HEADLINER: BATTLE BEAST
SUPPORT: KRAVE
DATE: MARCH 15TH 2025
VENUE: CROWBAR
PHOTOGRAPHER: MERT TYSON MEDIA
REVIEWER: MERT TYSON MEDIA
There are nights that remind you exactly why live music matters and this was one of them. Battle Beast brought their Finnish powermetal thunder to Crowbar Brisbane, and local legends Krave lit the fuse. By the end, the walls were dripping, the floor was shaking, and one very brave bassist was sipping from a Converse declaring, “tastes better than the last one!”
Yeah, it was that kind of night!!
Kicking off the night, Krave did what Krave always does, hit the stage like a punch of caffeine to the soul. I’ve seen these guys a bunch of times now, and every single show feels like a fresh detonation of pure energy and heart.
Siana looked absolutely stunning under the lights, commanding the crowd with power and poise, the type of frontwoman who can scream fire and still flash a grin that melts faces. Ryan and Lachy were on another level, shredding and pounding through the set with a mix of chaos and control that made my job shooting them way too easy.
At one point, Ryan shouted out, asking if anyone hadn’t seen Krave before. Hands went up. The guy next to me leaned over and said, “These guys are really good!”
Mate. You’re damn right they are.
Their set was a mix of brutal force and raw emotion, grit, groove, and guts. Brisbane, these are our people. You can feel the pride in the pit. Krave’s sound has grown tighter, heavier, and more confident every time, and I can safely say, they made the Finnish masters sweat before they even hit the stage.
Then came the main event. Finland’s own Battle Beast, the glorious exporters of melodic metal drama, took the stage to a roar that rattled every beer glass in Fortitude Valley.
From the opening “The Long Road” leading straight into “Straight to the Heart,” the energy exploded. Their fusion of theatrical power metal and melodic hooks hit like a freight train dressed in sequins. The crowd didn’t just headbang, they worshipped.
Now, huge shoutout to new vocalist Marina La Torraca, performing while under the weather, and still absolutely smashing it. Her vocals sliced through the mix like lightning through fog, hitting every note with effortless power and emotion. You’d never have guessed she’d been battling a lurgy; she gave everything. That’s dedication. That’s metal.
Throughout the set, Battle Beast had the crowd in the palm of their hands, moving from anthemic bangers like “Master of Illusion” and “No More Hollywood Endings” to the gutpunch emotion of “Last Goodbye.”
When they performed “Blood of Heroes,” they paused to dedicate it to those fighting in Ukraine and the Middle East, a genuinely moving moment that united everyone in the room. Then they dove straight into the madness again with “Bastard Son of Odin” and “Steelbound,” Marina dedicating the latter to all the women in the crowd, a total fist in the air anthem moment.
But let’s talk about the shoey.
Mid-set, the band launched into the now infamous “Shoey Song.” The crowd went ballistic, and bass god Eero turned sneakersommelier, pulling off a shoey from a Converse, proudly declaring, “Tastes better than the last one!”
The crowd lost it. Phones up, beers raised, laughter echoing across the room, heavy metal happiness, AussieFinnish friendship sealed in warm beer foam. Even the band seemed amused and like WTF! Haha gold moment!
Then came their encore, and Battle Beast turned it up another notch. The Janne, Juuso, Joona guitar / keytar solos were next-level ridiculous in all the right ways. They even dropped “The Imperial March” from Star Wars mid-jam. Because why not? It was chaos. Glorious, nerdy, beautiful chaos. Did I mention Drums Pyry was absolutely killer, pounding the skins like a madman all night and never missing a beat wow just wow!
They closed the night with “King for a Day” and “Wings of Light,” sending us all off into the cool Brisbane night with necks sore, adrenaline buzzing, and goofy grins plastered across our faces. And as the Top Gun Theme blared over the tape during bows, you couldn’t help but think, yeah, these legends are the real deal.
For all their power and polish, what really hit home was how humble Battle Beast were. Between songs, they thanked the crowd again and again, genuinely touched by the turnout, the energy, and the enthusiasm of the Aussie fans. You could feel how much they love what they do.
And that energy bounced right back at them from the diehards to the curious newcomers, everyone fed off that mutual joy and connection that only live music can create.
This wasn’t just another gig. It was a celebration. A union of Nordic power metal and Brisbane heart, with Krave proving they belong on any world stage alongside their international peers.
Big love and thanks to Hear2Zen Magazine for having me along, to Crowbar Brisbane for killer sound, lights, and atmosphere, and of course to the amazing staff who made the night run smooth. To Krave and Battle Beast, you delivered everything and more. You left hearts full, ears ringing, and Converse sneakers forever immortalised.
See ya in the front row, or at the bar. 🤘Mert.
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