.

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES
+ Patient Sixty-Seven
+ The Last Martyr
@ Stay Gold, Melbourne,
3rd May 2025
(Live Review)

Review and photos by Michael Gow (@alchemi_glow_music_phot)

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

.

May 3rd, 2025, will forever be remembered as the night Behind Crimson Eyes took to the stage one final time. Appropriately titled The End, this tour marked the closing chapter of a band that helped shape the Australian post-hardcore and emo scene. For one last night, we celebrated, we screamed, and we poured every ounce of energy into a farewell worthy of their legacy. As I waited outside Stay Gold, word from the previous night’s show had already spread—it was unforgettable. I knew we were in for something truly special.

.

THE LAST MARTYR / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

.

The Last Martyr – Opening with Fire

Kicking off the night were familiar faces: The Last Martyr, a band I’ve seen numerous times in recent years, and they never disappoint. Monica Strut and the rest of the band strode on stage and wasted no time launching into an electrifying set, opening with Xenox from their Requiem EP, followed by Antidote. Their energy was relentless—these weren’t openers, they were performers with the presence and intensity of headliners.

Monica’s commanding stage presence captivated the crowd. Her siren-like clean vocals drew us in before unleashing her ferocious growls, hitting with the force of a tidal wave. It continues to baffle me that a band this talented isn’t receiving more airplay. Their sound blends nostalgia from the early 2000s with a fresh, modern edge, making them accessible yet fierce.

Ben Rogers (guitar), Ricky Andres (bass), and Vin Krishnan (drums) are the backbone of this incredibly tight unit. You’d think they’d been playing together as long as Behind Crimson Eyes themselves. They represent the next generation of Australian metal, joining the ranks of RedHook, Reliqa, and more, proving our local scene is bursting with talent.

Their setlist was dynamic and well-curated, with tracks like Antidote, Critical Mass, The Nihilist, Burn It Down, and Requiem. They also treated us to a heavy-hitting cover of Bomfunk MC’s Freestyler—a crowd favorite. Midway through, Tom Kiely of Patient Sixty-Seven joined them on stage, adding an exciting collaboration to an already explosive performance. As their set ended, fans mingled, buzzing with what they’d just witnessed and eager for what was still to come.

.

PATIENT SIXTY-SEVEN / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

.

Patient Sixty-Seven – A New Favorite

Next up was Patient Sixty-Seven, a band I hadn’t seen live before. While I’d just gotten a preview of Tom Kiely’s vocals during The Last Martyr’s set, I had no idea what the full experience would bring. But it didn’t take long—within just a few songs, I became an instant fan.

While many modern metalcore bands tend to follow similar formulas, Patient Sixty-Seven delivered something fresh. Their take on the genre felt distinctive, full of passion and punch. A highlight was their jaw-dropping cover of Dua Lipa’s IDGAF—unexpected, powerful, and perfectly executed. Vocally and instrumentally, they were rock solid, and I’m already looking forward to catching them again in the future.

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

.

Behind Crimson Eyes – One Last Time

And then, the moment we were all here for. Two decades since their inception, Behind Crimson Eyes returned to the Stay Gold stage for the final time. While they weren’t always in the spotlight over the years, their influence lingered. Whether you were a longtime fan or someone who rediscovered them recently, their music never truly left us.

I avoided peeking at Setlist.fm, wanting to be surprised—and I was. They opened strong with classics like Bullets for Blood, Nightmare on Apparition (Part 6), and Sex, Lies and Homicide. But the night also gave us something rare: live renditions of songs from their final release, An Exodus from Eden. Tracks like Wake Up, DEAD.DROP.DEAD, and A Place in Hell were brought to life with ferocity. One standout moment included an intro sample from the Anonymous hacker collective—“We won’t forgive. We won’t forget.”—perfectly setting the tone.

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

The first major surprise of the night was the return of original members Kevin Orr (guitar) and Prashant Raju (bass), who joined the band to play Game of Life from their debut EP Pavour Nocturnus. A full-circle moment that added a deep emotional layer to the evening. You rarely see reunions like this, and it elevated the night from memorable to legendary.

The surprises didn’t stop there. During Burn It Down, we were treated to guest vocals by Sally Chatfield (Lunacy), who appeared on the studio version of the track. Hearing her live was an incredible bonus—her powerhouse vocals lifted the crowd into a frenzy.

Emotions were running high. Fans clung to every note, every lyric, knowing this was the last time they’d hear Behind Crimson Eyes live. The band pulled out all the stops. Even at a venue like Stay Gold, where crowd-surfing isn’t the norm, someone rose above the crowd—a brief but beautiful symbol of the night’s energy.

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

.

As the set seemed to close, frontman Josh took a moment to thank the fans, the promoters (Destroy All Lines), and their families—those who stood by them from day one. The band left the stage, but not for long.

Returning for a final encore, they delivered The Black Veil and then ended the night—and their 21-year journey—with one of their biggest hits, Shakedown. And just like that, it was over.

As the last chord faded, so did an era. Most members now have families and new priorities, so we may not see them return in another form. But selfishly, I hope at least one of them graces the stage again—it would be a loss for the Australian metal scene if their talent went silent for good.

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

Check out Michael Gow’s (@alchemi_glow_music_phot) full gallery of this event HERE

Follow BEHIND CRIMSON EYES
Website – YouTube – Facebook
Tiktok – Instagram – X

.

BEHIND CRIMSON EYES / Photo – @alchemi_glow_music_phot

.

AMNPLIFY – DB