Sold out!
Two words that ring out in Adelaide relatively rarely, but when they do, they explode like a servo in a Jason Statham movie, leaving behind a mushroom cloud of raw energy and a debris field as far and wide as the CBD itself.
When you add four Aussie bands to this dizzying mix, the headliner being the inimitable Mortal Sin, alongside three local legends in Hidden Intent, Headbore and young guns Broken Loose, you, my friend, have a night to remember.
Broken Loose
The dynamite was lit by Broken Loose, a bunch of young fellas really making a name for themselves here in Adelaide.
These boys literally look like they are fresh out of high school, almost like the tooth fairy might still visit, but they bring a real virulence to the stage, playing far beyond their years to a crowd of metalheads from every era.
It was mostly older gents like myself and lovely ladies who never age past the age of 25. Thank me later, ladies. Insert winking face emoji here.
Trust me, we almost stubbornly like what we like. We’re hard to impress sometimes.
But it didn’t matter to the four young headbangers on stage, smashing out their own stellar creations alongside some crowd pleasing classic covers. Broken Loose ruthlessly got the party started, representing themselves and the metal scene as a whole thrashingly well.
Headbore
Next up on stage were Adelaide ragers Headbore.
As if Broken Loose hadn’t already broken the ice, Headbore stomped a massive hole in it and jumped straight in, balls and all!
These guys don’t get the notoriety they deserve. They make heavy look fucking easy. I could have listened to Fish and the boys all night. They bring what’s needed, and more, to every show I’ve seen them play.
I honestly couldn’t advise you strongly enough to get out and catch Headbore next time they play, which will be with three other local Adelaide bands, Nakatomi Plaza, Storm The Crown and Double Dragon, next month.
Talk about your cracking lineups!
Headbore are playing some amazing shows here, but I believe wholeheartedly that they have earned a place on the overseas festival scene. They are destined for bigger and better things than Adelaide can possibly offer.
I really hope to Christ they make it to a festival like Wacken one day, but I reckon a good start locally might be something like Knotfest.
Whatever may come, Headbore are one of my favourite live bands now, and getting to know them has been an absolute blast. I will be catching them at least two more times this year, so get used to me writing about and interviewing the boys.
Hand on heart, I’ll do my level best to support Headbore everywhere I go.
They’re so fucking good.
Hidden Intent
Now, I know I’ve talked up the first two bands pretty well, but the next two are worthy of every accolade under the sun.
First, I need only say two words and people will automatically know who I’m talking about.
Fucking incredible.
Any guesses?
Well, if you guessed hometown legends Hidden Intent, you guessed correctly.
This trio is as astronomically prodigious as any band coming out of Australia in the 2020s. Extremely successful throughout Europe, where they are soon to tour again, it seems there’s just no stopping this trio of masterful musicians.
Each of them is tremendously talented on their own, but put them together and they’re absolutely unstoppable.
You can’t not be impressed with Hidden Intent, whose fan base continues to grow with every show they play, especially here in Adelaide, where they are looked upon as being among the top tier of Australian bands.
Precise. Extreme. The epitome of thrash metal.
Hidden Intent put on a clinic for all those following in their massive footsteps. They continue to grow into a mature machine of metal, not only ready to take on the world again, but to savage and destroy it in their wake.
Best of luck in Europe, boys. Show them what Aussie thrash is all about. I know you’ll slay them.
Fucking legends.
P.S. I finally got to interview Paul, which means I have now completed the triumphant trilogy, having interviewed each member at different gigs.
Proud moments. Gotta love them.
Mortal Sin
Finally, the band of the hour.
Mortal Sin.
When Mortal Sin took the stage, the room got tighter. Everybody took an extra step forward in anticipation of their first headline set in Adelaide for many years.
Even being there in a media capacity, I couldn’t get close to the front and had to make do with a side on view. It was certainly a battle to even get near the stage. The room was packed so tightly that I literally squeezed my fat ass toward the front, much to the disdain of the people I was attempting to slide past.
This set was blistering from start to finish, leaving the raucous crowd drooling for more and showing Adelaide that Mortal Sin are far from done.
In fact, they’re just warming up.
The crowd may have been a bit greyer and older than usual, but these were proper metalheads from back in the day. Real stalwarts of the metal scene. People like me.
All there to see Australia’s biggest old school thrash metal band destroy the Ed Castle Hotel.
And destroy it they did.
Insatiable from beginning to end, Mortal Sin may be older, for the most part, but it hasn’t slowed them down or hindered them in any way, shape or form.
In fact, in my humble opinion, they are stronger than ever and ready to slay more people than Attila the Hun.
The magic is still alive and well, and I’m stoked to have been able to interview Mat Maurer twice this year. He is one of the kindest and coolest men I’ve had the pleasure of talking to, with the potential for another chat later in the year when Mortal Sin tour with the brilliant Flotsam And Jetsam in October.
If you missed this show because it sold out about six weeks prior, don’t sleep on the October dates. They will sell out.
Mortal Sin have rediscovered their mojo and, unlike Austin Powers, I can’t see them losing it any time soon.
No Fat Bastard will come between Mortal Sin and a good time. Of that I can assure you.
Support Local Metal
Whether it was the young spunk of Broken Loose, the sonic surge of Headbore, the gregarious glory of Hidden Intent or the manic mania of Mortal Sin, there was nothing that didn’t stand out as being outstanding.
A smorgasbord for the senses at a sold out show. What’s not to like?
I’m still recovering!
Congratulations on the all Aussie show, boys. You did yourselves proud.
See you at the next one in July with Nakatomi Plaza, Headbore, Killer from CRANNK Chris Causby’s band Storm The Crown, and also on their comeback trail, Double Dragon.
It promises to go right the fuck off!
Be there, Adelaide.
Support local metal.
