KNOTFEST Sydney, 2024
On the 23rd of March, thousands of Aussie metalheads shared a visceral experience on the Centennial Park grounds - the second Knotfest down under. We asked some punters who they’re most excited to see:
“Pantera, they’re a massive influence” - David
“Thy Art is Murder, they’ve grown so much over the years” - Cass
We enter the first circle of hell- limbo. Entry tents serve as gates into the abyss. An acknowledgement of country is rightfully voiced by an Aboriginal elder before allowing us to delve into an enriching melodious rift.
King Parrot burst onto the stage with their horns on. Slatts looking over the crowd, eyeing out those who are about to be transported to the second circle of hell. Matt Young belts out screeches following with “WAKE THE FUCK UP SYDNEY!” as water splashes out from the stage to the crowd, keeping us on our toes for the remainder of their set. You know it’s going to be a messy day when you see the guitarist of the first band chuck a VB at an audience member to drink before midday. Concluding their set with “Shit on the Liver”, an accompanying vocalist joining is a masterful choice, leaving us begging for more!
Brand of Sacrifice, a Canadian deathcore band, are making their Aus debut. They blitz onto the stage in military attire. Bellowing double kicks shrouded by teeth-grinding guitars, we are well and truly in the thick of it. We lose some movement with a technical issue, quickly overcome with roars from the audience for a drum solo - efficiently and effortlessly delivered. The crowd thanks them by opening a wall of death and starting a metal row-boat. We have next-level drumming happening with an organic and electric kit owning the stage. The electric drummer pounding his kit so hard you can see the sweat flying off his face as the other drummer keeps up by snapping his own drumsticks in the midst of the power!
Windwaker take the stage next, offering a brighter energy into the mix. The members emanate a modern look and sound. They refresh the scene by incorporating elements of trap and DnB. Innovation breeds new creations, some of which the audience are privy to. There’s a mix in response, but one thing that is hard to match is their energy. Leaps and bounds are made over every space of that stage.
SPEED continues this without missing a single beat - raw energy from start to finish. Enlarging the stage to the mosh pit & back, energetically speaking. The stage IS their mosh pit. The mosh IS the stage. And thus, they open the gateway to the third circle of hell- gluttony. Everyone has their lion’s share as numerous guest vocals yell at the crowd and two-stepping mosh heads fill any bare space. Circles of death pumping like blood in the cesspit before the stage. Vile vitriol permeates through the voracious minds of us all. Sirens blaring between songs - there’s no surrender here.
The festival is beginning to fill up, and Skindred are the first to have many eager fans awaiting their return. Benji rocking a PVC latex trench coat straight out of the Matrix, despite the warm weather. They conquer with an intense crowd participation of which the back & forth flow naturally. During a break between songs, Benji sings the classic, “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. The level of crowd engagement is paramount.
Escape the Fate give a breath of fresh air filled with somber piano playing. They burst into their iconic sound, with looks to match. It’s nostalgic to see resident emo haircuts still banging about. Black hair and faces red from screams. Every possible unit of energy thrust into their performance - a delicacy for their long-term fans. Screams from the heart keep the crowd flowing, as the drummer’s hand begins to bleed from the sheer force & rigour of his playing. Finishing off with a fan favourite, “One for the Money''. An emerging pattern amongst the bands, given the short set times.
Thy Art is Murder - a highly anticipated band on the bill, despite CJ having recently been kicked out. Their new singer Tyler Miller has some big shoes to fill, and does so with ease. Audience members shouting compliments to Miller, the love is pouring out. They give the love back with a solid fan-favourite setlist including “Holy War”, “Death Squad Anthem”, “Reign of Darkness”, and “Puppet Master”. The kit looks like it’s about to fly off the stage with how intensely Jesse beats them!
Wage War follow up with a visceral, hard-hitting set. Vocalist Briton Bond showcases an incredible range in timbre, from low-end growls to clean highs. This is backed by a flurry of elements including hard rock, metalcore, pop and electronic. Much like Windwaker, they bring an unexpected mix of genres to the table.
Asking Alexandria shifts us into the fourth circle of hell as they seamlessly transition into their set, with a snare so crisp you can almost taste it. Settling the air after an unexpectedly hot and humid day, which is finally beginning to cool down as the sun disappears behind a blanket of grey clouds. The mosh still retains heat from the sweat of running, jumping, and crowd surfing. Despite signage prohibiting these acts, it cannot sway us from enjoying the stellar performances provided by the bands.
