A chaotic maelstrom of bodies.

Review and photos by **Brittney McCarthy of** **BM Images**

Want to know why I am so late getting this review out of my brain? I was so blown away by the energy and chaos of the night that I’ve been in an absolute puddle of fatigue since. I’ve been incapable of describing to you with any authenticity how impressive the night was at The Colonial. For every artist, the crowd was enamored and passionately moshing, looking out for anyone falling down and holding onto their friends with smiles plastered across their faces. Hardcore shows are always my favourite to attend because everyone is always ready to welcome you into their world. It’s the overwhelming community that exists. In the world of hardcore, there are no outsiders.

First up were Melbourne two-steppers Fever Shack and for an early show, they managed to bring in a hefty crowd. Filling in for Grid (Jacob Millman) was Heat vocalist Andy Vicendese. Starting their set with Let It All Burn from their new album Raw Doggin Reality released on March 1st it was great to finally hear a few tracks from the album played live, what a sick little preview for their album launch the following night at The Bendigo.

Terminal Sleep‘s fan base is expanding rapidly, and rightfully so. The pit was full of action from the moment vocalist Bec Thorwesten raised the mic to her mouth. There was no need for her to call out to anyone to get to the front, we were already there. Releasing Elicit Fear only two days before the show and already the room knew what the fuck to do, the crowd was enthusiastically moshing and shouting the words along with Bec. In her recent interview in Pulse Bec said she has ‘found the words I want to share with the world and have the confidence to get up and say it, you can both see and feel both the conviction and catharsis in her body language, facial expressions and vocals when on stage.

If you have not yet discovered Terminal Sleep, I’d describe them as chaotic post-hardcore metal. The only comparison I have for you is if Converged, Some Girls, and White Chapel teamed up and were fronted by an inspiring bad-bitch it would be Terminal Sleep. Writing tracks touching on gender equality, mental health and self-empowerment you’re going to feel uncontrollably impassioned. Ending on crowd favourite Death Therapy the energy in the room spiked, moshing in time to the scathing and punishing riffs from guitarists William Robinson and Dominic Lewis.

Knocked Loose were on the stage for 10 minutes before they were even scheduled to start. They were interacting with people up the front and just hanging around talking amongst themselves, they were just so pumped to be there and perform. The band pacing on stage and getting ready for the show caused a fissure in the energy of the crowd which exploded as soon as vocalist Bryan Garris asked them to “get the fuck up” Opening with their first track, Where Light Divides the Holler, from their 2021 EP A Tear in the Fabric of Life, which boasts one of my all-time favourite cover arts by Ridge Rhine. It's often said not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, the cover art is a perfect visual representation of the EP's six tracks.

I don’t think I have seen crowd participation on this level, every single song was met with the audience singing along, even impromptu *Arf Arfs* were perfectly timed by the crowd. I am still getting goosebumps when I think about the sub drop, the sound was all encompassing I felt it impending doom in every atom of my body. I don’t know if this is standard for a Knocked Loose show since this was my first or if The Colonial’s sound system heightened this but it’s stuck with me.

Alex Taylor of Malevolence jumped up for All My Friends. Bryan said this was the fourth time they have played in Melbourne and he can confidently say this is the best show they have played here. Playing this sideshow gave the crowd something that you cannot get from Knotfest, which was no barriers. Being that there were no barriers they really wanted to take advantage and constantly reminded everyone to get up on the stage, prompting an endless stream of stage-diving from both sides of the stage.

All throughout guitarist Issac Hale in his guttural death voice commanded the crowd and they obeyed every instruction. Circle pit? Done. Open up fuckin’ the floor? Done. Off your feet? Done. During the final two songs Counting Worms and Permanent the air is thick with sweat and aggression, as every person in the pit screams their lungs out and throws themselves into the chaotic maelstrom of bodies orchestrated by his simple instruction.

Fever Shack