fate, who was also present in the crowd performing at Knotfest. During the performance, Craig, seemingly appearing out of thin air, snuck onto the stage halfway through the song and stole the mic from Danny, joining in to perform the last chorus of “Moving On.”

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ASKING ALEXANDRIA / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Now a real delight for dedicated fans emerged, with a surprise performance of “A Prophecy” and “The Final Episode,” both tracks cherished by long-time listeners, taken from the highly esteemed album “From Death To Destiny.” It was like stepping back to 2016 at 170 Russell, reliving the excitement of my first-ever concert, which happened to be Asking Alexandria. That concert opened the door to a world of new experiences and kickstarted my concert journey and I would not be writing this if it were not for this band those many years ago.

After “The Final Episode,” the band left the stage, only to be called back by the fervent chants for an encore from the crowd. It was evident that the audience wasn’t ready to bid farewell to Asking Alexandria just yet. Returning to the stage, they treated the crowd to a performance of “Alone In A Room.” This song, with its dance-like vibe, encouraged the crowd to join in, chanting the lyrics and dancing along. It served as a beautiful conclusion to an unforgettable night.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I relived what felt like my very first concert all over again. With Knotfest set to begin the next day on the 21st, Wage War and Asking Alexandria were now fully warmed up and ready to take the stage at the festival.

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ASKING ALEXANDRIA / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Check out Drew Hill’s (@drewhillphotos) full gallery of this event HERE

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ASKING ALEXANDRIA / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Follow ASKING ALEXANDRIA
Website – Instagram – Facebook
Twitter – Youtube

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ASKING ALEXANDRIA / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Press Release 16th January 2024 (below) HERE

ASKING ALEXANDRIA
release new EP
‘DARK VOID’
in advance of
“BLUE MONDAY”

To correlate with Song’s Theme Surrounding
Mental Health Awareness & Support

Touring Australia in March
as part of
KNOTFEST

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Asking Alexandria will be appearing at Knotfest Australia this March!

Thursday, March 21: Melbourne
Saturday, March 23: Sydney
Monday, March 25: Brisbane
knotfest.com

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AMNPLIFY – DB