The Hu are up! A folk metal band hailing from Mongolia, they use traditional instruments known as morin khuur (bowed string instrument), tovshuur (lute), tsuur (flute) to create an authentic atmosphere. Bone-rattling drums set the mood, erupting a primordial cry from the audience, “HU! HU! HU! HU!”. The chant serves well as backing vocals for the transcendental Mongolian throat singing. Unlike any other band playing today, I personally have to say they are my favourite.
Halestorm are true to their name. On a short break to get my fix of food, I hear a cry. A belting, swirling, magnetic call which like a siren - lures me right in and rips my head clean off! Lzzy Hale takes up every iota of energy to own that space. They are a force to be reckoned with, designed to be heard LIVE! Their entrance is jaw-dropping. Halestorm swing the gates open to the fifth circle of hell- wrath. Their synergy is like circuitry, electrifying anyone within an earshot. The second band with a drum solo, Arejay is sure to catch his drumsticks after two failed attempts earlier in the set. In a humorous light, pulls out a set of jumbo sticks bigger than himself to finish off his time in the limelight!
“I can’t get enough of their live performances!” - Emerald
Lamb of God throws us into the sixth circle of hell. Never failing to deliver a ripper performance, they open with “Momento Mori” and lead us straight through the valley of fire with “Walk With Me in Hell”. Randy’s vocals surge, overpowering the tremendous vibrations emitting from the rest of the band. The mosh pit quickly intensifies, and after the first verse of “Ditch” Randy warns everyone to calm down as he realises a man is having a seizure. Paramedics rush their way to the scene. The band gracefully deals with the pause as Randy takes control over the unfolding situation. Delving back into the set with “Resurrection Man” and “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For”, bats begin circling overhead as the evening begins. Lamb of God once again sets a high standard for live metal bands.
The last light of day disappears as Disturbed emerge onstage. Like a moth to a flame, the mesmerising light show draws me in, perfectly programmed with an animated backdrop. A strong beginning with “Hey You” to fire things up. Dazzling guitars shimmering over beastly bass lines as David’s vocals shine through from the centre outwards to the edges of the park. The crowd response is wild, overcharging with emotion and anticipation. They respectively invite Lzzy Hale onstage to sing “Don’t Tell Me”. Tapping into unseen forces of wondrous melody plucked from the heavens. Everyone gets down with the sickness as they round up with that classic, and end the show with “Inside the Fire” which draws us near the end…
We reach the final circle of hell- Violence. The pinnacle of destruction, the harbinger of chaos. Behind the curtain… PANTERA blast open the depths of hell. Furiously hypnotising the crowd in a thick smog of pure adrenaline. “A New Level” begets hell’s choir. The listeners with heavy ears and tired arms push past, widening the abyss into a swirling mass of screams and sweat, reducing to animalistic gnawing & thrashing against each other like a pack of hungry dogs. “5 Minutes Alone” gets everyone in the groove!
I’ve come to accept I truly am watching a band I thought I’d never see live, let alone hear Zakk Wylde play guitar for them - showing off a stellar collection of axes to wield throughout the show. He adds his own flare with signature guitar squeals in classic Pantera solos. There’s a calm in the storm… the screens turn black. All is quiet as a video montage of Dimebag and Vinnie fades onto the screens, with a haunting intro to “This Love”. Silence falls as prickles on the back of my neck rise. I turn my head to look up at the black sky and see a dusty moon watching over us as we spare a moment for remembrance. A drearily beautiful six minutes. That’s not all they have to offer, as they later play “Walk”. Something we all expect to hear, but to our surprise, The Hu are brought onstage to sing with them! This Pantera set truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As the show comes to a close, we hear “Domination”, “Hollow”, “Cowboys From Hell” and “Fucking Hostile” pushing us to our furthest limit. Moshing to freedom as they gently lift us back on our feet with a “Stairway to Heaven” outro. Our souls, finally redeemed as we ascend back to earth. They say their goodbyes and hordes of people begin to head home, wearing a badge of honour: I survived Knotfest 2024.
Written by Veronica Warda