While the weather isn't totally behaving itself and rain ponchos are the recommended staple in your festival bag or jacket pocket, the show must go on as the rescheduled Full Tilt Festival takes over Eatons Hill Hotel (23 April) in Brisbane.
Speaking of wet grounds, how bloody brilliant are the organisers? Punters get to mosh and dance in front of the main outdoors stage on portable event flooring that will prevent a mud pit being created.This covering is substantial, matching the width of the stage and then out 20 metres or more towards the sound tent. I reckon that's so considerate of the venue grounds and our punter experience at the festival. Nice one!
As I explore my nosh options, Luca Brasi is playing to the open air crowd. Hmm. They always seem to get a daytime slot on the main stage, which is fantastic considering the number of bands vying for spots but it will be awesome when this powerhouse band are playing to a pumped and fuller festival crowd in the evening.
I settle for a burger and join the line to order as Luca Brasi continue playing songs from their albums 'Everything Is Tenuous' and 'Never The Right Time', along with a cover of Oasis' 'Champagne Supernova'. This has the gathering crowd and me singing along.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
Satiated and ready for the long-haul I head to the indoor stage in the Ballroom. Moving from the grey overcast but bright daylight into the blackness of the Ballroom is like being under a total eclipse.
Justice For The Damned are up and are a band I recently discovered as a support act at another live gig. It was great hearing other punters commenting on how they're digging the sounds as they experience Justice For The Damned for the first time. Their fan base is only expanding with each gig they get to play.
Slowly Slowly are on next at the main stage and frontman Ben Stewart is sashaying out dressed in his pastel pink pants and a white with print button-up shirt. Stewart looks like he has dropped straight out of the preppy '80s and the rest of the band are considerably muted in dress by comparison.
They're playing us recent releases from 'Race Car Blues' including the title track that invoked a loud sing-along and their bangers 'Blueprint' and 'Jellyfish'.
Slowly Slowly - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Back at Ballroom stage is Void Of Vision. Whoa! Almost poetic, stepping into a void as the band kicks off, not to mention the second song on their set list is titled 'Into The Dark'.
The blackness is pierced with beams of light emanating from the stage to silhouette the band and bathe the faces of punters and band in a blood-red wash.
My eyes are eventually adjusting to the light and my ears to the heavy metalcore flavour of their set that also included 'Kill All My Friends', 'Ghost In The Machine' and 'Dominatrix' with its killer breakdown.
Void Of Vision - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Event organisers may have not foreseen just how many punters are wanting to see the bands on the Ballroom programme. Capacity was quick to fill for most acts, which left punters lined-up outside waiting for others to leave so they could get their turn.
Despite this, there are happy faces in the line as punters chat among themselves.
Air raid sirens signal that Thy Art Is Murder is about to take to the main stage where a skeleton adorns CJ McMahon's microphone and I wonder what the people in the surrounding suburbs are thinking as they kick off with 'Human Target'.
Thy Art draw the largest crowd to the barrier so far and it's building as new arrivals flow into the outdoor arena. Energy is heightened as a circle pit begins to swirl and crowd surfers ride on trusted hands toward the barrier.
Thy Art Is Murder - image © Clea-marie Thorne
During the last few songs, the crowd parted for a 'wall of death', which from my vantage point on the steps way back to claim a space in the Ballroom, was a spectacular thing to witness – it's been so long since I saw one of this size.
View the complete Full Tilt Brisbane photo gallery.
With a smile on my dial I head back into the darkness of the Ballroom to see an upcoming band from Sydney, Closure.
Quite a few punters I nattered to express a disappointment that The Bennies are unable to play (that ever-present reminder of COVID). Closure moved up from opening to fill The Bennies slot.
It was recommended to me to see these new kids on the block and their punk-pop-rock. Hearing them for the first time I recognise a swancore ambiance to the songs that were well received by punters.
Overall I liken them to Paramore and reckon their catchy lyrics and hooks are getting them some new followers. Frontwoman Lucy May says we're being treated to a new song about being in love and that she's in love. I didn't quite catch the name of it, but I'm sure you can discover it and their other songs on your go-to streaming platform.
