There is a huge variety of music under the banner of metal. It does sometimes feel like we're crossing off squares on a bizarre metal music bingo card.
Soilwork had me ticking off the 'Swedish melodic death metal' box. Aussie band 'Hidden Intent had the 'bogan thrash metal' box covered and Pizza Death gave us pizza-inspired death metal with Dougie the Pizza Boy on vocals.It was a Tuesday night (4 March) at Brisbane's The Tivoli and the line-up was going to offer us another serving of metal with an interesting trio of bands. It would be a night of snakes, pirates and goblins with a bizarre metal soundtrack that would leave the locals wondering what strange beings had descended on Brisbane.
Warming up the crowd were Gold Coast death metal band Snake Mountain. The name might sound familiar. The pop-culture nerds would think of Skeletor with his maniacal laugh and stone fortress. The name itself carries a lot of cultural weight and evokes imagery of danger, mystery, and evil – perfect for a band with a heavy, atmospheric sound like Snake Mountain.
The highly overlooked metal genre of '80s and '90s pop-culture-inspired death metal would be represented tonight (cross that off the bingo card) as frontman Nev Pearce informed the crowd of the intricacies of the pop-culture universe.
Snake Mountain - image © Justin Gittins
The nature of the vocals for this particular brand of music may not facilitate the best delivery method for this message, but we're assured by Nev that a perusal of the lyrics will fill in the blanks.
The guttural growls of Nev are accompanied by the high-energy blast of guitars and drums that ignite the crowd. 'The Serpent' is a new track and is inspired by the Cobra Commander from 'G.I. Joe'. The villainous point of view is a great influence on the lyrics of the band. It's great to see the band performing to a packed room and showing off what the Gold Coast has to offer.
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to attend a goblin rave hosted by a melodic death metal band, then a Nekrogoblikon performance is your answer. The Los Angeles-based band, known for their goblin-themed theatrics (did you have that on your 2025 metal bingo card?) and razor-sharp musicianship, turned Brisbane's historic venue into a chaotic playground of metal madness.
The band emerged onstage, followed by their infamous goblin mascot, John Goblikon, who wasted no time hyping up the audience with his signature dance moves and wild antics. Dressed in a business suit and tie (did he just come from a conference?), John was the night's undeniable MVP, causing mischief, taunting the crowd (and the band) and even adding the some melodic vocals to the mix.
Nekrogoblikon - image © Justin Gittins
The set list was a perfect mix of fan favourites and deep cuts, showcasing Nekrogoblikon's ability to balance technical prowess with unrelenting fun. Tracks like 'Powercore', 'Darkness' and 'No One Survives' had the crowd in a frenzy.
Musically, Nekrogoblikon was tighter than ever. Guitars, keyboard, drums work together to form their unique sound. Guitarist Alex 'Goldberg' Alereza shreds through intricate riffs with precision, while keyboardist Aaron 'Raptor' Minich added layers of synth that gave the music an almost cinematic quality.
Vocalist Dickie Allen delivered guttural growls and soaring cleans with equal intensity, proving that behind the goblin gimmick lies a band of seriously talented musicians.
As the final notes rang out and the crowd erupted into applause, it was clear Nekrogoblikon had delivered more than just a concert – they'd created an experience. They're a band that doesn't just play music; they throw a party, and everyone's invited – specially the goblins.
"Hey Brisbane! Do you like pirates?" There's something undeniably magical about a band that fully commits to their bit. Alestorm is a Scottish heavy metal band formed in Perth (not the WA capital) in 2004.
The self-proclaimed 'pirate metal' troupe, didn't just perform at Brisbane's iconic Tivoli, they commandeered it. The stage was adorned with a giant inflatable rubber ducky and the band were wearing black and green outfits including a few kilts. It wasn't exactly the shipwrecked galleon motif I had in my brain, but definitely worked.
Alestorm - image © Justin Gittins
The crowd were decked out in tricorne hats and eyepatches, some even waved foam swords in the air. There were even a few occurrences of goblin-pirate crossover with some truely extraordinary fan efforts with the costumes for this much anticipated pirate party.
Frontman Christoper Bowes swaggered onto the stage with the confidence of a man who's spent too much time at sea and not enough time in rehearsals. His gravelly voice, somewhere between a growl and a drunken slur, was the perfect instrument for the band's brand of rowdy, ale-soaked anthems. With a keytar slung around his neck he takes control of the unruly crowd.
Musically, Alestorm is tighter than you'd expect from a band that looks like they've been marooned on a desert island for months. Gareth Murdock was on bass, Peter Alcorn on drums, Elliot Vernon on keyboards, and Máté Bodor on guitar.
Patty Gurdy is a welcome addition to the all-male crew for this voyage down under. With the hurdy-gurdy (a medieval wheel instrument) in hand, she brightens up the stage adding her hypnotic vocals. 'Voyage Of The Dead Marauder' was taking to another level as she tells us to "sail away".
Alestorm - image © Justin Gittins
The band's strength lies in their ability to craft incredibly memorable tunes. 'Drink', 'Keelhauled', 'Shipwrecked', and 'F...ed With An Anchor' are just a few examples of their anthems that are guaranteed to get a crowd chanting and raising their tankards.
Alestorm have a gift for writing melodies that stick in your head long after the song is over, and their use of folk instruments (like accordions) and keyboards adds a distinct, sea-shanty flavour to their sound.
The band delivered a performance that was equal parts concert and chaotic nautical adventure. It was an awesome night of crowd participation and every so often an old fashion sing-along. If 'pirate metal' was not on your 2025 bingo card then you really need to get a new bingo card, and maybe a tricorne hat.
More photos from the concert.
