Somewhere between a concrete slab and a sacred battleground, Ballarat erupted. Hometown show. Homegrown chaos. And at the center of it all, rising from the ashes of the modern Australian heavy scene like a feral phoenix dipped in kerosene—Nicolas Cage Fighter.
I stood shoulder to shoulder with maniacs and misfits at Volta, the band’s spiritual stomping ground. You could feel it—like the walls themselves had learned to two-step. Fists flew. Smiles spread like bruises. It wasn’t just a gig; it was a fucking celebration of local legends gone global. The Ballarat hXc crew was out in force, throwing limbs, spinning kicks, and grinning like hyenas on bath salts.
They might’ve played their new single that night—“I Watched You Burn”—but I was too deep in the whirlwind to keep track. What I do know is this: the energy was high, the mood was violent in the best way, and everyone walked out wrecked, sweaty, and smiling.
“I Watched You Burn” isn’t just a single—it’s a war chant, a funeral pyre lit for a world that’s already halfway to hell. From the first chugging riff, it’s 2-step heaven—the kind of intro that demands you either move your feet or get the hell out of the way. It’s ultraviolence wrapped in groove, and the vocals… Christ, the vocals. They don’t just cut through the mix—they punch you square in the jaw, and then politely thank you for the opportunity.
This isn’t noise for the sake of noise. With lyrics like:
Sadistic visions of madness engulf me, encapsulated by the calamity… Who am I to put together what’s left of this broken world
Nicolas Cage Fighter are screaming into the void with purpose. They aren’t just throwing shade at the system—they’re handing you the match and asking if you’re ready to watch it burn. It’s a message of destruction, yes, but buried in the wreckage is a call for personal accountability. These guys want you to wake up, grow up, and maybe throw a few elbows along the way.
Live, Nicolas Cage Fighter are surgical chaos. Tight as hell. No ego, no fluff—just pure firepower. Frontman barking like a rabid dog with a PhD in existential philosophy. Guitars sharp enough to shave bone. And the drums? Thunderclaps from the underworld.
I finally got to catch up with Justin, the band’s guitarist, face-to-face before the show. After a few online convos, it was good to see the human behind the riff machine. Solid dude. Real energy. The kind you want to share a beer and a stage with. Hopefully my band Storm The Crown can do just that sometime soon—’cause this is the kind of act you want to bleed beside, not just admire from the pit.
“I Watched You Burn” marks a new level for Nicolas Cage Fighter. It’s brutal. It’s catchy. It’s filthy with intent. And most importantly—it matters. In a time when heavy music often folds under the weight of its own clichés, Nicolas Cage Fighter are carving out something honest. Something necessary.
They’re not just representing Ballarat—they’re carrying the banner for a resurgent Australian heavy scene that’s getting harder to ignore by the day. With every drop, they’re sharpening the blade. And trust me—we’re all watching the flames.
Like licking a 9V battery of pure opinion scribbled on a napkin at 3AM and still bleeding truth.
This is gospel.
I bite Crowd Surfers
killer.
