I was sure hell would freeze over before I could say 'I'm going to Knotfest', let alone be going to it right here in Australia.
But hell is still a fiery pit that pretty much echoes the hot temperature we punters are enduring while queuing both to the east and west of the Brisbane Showgrounds entry (26 March).As a metal loving mob (maggots, if you ask Slipknot), we snake our way through the corrals of the festival entry until we are scanned, tagged and wristband branded before being set loose to run amok to experience one of the biggest metal festivals to hit our fair city. It's on, baby!
Knotfest delivers, so very much. With a stage design and clash-free programme that ensures we do not miss any of the all-star line-up of national and international heavy weight metal bands.
While engaged in conversation with friendly randoms chatting about their favourite bands, Bad Omens and Spiritbox, I hear the drums hammering signalling the first band of the day, Malevolence. I panic. I want to see it all!
Malevolence - image © Clea-marie Thorne
I take off through the gathering crowd and find a spot among my metal mob to watch the rest of the tight and tidy set from these international legends from England. Punters are already spread across the front of the barrier. Many are together in groups, which is a must for holding territory when some leave to gather food and drink for their flock – shift work never ends for some.
I'm stoked Malevolence are playing the title track from their 'Self-Supremacy' album among their short set list, predominantly from their latest album 'Malicious Intent'. Punters are devouring the taste of their thrash-death metal with hardcore punk pep that creates the edgy unique sound of their instrumentation.
Malevolence may be the opener but are definitely not a morning filler. This band are showing the gathering crowd how bludgeoning and furious metal can be made even cooler with beatdowns.
With barely a breath between their set ending, California's Bad Omens are hitting the stage. Bad Omens may have missed the Melbourne leg for Knotfest due to Noah Sebastian's ongoing vox issues, however Brisbane punters are well aware they smashed it at their local sideshow last week and Sydney's Knotfest.
This knowledge has created an anticipation and the sounds of 'Concrete Jungle' has the swelling crowd clambering over each other to get the best view possible for their set.
'Artificial Suicide' and 'Nowhere To Go' has us feasting on their introspective prose against their alt-metalcore and post-hardcore sounds. During 'Limits' and 'Like A Villain' I feel myself getting caught up in the frenzy and joining in the sing-alongs. Sebastian's vocals are sounding as broody and emotive as I would want or expect – brilliant.
The talent keeps rolling across the stage with Australian metalcore band Void Of Vision who may have played us a short set, but it was chockers full of heavy riffs and catchy choruses.
'Vampyr' and 'Hell, Hell, Hell' are crowd favourites and even in full sun and sweltering heat, punters gathered in front of the stage to absorb the dynamic, heavy and melodic sounds. While Jack Bergin dedicated 'The Lonely People' to the lonely punters, that did not stop the rest of us from enjoying it.
Alpha Wolf - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Praise be that we get another heavyweight Australian band up next. Alpha Wolf waste little time in setting the stage on fire with their metalcore set of brutal breakdowns and aggressive vocals starting with '60cm Of Steel'.
The crowd are getting loose for the brutality of 'Creep' and the raw intensity and emotional depth of this has fans going bonkers. I get the hint that circle pits, crowd surfing and mob moshing are high on the punter agenda from here on in. 'Bleed For You' is played between 'Sub-Zero' and the close out of their brilliant set, 'Akudama' that is leaving fans in puddles of sweat.
Time for another international act, Kentucky's Knocked Loose, who start with 'Where Light Divides The Holler' and 'Trapped In A Grasp Of A Memory' – both of which are a great introduction to their hardcore punk-influenced metalcore.
Knocked Loose are delivering with a primal energy and more brutal breakdowns to enjoy. Drums introduce punters to 'Mistakes Like Fractures'. This is a first-time experience for me and I am finding their music intense yet cathartic, including Bryan Garris' pipes as he sings about personal struggles and resilience alongside defeat.
As Spiritbox take the stage, Courtney LaPlante is last to arrive wearing a white hoodie, a tennis skirt and fine flesh-coloured fishnets. Spiritbox also bring a crowd crush as they start with ‘'Circle With Me'.
As LaPlante seductively and confidently possesses the stage showcasing her vocal finesses, I'm hearing the familiar elements of metalcore, progressive metal, and alternative rock – this is a first live Spiritbox set for me and I am impressed with how their intricate song structures and sometimes etheric feels translates to a live arena.
Fans are getting feverish for their eight-song set list, including 'Rule Of Nines', 'Rotoscope', personal favourite 'Holy Roller' and 'Hysteria'. Pure magic!
Spiritbox - image © Clea-marie Thorne
More international talent as Story Of The Year are next up. Formed in Missouri in the early 2000s, this band is well known with the crowd. As they launch into their post-hardcore set with 'And The Hero Will Drown', I feel like I might drown in my own sweat, like many around me. I'm unsure if I am delirious with festival frenzy or heat exhaustion.
