ED CASTLE HOTEL, ADELAIDE 24/04/26
On Friday night at the Ed Castle Hotel in Adelaide, Your Mate Bookings brought a quadruple treat to the hordes of metalheads that live for the live metal scene here in little ol’ S.A. From the US, thrash legends Warbringer, who, by all standards, will be the next massive thrash band in the world, to Sydney’s Anoxia, who brought the death metal, slaying all and sundry. Adelaide’s own worldwide thrashers, Hidden Intent, brought their unique style of thrash and finally, bringing Satan into the mix, Hell Machine opened this half death metal, half thrash metal night of incredible talent and pulverising music.
I was fortunate enough to interview every band, and what I got from all of these bands is a pure love for the music. Every band that hit the stage that night deserves so much more notoriety than they already have. From openers, death metal duo Hell Machine, who warmed up the crowd with their ferocity and intensity, to headliners Warbringer, who were tighter than a pickle jar lid and so mesmerising on stage, they are all at the top of their game, ready to take the next step into the realm of legends to be worshipped by all who follow their music, like a Metallica or Slayer. They are all that good!
I have a funny story of how I came to meet Dave Hellrazor, bassist and frontman of Hell Machine. I had just been to the toilet, and of course, like any normal human, I washed my hands after “relieving” myself. But instead of using the dryer to dry my hands, I was a real man and wiped them on my jeans instead in an attempt to dry them, as we all do. On my way out of the toilet, still drying my hands on my jeans, I bumped into Dave on his way into the toilet, so of course I introduced myself and, as men do, I shook his hand. The unfortunate thing was my hand wasn’t completely dry when I shook Dave’s hand which, when walking out of the toilet, doesn’t look, or feel, good. I apologised for my hand still being slightly moist, but Dave laughed it off and said, “At least it’s not piss”. What a fucking legend!
Not long after my slightly soggy introduction, Adelaide’s own Hell Machine took the stage, opening the night with a bang. Let me tell you, considering they are a duo, the atmosphere they create is intense and powerful, the perfect beginning to an awesome night.
Up next, local favourites and heirs to the throne of SA thrash titans, Hidden Intent. I have seen Hidden Intent several times now, and every time I do, they just seem to get better and better. They bring genuine excitement every time they take the stage. The crowd lights up and, like all bands, Hidden Intent feed off that energy, going into overdrive from song number one. Brilliant every… single… fucking… time!
From Sydney, Anoxia came to slay. These guys are the real deal. They want to make every song count, and that they do without question. Piercing primal perfection permeates the patrons, on point at all times and punishing in every way. Anoxia are death metal personified, and I’m stoked that they are coming back to SA a couple more times this year. If you were unfortunate enough to miss last Friday’s explosion of talent, you’ll have a couple more chances to catch Anoxia this year. You absolutely have to catch them live. Put it on your list of things to do this year. So damn good.
Finally, from the US, headlining the night was one of the most consistent thrash bands from the beginning of their career
almost two decades ago to right fucking now with their latest album, Wrath and Ruin, the inimitable and almighty Warbringer.
Talk about putting on a show, Warbringer weren’t just here to fuck spiders (there’s another Aussie colloquialism for you fellas), they were here to slay every single metalhead in the crowd at the Ed Castle on Friday night. They are so good live that I would put them up there in my top five live performances. Heavy and unrelenting, Warbringer unleashed a thrash metal masterclass that reflects the world as it stands today. A grim look into a past, present and future of fuckery and the worst tomfoolery by governments that gave up giving a shit about the people they are meant to represent many years ago, as Warbringer’s catalogue has consistently demonstrated.
Seeing Warbringer live was a bucket list thing for me. To be able to have a candid chat with John Kevill, singer of Warbringer, was the icing on the cake.
This was a gig that inspired me. A show that only comes around once in a blue moon. And thanks to Your Mate Bookings, I was able to see it right here in my hometown, and for that, I’m so grateful.
Don’t sleep on these gigs. Support local metal and get out to catch a show and support the scene. I didn’t know how good our local metal was until I got out to a few gigs, and now I’ll do anything (within reason) to support them. If you can, you should do the same and see just how awesome some of our Australian bands are, and of course the brilliance of the international bands who grace our shores.
We live in an era of hard times. Metal speaks to us about that, and in my opinion, only metal can deliver that message. Our music is unique. It deserves to be heard. Support local metal.
