Ekosa, Ecdysis and Allegaeon Deliver a Night for the Ages

Adelaide, The Edinburgh Castle Hotel

March 5, 2026

Review by Brett Parmenter
Photography by Jai That Aussie Metal Guy for Crannk.com

Last Thursday night was not your typical night. Not for me anyway. I’m not going to hide the fact that Allegaeon are in my top five bands of all time, so expect this review to be nothing short of extraordinary. There’s your warning. Now it’s time to rip into the night that was.

First up for the night were local Adelaide band Ekosa. If there was a tone to be set, then these guys set it. Heavy, intense and insanely tight, Ekosa brought the heat. They also brought their didgeridoo, which is obviously something you NEVER see in metal.

Theo, the Greek singer and didgeridoo player, incorporated it in such a way that it blended seamlessly into the music. Believe me when I say it legitimately takes big brass balls to introduce any instrument into metal that is not a guitar, bass, drum kit or microphone. But Ekosa did not just introduce it. They made it work perfectly while keeping the metal heavy as a house.

Ekosa, take a bow. You owned the stage and absolutely smashed it. An insanely great start to the night.

Next up were fellow South Australians Ecdysis. They picked up right where Ekosa left off. Insatiably talented, these guys lit up the stage with more shredding than a government agency trying to get rid of evidence.

Ecdysis know their craft inside out. Each member drew the crowd in like a tornado, devouring the silence and feeding on every single person’s energy in the room. It was a lesson in metal, shaking the very foundations of the hotel and setting the stage, both literally and figuratively, for what was to come.

Ecdysis are an amazing group of dudes who will make their mark not only here in Australia but around the world one day. Mark my words. Sid and the boys will one day leave the sunny shores of Oz and conquer the world. They have huge potential and a destiny beyond our shores. Of that, I am certain.

If Ekosa were the entrée and Ecdysis were the main course, then dessert was about to be served like a cream pie slammed squarely in the face.

Allegaeon hit the stage running and never looked back.

This tour marked Allegaeon’s first headline run of Australia, and also the first with vocalist Ezra Haynes and drummer extraordinaire Jeff Saltzman. Ezra worked the crowd like marionettes dangling from invisible strings. A true front man in every sense of the word. Off stage he is such a kind and genuine person who you could talk to for hours. Just ask Jai.

Jeff was exactly the same. He tamed that drum kit like a thousand pound bull and it truly was an honour watching him play.

Keeping with the rhythm section, Brandon Michael absolutely slayed the monstrous six string bass. I had the pleasure of standing right in front of him, so close in fact that he almost bonked me on the head with the neck of his bass. Talk about a gentle giant. Brandon is a brilliant bassist with a commanding stage presence and he lends his vocal talents when required. A truly gifted musician and a wonderful human.

The pairing of Michael Stancel, who also handles some vocal duties, and the legend himself Greg Burgess on guitar is simply brilliant. Or as Forrest Gump would say, they were like peas and carrots.

Watching them both play their respective guitars was awe inspiring. Seeing their fingers move up and down those eight string fretboards right in front of my face was pure wizardry. It cannot be understated.

What originally drew me to Allegaeon around fifteen years ago was Greg Burgess. He stood out to me amongst the rest. Greg and Dave Davidson from Revocation were my introduction into technical death metal.

Greg almost single handedly introduced me to an entire genre of metal that at one point may not have appealed to me. But hearing his unique style drew me in like a tractor beam. From that moment on I craved Allegaeon.

They have never let me down either. The band continues to get better without losing their distinctive sound. When Michael Stancel joined over a decade ago and blended his own style with Greg’s, it felt like divine intervention.

Props must also go to the other contributors from past albums who all brought their own flavour to the band without losing the essence that is Allegaeon.

And there I was, front and centre, well centre-ish, watching them play live right in front of me.

Those are the moments we live for.

A bastion of pleasure.
A bloody good time.

It truly was a transcendent moment.

Getting the chance to interview and meet the band was also incredibly cool. I can personally assure you that the entire band are the genuine article.

Gigs like this do not come around often. When they do they deserve to be recognised.

Ekosa, Ecdysis and Allegaeon delivered a show for the ages. And everyone who was there to witness it, including the young boy standing front and centre inches away from Ezra’s screams with his devil horns raised high, well…

We were in the right place.
At the right time.

Absolutely insane.

Massive respect to Allegaeon, Ecdysis, Ekosa, and Your Mate Bookings for bringing the night together and keeping Adelaide’s underground metal scene thriving.

Photo Gallery Intro

Captured live at The Edinburgh Castle Hotel in Adelaide on March 5, 2026, this gallery documents a night of technical death metal intensity as Allegaeon took the stage alongside local supports Ecdysis and Ekosa. From the opening riffs of the first support through to Allegaeon’s crushing headline set, the night showcased the power and passion of Adelaide’s underground metal community.

All photos in this gallery were captured live by Jai That Aussie Metal Guy for Crannk.com.