Story Of The Year belt out their banging anthemic choruses, including 'Anthem Of Our Dying Day', 'War', the chugging '"Is This The Fate" He Asked Them' and final song 'Until The Day I Die'. Punters are receiving a blast of oomph from the stage and trust me, with quite a few people wilting in the heat, this injection of energy is not only welcomed but necessary.
In Flames, pioneers of the melodic death metal persuasion, are welcomed with a roar – as I look around it's the over 40s in the crowd that are especially getting a little crazy for them. Since the early '90s, In Flames has been serving up catchy melodies and they are bringing a real taste of nostalgia to the afternoon.
Punters cheer as we watch and listen to the intricate guitar work of Björn Gelotte while Anders Fridén screams, belts and pushes out introspective lyrics sung along to by their fans. 'The Great Deceiver', 'Behind Space', and 'State Of Slow Decay' formed part of their set that ended with fan favourite 'Take This Life'.
In Flames - image © Clea-marie Thorne
With not so much as a short dialogue between punters of how amazing In Flames are, the stage crew have it all going for Amon Amarth (think Mount Doom in J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord Of The Rings') gearing their stage set up that is flanked by Norse warriors – well, their music and fashion are heavily influenced by Norse mythology.
It's therefore fitting they commence the set with 'Guardians Of Asgaard'. This is followed by 'Ravens Flight' and 'The Great Heathen Army'. For those not lucky enough to get a ticket to Knotfest, the answer is, yes! Johan Hegg, who looks every part Viking with his long mane, beard and drinking horn on his hip, is commanding us to battle for 'Put Your Back Into The Oar' – punters heed the instruction and are forming a massive rowing pit; it really is a sight to see!
Northlane! Oh how excited I am for our homegrown progressive metalcore lads to be part of this Knotfest line-up. First punches are thrown with 'Clarity', 'Plenty' and 'Echo Chamber'.
There is no disappointing me – we are served up heavy riffs and Marcus Bridge can barely stand still as he energetically shifts from side to side of the stage singing those emotive lyrics sung with crossover of clean and unclean vocals. I get my triple 'C' faves with 'Clockwork', 'Carbonized' and 'Cypher' making the set list. Winning!
Their atmospheric elements are soaking into my skin deeper even more than the biting sun and I am left relishing the taste of 'Talking Heads'.
Northlane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
With a Koi-inspired backdrop Trivium bring their heavy metal, thrash metal, metalcore blend to our ears while we watch them own the stage before the setting sun. Corey 'King' Beaulieu shines with his technical guitar work not taking anything away from Matt Heafy and his prowess on the axe.
We head-bang along with the rhythm section as best we can, so we don't get lost in the maze of complex song structures. This set opens with 'Rain' (we could do with a light shower!) and 'Amongst The Shadows And The Stones' and it is banging.
The mosh continues to become messier. I see shirts being discarded and the cups of water being constantly delivered to punters at the front of the pit being passed back to their unknown metal mates who drink half of it then pour the rest on their hot, clammy heads.
Trivium end their set with 'In Waves' and 'Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr'. Never one to disappoint, Trivium have pleased fans no end today.
Trivium - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Holy sh.t! Did I mention nostalgia earlier? Well I'm not sure we can top one of the 'big four' who is set to smash it out on the stage next. Oh man, I am about to lose my mind as Megadeth crank it out for us with 'Hangar 18'.
Dave Mustaine looks pretty much the same from a distance – his inimitable vocals and technical chops appear not to have aged at all. Megadeth is like a 40-year-old whisky that can never taste stale – yes, that's right, they've been creating thrash since 1983.
I go nuts with my brethren to 'Sweating Bullets', 'Symphony Of Destruction', 'Peace Sells' – actually the whole damn set. Who am I kidding!? The old-school metal heads are singing out loud and proud to these songs while throwing devil horns high in the air. We are reminiscing in our minds while banging our heads to the familiar beats and hope the title of their song 'We'll Be Back' means that literally.
With the last light distinguished, the sky is black and the sight of the Parkway Drive stage set has the crowd putting on an extreme crush toward the stage.
The stage darkens and cloaked figures stand on the stage holding flaming batons. Fire canons erupt and Parkway Drive are now hammering at us and the sound is incredibly assaulting in the most appealing way. By song five, frontman Winston McCall tells us he has blown his voice and apologises while telling us this has never happened before.
After the band discuss what to do, I am shocked he's announcing that he will adapt his singing and continue for the crowd. Heck – a real "the show must go on" moment. Doesn't he know he could ruin his voice. First Sebastian, now McCall? Is there something in the smoke machine fluid or what?
