Thursday 30 January
Supports: Thousand Below (USA), Diamond Construct, Headwreck
Windwaker kicked off their Hyperviolence album tour in Brisbane on Thursday night and what an evening it was. The party included two of Australia’s next upcomers in the scene alongside underrated metal/post hardcore act from the US, Thousand Below.
Kicking off the tour that night were local Brissie boys Headwreck in their biggest stage presence yet. Having just dropped their latest single ‘Plan Z’ just two weeks ago, the band teased us with their most anticipated musical chapter yet. As ‘Plan Z’ allowed the audience to gradually move with those catchy blast beats, it was the band’s more well known tracks that were undeniably a winner that night. Making a memorable pit banger is key in the metal industry and with anthems like ‘Freefall‘, you’ve got good reason to pit Headwreck as South East Queensland’s next best thing.
Newcastle’s Diamond Construct were up next and tonight, they brought a very different ambience to the sunshine state. Having gone through a lineup change upon the release of latest LP, Angel Killer Zero last year, the Central Coast metalcore misfits are still full speed ahead with pushing track ‘Click Bait’ upon the community. Whilst I do love the boys and what they have to offer, their set on this tour did feel slightly underwhelming and it was far from their best performance.
Quite the opposite occurred though when US post-hardcore outfit Thousand Below returned to Aussie stages that night. Bouncing straight in with their 2024 single ‘Shake‘, lead vocalist James DeBerg made hearts swoon with his smooth, punchy words that collided with waves of heavy melodies.
There is very good reason why this San Diego act is a highly sought after act and why Australian metalcore fans have adopted the boys as one of our own. With each track they thrust upon us, Thousand Below embraced the stage with their crushing and catchy blend of hard rock. Between tracks like ‘Face to Face‘, the tantalising ‘Venenosa‘ and the spiteful ‘Wrong Again‘, this band is just so ridiculously talented and underrated and they’re one of our favourites!
The heat left over from Thousand Below’s live set intensified as it meshed with the balmy humidity of Brisbane that night. While it was getting late for a work night, punters were very keen to keep the momentum going. Following a swift changeover onstage, the lights (and smokey haze) dimmed once more and chaos ensued almost immediately as the opening bars of ‘Infinity‘ rang out through the Princess Theatre. So fitting to open the Hyperviolence tour with the album’s opening track — definitely added to that vibe.
You know when an artist announces an album release tour but only plays the main singles from said album? Well, that was quite the opposite for Australia’s most well-loved metalcore act. Vocalist Liam Guinane shimmied his way on stage through almost every song on the album, captivating his audience through the high melodies and crushing lows. Witnessing ‘Tabula Rosa‘ and all its electronic synthey goodness gave off an underground cyberpunk atmosphere.
While Hyperviolence was undeniably one of THE hottest records released in 2024, witnessing the songs live for the very first added a brand new layer and dimension to Windwaker’s musical style and live presence. With less of a focus on breakdowns, Liam has allowed himself to dig deeper on his vast array of influences; in return, fans are given a glimpse into a band that is continuously levelling up their brand and surprising us from all angles.
The Hyperviolence show is a 360-degree sonic dimension into layered melodies, bellowing riffs and the band’s biggest production in their career. As the boys sent off the evening with standout anthems ‘Break the Rules’, ‘The Wall’ and ‘SIRENS‘, fans from wall-to-wall of the Princess kept the party going with circlepit debauchery and mayhem. I do recall Liam calling for a wall of death at some point — just can’t recall at which point during the set.
Overall, the Windwaker boys just keep gaining strength to strength and with their Fearless Records backing, their domination in international waters is surely imminent.
Review by Tamara May
Photos by Reece Trudgen
