Seeing The Ghost Inside twice in 12-months-ish in 2025 was not a reality I expected after the near-decade of trials and tribulations that have been endured by this act, after being cut down in their prime without their consent.
However, as a rabid fan of this American metalcore staple, I am champing at the bit at the opportunity to experience an evening dedicated to them, feeding my inner core-kid and nearing-middle-age heart alike.
Last touring the country in late 2024 in support of Australia's own Parkway Drive on their 20-year celebrations tour, I left that evening with but one small criticism – why did we get such a brief performance from an act of this calibre that is The Ghost Inside (TGI)?
The realist in myself is aptly aware of how line-up selection works, however I'm sure I wasn't alone in my (minor) grievance, and as if my complaint was heard by the metal gods, I've been treated to exactly what I asked for; a colossal TGI experience.
TGI have sought (and received) exemplary support to the evening's festivities (26 October) by way of underground Australian heavy-legends, Day Of Contempt – in a triumphant and quite frankly surprising reunion. Admittedly, this was back in 2024, however only consisting of a couple of shows since.
Additionally, punters are treated to Glasgow metallers, Bleed From Within's unique and vicious take on the core genre. BFW, a band with over two decades of history have made their first Australian visit, and share their love not only for TGI, but also to the crowd that have somehow found (and love) their music, despite the huge geographical distance.
BFW deliver a crushing set, complete with their signature style of groovy rhythms, accentuated with slick guitar work. Throughout their set – particularly during 'God Complex' – the band oozes stage presence expectant of such a mature act.
Bleed From With at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
Commanding the crowd to crouch and leap in unanimous vigour before signalling for unified chants and punches into the air, the crowd is engaged, rowdy and enjoying every moment of their experience.
As a tribute to their first time across this specific pond, the band – led by drummer, Ali Richardson – voluntarily christen their first Australia outing with a shared group shoey (a divisive cultural tradition that I'm sure we all have our own opinions on as punters and regular attendants to the Australian music scene).
After vetting some half-dozen sacrificial shoes, frontman Scott Kennedy finally finds a shoe absent of "athlete's foot", and after a cheers with fellow bandmates, chug their respective beverages and kick on the finale of their set, 'In Place Of Your Halo'.
The Scottish five piece launch into the fan-favourite track with gusto and energy, as the huge intro to the track commences, and the electrifying energy in the room picks up a notch, before launching into a riff-down that has the crowd pulsing, punching, and writhing in unison.
Several minutes, and several exceptionally near-excessive subdrops later, Kennedy rides the shoulders and hands of the crowd to the centre of the moshpit where he sculls a beer to the soundtrack of a giant breakdown, laden with the track's signature bagpipe lead-line.
This moment radiates rockstar energy in the best way possible, not only through authentic and (what feels at least) natural inclusion of a classic native instrument, but with a precision many others wish they could execute. This moment is an exceptional farewell to the band, only further accentuated through the crushing final vocal delivery before exiting the stage after sharing a brief farewell with the crowd.
Bleed From With at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
Brisbane, the final leg of TGI's first Australian headline tour in over a decade, has followed suit and style to its interstate companions, all but selling out (to my understanding).
To adoring fans, this is of zero surprise – they are an act that once you've had the privilege of experiencing live (whether now, or 15 years ago), you cannot help but keep coming back for more (and a scarcity to do so makes these opportunities that much more anticipated and exciting).
Whilst I have a tendency to over-discuss the history and lore of bands of such calibre, I feel we have reached a point in time wherein The Ghost Inside require no introduction. Their tragic history, flourished and accentuated by perseverance, heart, and ultimately triumph is enough to bring even the most stone-cold metal elitist to tears. They are a testament to human fortitude, resilience, and never-say-die attitude.
The Tivoli is hot, sweaty, and quite frankly a little swampy to the nose (thanks to the brief afternoon/ evening storm and standard too many bodies within close proximity) and undoubtedly in high anticipation of the forthcoming hour-and-a-bit.
This act truly is the creme de la creme, piece de resistance, coupe de maitre; and as The Ghost Inside take to the stage in all of the intensity and glory of a phoenix once again spreading its wings as it rises from the ashes, the gears shift further into overdrive.
