Project Description
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KNOTFEST
@ Brisbane Showgrounds,
Brisbane,
2nd March 2025
(Live Review)
Review and photos by Matt Young (@mattyoungpics)
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SLIPKNOT / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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The mighty Slipknot are back on Australian soil, and they’ve bought their travelling heavy music festival, Knotfest, with them. The Brisbane Showgrounds hosted the second leg of the tour and we were there to check out all the action.
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IN HEARTS WAKE / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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We started our day with In Hearts Wake. One of Byron Bay’s finest exports, IHW treated the crowd to a customary solid set. Always an energetic live band, they had everyone banging their heads. A surprise guest appearance from Jamie Hails (Polaris) on vocals was an unexpected treat as well.
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HATEBREED / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Next up: Hatebreed. I’d never seen Hatebreed live so was keen to see what they’d bring. They brought plenty. Main man Jamey Jasta is a seasoned front man at this stage of his career & really knew how to work the crowd. Plenty of heaviness was had.
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ENTER SHIKARI / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Next on the main stage was British band Enter Shikari. Once again, having never seen the band on their previous visits to Australia, I was eager to check them out. While not the heaviest band on the lineup for sure, the lads played with plenty of vigour while copping some afternoon sun.
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WITHIN TEMPTATION / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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It was now time for the excellent Within Temptation. With the mighty Sharon Den Adel out front on vocals, Within Temptation are a force to be reckoned with. The lady can sing, that’s for sure. And what a presence out front of the band too. She commands the stage with her theatrical movements. The band were on point & threw down a fantastic set of Symphonic Metal. Bravo!
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SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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If you’ve never seen Slaughter To Prevail live, youre missing out on one of the most brutal bands out there. The Russian 5 piece take no prisoners. After a slight delay due to technical gremlins, the band tore into their set with venom. Frontman Alex Terrible is a muscled, tattoo’d force of nature. His vocal delivery is so guttural. Their version of Deathcore music is as ferocious as it gets. For those in the crowd that like it Heavy, Slaughter To Prevail certainly deliver a slab of Heaviness.
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POLARIS / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Aussie Metalcore rockers Polaris were up next. It seems only yesterday that Polaris burst onto the scene with a bang. But debut album The Mortal Coil was released nearly a decade ago now. Time flies. A road hardened working band these days, the Jamie Hails led 5 piece always put on a great show & today was no exception. Playing cuts from across their catalogue, the boys received a great reception from ever increasing crowd. Solid set for sure.
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A DAY TO REMEMBER / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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American rockers A Day To Remember took to the stage to an enthusiastic reception. By now the crowd at the Brisbane Showgrounds was massive, close to, if not, sold out. ADTR are probably in, dare I say it, the veteran class of rockers these days. That’s definitely not a knock, but they’ve been around now for probably 25 years or so. Once again, time flies eh? Age shall not weary them though, the boys put on a polished performance, playing tracks from across their vast catalogue, including a newbie & announcing their new album will be available digitally any day now. Highlight of the set was the huge ball the band launched into the crowd for some festival fun. Bravo!
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SLIPKNOT / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Ok… the time had come for headliners Slipknot. The majority of the crowd were clearly here to see “The Knot”. Always an incredible live band, Slipknot have always had a loyal following of fans. Tonight’s set certainly didn’t disappoint them as the band casually walked onstage under a green glow of light & launched into opening number (sic) from their debut album. Next up we get People = Shit followed by Gematria (The Killing Game) from All Hope Is Gone! The band sound MASSIVE through the PA. Corey Taylor works the crowd like a seasoned pro, & Jim Root & Mick Thompson bring the meaty riffs. New drummer Eloy Casagrande fit in no worries too I thought. For some reason, there is no Clown onstage tonight. Not to worry, the show must go on. Look, there’s nothing I can say that hasn’t already been written about a Slipknot gig. They are the benchmark for many. The bring the goods every single time. Wait and Bleed, Duality, The Heretic Anthem, Psycosocial, Spit It Out all get a run. They finished with Scissors. Nobody went home disappointed. Slipknot Rule!
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SLIPKNOT / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Check out Matt Young’s (@mattyoungpics) full gallery of this event HERE
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SLIPKNOT / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Find KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA Online
WEBSITE – FACEBOOK
X – INSTAGRAM – TIKTOK
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SLIPKNOT / Photo – @mattyoungpics
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Press Release 16th October 2024 (below) HERE
KNOTFEST
returns to Australia in 2025
in Melbourne, Brisbane & Sydney
Slipknot
A Day To Remember
BABYMETAL, Slaughter To Prevail, Polaris
Within Temptation, Enter Shikari, Hatebreed
In Hearts Wake, HEALTH, Miss May I, Vended, Sunami
Early Bird Pre-Sale On-Sale: Monday 21st October
9am local: 2024 Ticket Purchasers
10am local: Knotfest Premium Members (Join https://knot1.co/Premium)
11am local time: Sign Up For Early Bird knotfest.com/australia
General On-Sale: 3pm local time, Wednesday 23rd October
From Knotfest.com/Australia
Exclusive VIP Packages Available
Packages Include A Backstage Tour And Side Stage Viewing
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