Knotfest 2024 - Melbourne

As we see our favourite artists start returning home after our 3 festival dates and numerous sideshows, here's what we saw from them here in Melbourne

The first day greeted us with ideal weather, a stark contrast to the following dates that left those without SPF regretting their oversight. Melbourne-formed grindcore machine King Parrot kicked off the day with a bang. Despite the early hour, their arrival was announced by Kevin Bloody Wilson’s ‘Absolute Cunt of Day’ blaring through the speakers. Taking the stage with a mix of exhaustion and enthusiasm, the guitarist joked, ‘Who said it’s too early for heavy metal? I did. I’m tired.’ Their set, which included a new track titled 'Fuck You and The Horse You Rode In On', definitely did not disappoint. The band's pink Barbie-font t-shirts became an unexpected hit, even adorning the most macho of metalheads in the crowd. Throughout the set, the vocalist and guitarist engaged in playful banter, dousing the audience with water and VB, adding to the high-octane atmosphere.

Following King Parrot's explosive start, Brand Of Sacrifice took the stage after we were entertained by the Pokémon theme song over the speakers. Vocalist Kyle Anderson, sporting impressive dreadlocks, delivered a mesmerizing performance and vocal talent from their opening song 'Dawn' to their last 'Eclipse'. Anderson made sure to take moments to express gratitude for the crowd's energy, further igniting the excitement for the acts to come.

Next up we had Melbourne's own Windwaker bringing a youthful energy to the stage, giving us hyper-pop metal that appeals more to the newer generation of metalheads. Then Sydney's Speed displayed a more punk sound that steered us away from our morning of heavy metal for a hardcore half an hour.

5th on the list, Newport reggae-metal legends, Skindred, delivered what i'd call the most hype set of the day. They made a grand entrance with a Star Wars-themed remix of The Imperial March, followed by 'Set Fazers' from their album 'Smile'. Their set included tracks 'Rat Race', 'That's My Jam', 'Nobody', 'Gimme That Boom', and 'Warning',as well us some call backs and a brief Queen cover from vocalist Benji Webbe, and getting the crowd involved in the infamous Newport helicopter.

As the day progressed, the lineup continued to impress. Escape The Fate, with only one original member remaining, delivered a solid performance, followed by Australian deathcore legends Thy Art Is Murder and America's Wage War. The mood shifted with the arrival of Asking Alexandria, whose blend of newer and older tracks unexpectedly resonated with the audience.

After some surprisingly good Mongolian folk metal from The Hu and an hour of Halestorm, anticipation reached its peak for the headliners. Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe took the stage with a heartfelt greeting, 'It’s been 7 long years since I’ve said these words… How are you doing Melbourne?'. ‘We came here to do one thing, cause fucking chaos and fuck this place up’. The band wasted no time in setting the tone for chaos, starting with 'Momento Mori' and ending with a massive circle pit during the iconic track 'Redneck'.

Disturbed delivered a standout performance, with one of the most intensely entertaining sets of the day. They powered through a mix of popular tracks before momentarily disappearing into the wings, Simon & Garfunkel’s 'The Sound of Silence' filled the air, signaling a shift in the performance. The band reemerged, this time with an acoustic arrangement, captivating the audience with their full cover of the song and receiving much love from the crowd. The surprises continued as Lzzy Hale made an appearance to duet with vocalist David Draiman during 'Don’t Tell Me'. Then after Hale's departure, the band played 'The Light', asking the entire festival to raise lighters and phone torches in unison. Of course, the set wouldn’t be complete without the band's iconic performance of 'Down with the Sickness', leaving a lasting impression on the entire crowd before closing with 'Inside The Fire'

The entire crowd shifted over to the left stage for the last set of the day, the highly anticipated, Pantera. Joining original members Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo were Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) and Charlie Benante (Anthrax). It was not only a performance but a touching tribute to Dimebag and Vinnie. As videos of the two brothers played over the screens throughout the set, Anselmo looked at the fans and clearly stated ‘Every song, everything we do up here is for Dimebag and Vinnie’. Some highlights of the see were the tracks 'Suicide Note Pt. II', 'This Love', 'Cowboys From Hell', and 'Walk' which was joined by members of King Parrot as Anselmo wore their merch for the set.