The Ghost Inside at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
In a somewhat cheeky, yet appropriate opening to their set, TGI commence with 'Going Under' from which this downunder tour's name is a derivative of. This track – similar to the vast majority of the forthcoming certified-bangers of the evening – truly sets the tone for what is to come.
While the aging, exhausted and injured rockers may not have the onstage virility that some of us older fans may have bear witness to decades ago, their precision and passion oozes from each string, skin, and note struck.
I may have cheated slightly in preparing for tonight's experience; having investigated their set list from prior legs of the tour and before the first detuned open note is struck for the evening, my excitement has hit boiling point.
The Ghost Inside at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
In what will be a near-20 song set list, TGI are leaving no (or at least, minimal) stones unturned in serving a smorgasbord of delectable treats ranging across their half-dozen releases (to date). If the rest of the evening is similar to the first several tracks performed, we are in a fast-paced and rapid execution to meet the evening's anticipated (and required) closure time.
Highlighting each and every notable track of the evening is quite simply redundant as this set list is absolutely stacked from top to bottom. 'The Great Unknown', 'Death Grip', 'Out Of Control', 'Dark Horse', 'Mercy', 'Dear Youth (Day 52)', 'Faith Or Forgiveness', and 'Between The Lines' all make an appearance before the crescendo of the evening wherein the pent-up emotions of the performance surface in a climatic and beautiful send-off to the final leg of this tour.
With a set list as jam-packed as this, there are more moments of bliss than one can recount without excessively exhausting readers. Track after track is delivered with pristine professionalism, driving punters to scream, shout, and chant throughout the unifying and catchy lyricism that vocalist, Jonathan Vigil, has amassed a diehard following through.
The Ghost Inside at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
Where some heavy acts find themselves slowly (and somewhat unsurprisingly) losing their edge over time as the sands of the hourglass slowly shift, Vigil has not only maintained the same worldclass calibre of his vocal performance, but has further honed his craft; particularly surrounding his clean, sung vocal deliveries.
While maintaining the same icon level of vocal rawness, he has further matured as a vocalist delivering flawless performances of each and every song over the course of the evening.
After paying homage to their "OG fans" with several tracks from older releases that according to the frontman are "not particularly enjoyable to play", the band announce there will be no encore; that there is three more songs left; and that they hope after 17-odd tracks, the crowd has the energy and fortitude for a few more.
The Ghost Inside at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
Emotionally-charged 'Aftermath' tops the final-three tracks of the evening, recounting and discussing the five-piece's lives after their accident. As any fan would attest, TGI have always approached their songwriting with both aggression and optimism, and 'Aftermath' is an exemplary demonstration of this lyrical and thematic approach. See aforementioned resilience and perseverance, and treat yourself to a listen (if unfamiliar) understanding the scope of the act's 2015 near-career-ending accident.
Before launching into the final song of the evening – an unsurprising high-intensity rendition of 'Engine 45' – TGI deliver (another) fan-favourite 'Avalanche' full to the brim with punk beats, heavy breakdowns, and soaring lead-lines that while maybe not defined by this band, have been mastered and become a benchmark or standard set for both emerging and established artists within their field.
Where some bands rely on outrageous stage production, schticks, or crowd energy to bring the wow-factor, TGI do so through the raw enthusiasm and participation of their fans. With more than several crowd-surfers making their way to the barricade to this point, this number increases as punters take their final opportunity to make their way to the front and share a brief high-five with the band before the evening is out.
'Engine 45' is the final cab off the ranks for the evening, unsurprisingly as arguably the act's biggest song to date. In what many – myself included – consider to be a pivotal point in their career with the introduction of albeit brief, clean vocals makes for a send-off that the band must be proud and fulfilled to receive.
The Ghost Inside at Melbourne Forum (23 October) - image © Connor Mackinnon
The thick riffs of this track juxtaposed by the softened and heartfelt outro leaves TGI's set list feeling full – both sonically and emotionally. While hundreds of screaming fans is a spectacle in of itself, there's something to be said for the emotionally charged yells and chants from a packed room of metalheads.
If Vigil's promise of continuing to return for as long as fans continue to turn up and put their hearts and souls into sharing moments like this evening with the band is true, then there isn't a doubt in my mind that TGI will continue to tour Australia – a place they have always felt is their second home – to feed the fire of the unrelenting and unbreakable.