Parkway Drive - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Fans go nuts at this announcement and even get bonkers as he asks us to help him out by singing along loudly. His wish is our command and we sing loudly to 'Vice Grip' and the more than aptly titled 'Dedicated' where McCall substitutes 12 years for 20 years in recognition of the band anniversary. Has it been that long?
'Karma' followed by fan favourite 'Bottom Feeder' induces an electrifying energy and sense of exhilaration among the sea of head-banging fans. A violin-led encore starts with 'Crushed' while an explosive pyro display is ending the shorter than expected set with 'Wild Eyes'. Drummer Ben Gordon takes a moment to honour McCall in front of us as witnesses for McCall's dedication and devotion. This is making me a little misty.
Time for the headliners and festival architects, Slipknot! Oh man, the pulse of the maggots is real! I feel like our hearts are beating as one. One would think the festival duration thus far, combined with the feral hot weather would have all but drained us of our energy. Hell no!
As Slipknot are revealed from behind a falling black curtain on their spectacular stage design and are unleashing the intro to their masterpiece 'Disasterpiece', the crowd consume this spectacle before them and it feeds our reaction from the first fiery pyro blast, and unleashes a wild energy stored within us.
Slipknot - image © Clea-marie Thorne
We see all nine members spread out in levels on the huge stage suited up in their masks and Slipknot regalia. LED panels are everywhere as are elaborate lighting rigs. Even LED light strips decorate the percussive barrel-style drums hoisted high up on stage on top of their star insignia risers.
I see a keg dangling from one these constructs just waiting to be beaten. Industrial-stye risers and spiked constructs are adorning and holding everything in place. It is freaking magnificent!
We continue to receive a battering of the senses from 'Wait And Bleed'. Crowd surfers are relishing in their tradition and those that can no longer hold their ground in the sea of moshing metallers ride the same waves of hands, but as an exit strategy to be freed from the manic mayhem.
'All Out Of Life' is delivered with more flames and we relish in 'Sulfur' and 'Before I Forget' that is accompanied by more pretty flames. The adrenaline-fuelled mosh is mental. As we scream the lyrics the bass is reverberating in our torsos and the guitars are taking a sonic assault on the senses that exhilarates us even more. My mind is blown away by the energy of the nonet.
Corey 'MF' Taylor may be telling us he is old but while they play beneath their Slipknot outfits and masks, it's hard to agree, simply because they're playing as aggressively as they did more than two decades ago on their first show in Brisbane. I was there and hand on heart, tonight they are playing with the same blatant brutality and passionate insanity that got us addicted to them in the first place. The first time I was proud to be called a maggot – enough said!
The crowd has gone absolutely berserk during 'Dying Song' as we evolve into a churning chaotic sea of bodies and 'Dead Memories' with its more melodic feels has us swaying with hands high.
Slipknot - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'Unsainted' comes before the onslaught of 'Heretic' that ended with one loon climbing up the tower surrounded by Knotfest flags in the middle of the arena. Even though we had to wait a few moments for him to be escorted away, it did nothing to shift the elevated and excitable vibe of the crowd.
'Psychosocial' has the moshpit in overdrive with fans thrashing and head-banging non-stop with untamed abandon. Taylor is asking the crowd at the beginning and end of 'Duality', 'Custer' and 'Spit It Out': "I asked you, do you want one more song?!"
Taylor is a tease but we all obey. When he tells us to get down, we get down. When he tells us to "jump the f... up" you bet we we do and the raucous crowd blends their vocals with the thunderous riffage and beats emanating from the stage for 'Spit It Out' as the air became even more thicker with steamy sweat.
Their set is so overstimulating to this point that our bodies have had to respond to this thrashing of the most glorious kind, by releasing copious amounts of adrenaline. As we receive our first encore song, 'People = Sh.t', more pyrotechnics are lighting up the night sky in perfectly timed fiery bursts.
We take this temporary endurance our bodies have created and beg for more. I feel a kinship 'Surfacing' from a shared love for metal music – it is strong and pulsating with the finale song as we, the metal loving collective, are screaming out our uniting maggot anthem: "F... it all. F... this world. F... everything that you stand for. Don’t belong. Don't exist. Don't give a sh.t. Don't you ever judge me!" I could barely keep up with the action, but I also didn't want it to stop.
From the very first band, the sell-out Brisbane crowd dived right into Knotfest which brought the onstage theatrics, the lights, the pyrotechnics, the awesome music and created something that is more than just a festival. It's an experience – one that has united headbangers and taken them on an addictive and thrilling ride.
There should be no doubt that we embrace metal to our core. This alone should ensure that Slipknot includes Australia on ALL future Knotfest tours! This was the first – don't let it be the last.
More photos from the show.