Another shower is passing through the festival site as we dive for the cover of the carpark while others are retrieving a poncho or using a a mate's jacket for a makeshift canopy. It doesn't last long and we return to the open arena.
Oh, how cute. A rainbow has revealed itself which I take as a positive reassurance the sky may behave until at least the last acts have played.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
The jesters of the festival circuit, punk rockers Frenzal Rhomb are up next on the main stage with 'We Built This City' playing on the PA as they enter the stage.
As expected from a Frenzal set, we're getting a run of banter interspersed with their songs which is very entertaining and relevant. Their thrashy set includes favourites 'Mummy Doesn't Know You're A Nazi', '5000 Cigarettes', and 'I Miss My Lung'.
At times Jay Whalley's mic mix could have been louder, so the seasoned fans in the crowd helped to acquaint those un-Frenzalled in the mosh by singing along loudly to 'You Are Not My Friend' and 'Punch In The Face'.
Maybe they should be billed as the Frenzal Variety Show? At any rate, they supposedly chose a set list of 25 songs for a 45-minute slot (according to Whalley – a bit of a poke at the fact most of their songs clock in under two minutes each) and ran out of songs, and were taking requests from the crowd to fill the rest of their slot.
Holy dooley! The line to get into the Ballroom to see metalcore outfit Alpha Wolf is almost to the other side of the outdoor arena. There is no doubt these guys would have filled the main stage crowd pit.
I was fortunate enough to get in to the packed-out room that's head-banging to their set leading with 'Sub-Zero', 'Black Mamba', 'Ultra-violet Violence' and saving the best till last, the ferocious 'Akudama'. Hectic in the best way.
Alpha Wolf - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The branded merch on punters tells me In Hearts Wake is another metalcore act with fans out in full force. A recording of 'this is an emergency' played as the band came out in masks including one in a gas mask. They opened with 'Crisis' and 'Worldwide Suicide'.
They were very open with the crowd sharing they believed that festivals like Full Tilt showed the music industry was alive and well. We are also privy to the news their bassist Kyle recently welcomed a baby. Nawwe.
Crowd surfing is practically non-stop at this stage! Many punters are acting like kids who have been denied turns on a slippery slide and now get free rein in the playground.
Bodies are being flung up to surf to the barrier with a high frequency, almost like the opportunity could be taken away at any moment. Seeing those moshing and slamming away is glorious and when I see someone taking a moment to stop and pick up the fallen punter it assures me kindness is alive and well in the metal community.
Not to say there were not a couple of loose gooses who could do well to stay off the sauce in public places, but then there's always a few in any crowd.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
Northlane must be riding a high today, headlining Full Tilt on the back of a new album 'Obsidian'. Congratulations dudes!
This brings a sea of punters to the outdoor stage and I sense an electrifying atmosphere of anticipation building. Oh, and as they launch, the festival is living up to its title with maximum energy being achieved with Northlane who are giving fans a pyrotechnic display that's igniting the stage in fiery blasts.
Northlane opened with 'Clockwork' and there is much pogoing in the crowd. They're playing a killer set hard, loud and tight and with the best mix of the day, and fans are thrashing about with glee screaming out the lyrics and cheering.
Northlane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Songs we experience include 'Details Matter' and 'Bloodline' that punters are invited to sing-along to – like we needed an invitation!
There is much moshing with hair and arms and mobile phones in the air everywhere. Northlane close the event with an encore of 'Talking Heads' as Marcus Bridge goes the hard mosh onstage for the finale.
I bet your bottom dollar that a Full Tilt experience was had by all. The festival gave punters a good selection of genres of the heavy kind ensuring there was something for everyone.
Northlane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
I even trust the magic of live metal music on offer today converted those partners and friends who reluctantly companioned their metal loving mates to the festival as well as being part of the vibrant vibe of the metal loving kin in attendance.
Okay, I'm up for another round. When is it that we get to do this again? I hear it may be soon.
