Metal on Murray Review
By Brett Parmenter / ParMetal Media & Crannk
First things first — what a fucking day! From steamy beginnings and a stormy afternoon to an evening of thunderous metal, Metal on Murray survived a complete washout outside, moving the entire gig inside and playing on until the wee hours of the morning in what could only be called a resounding success.
The day was like catching up with family, old and new. The music seemed perfectly in tune with the community. I had the pleasure of interviewing band members and punters alike, and the common thread that tied Metal on Murray together was a feeling of unity — family. Everybody was there to see the bands and listen to live metal played by some of the finest acts in the state.
But when the shit hit the fan, every man and his dog dug deep and turned a potential disaster into a feast for the eyes and ears. Being forced by thunderstorms and torrential rain to move the outdoor festival inside was a task not many people thought possible initially. The markets that were there for the first time had to pack up their assorted goods, the tattooist had to move back to his shop (thankfully just up the road a bit), and the entire restaurant had to be cleared of all tables and chairs to accommodate an area where the bands could set up — allowing hundreds of eager metalheads to get as close to the bands as humanly possible and rock the fuck out. It truly was a sight to behold.
Bands came from far and wide to play Metal on Murray — some from interstate, but most from right here in Adelaide — including the best thrash band in Australia, the almighty Hidden Intent, up-and-comers Broken Loose, local Gawler stalwarts Those Left Behind, and, for the first time in over ten years, Strength of a Bear.
Witch Spit, Abreact, A Murder of Crows, Bitter Kind, Arkangel, Inherit Nothing, Nakatomi Plaza, Suffer the Evenue, High Ground, and the wonderful openers The Gawler Youth Band rounded out an incredible day that Mother Nature tried her merciless best to ruin.
But on the day, metal won that battle — thanks to some quick thinking, a great audio crew, and a band of many family and friends who not only packed up during the rain but also organised a replacement area in the same pub to keep Metal on Murray alive. You saw the resurrection, felt the heartbeat again, and then, as suddenly as it stopped, it exploded again — and what a fucking colossal bang it was!
A big middle finger to Mother Nature and a giant hug for the metal community.
The common thread was a warm community and an overall feeling of family. Having spoken personally to many of the patrons there that day, I can tell you that those two words were spoken the most — community and family. It was universal. And the metal itself — there wasn’t a single band that didn’t play like it was their last gig. Every band left it all on the stage, and every fan fucking loved them for it.
Tim Bishop, you are a superstar, mate. To accomplish what you did was nothing short of a fair dinkum miracle. To every single person who pitched in — bravo to you all. And to the Prince Albert Hotel staff — you were a bunch of legends. Thank you for hanging in there.
Bring on Metal on Murray 2026!
Embrace the madness. Unleash the beast.
