Live Review by Natalie Lorenz
Walking into Riverstage, the line stretched all the way from the gates, through the Botanic Gardens, and out towards the city. I’ve never seen a line that long at this venue.
First off, it’s worth mentioning that I don’t really listen to any of the bands on this lineup. I’ve maybe heard a couple of BABYMETAL songs, but that’s about it. That said, this was one of those shows where you didn’t need to be a long time fan to enjoy what was happening.
It was also genuinely wholesome seeing so many parents there with their kids, all sharing the experience together.
Opening the night were Magnolia Park, the American outfit, bringing good energy and a loud, punchy sound that at times felt reminiscent of Bring Me The Horizon. Their set was fun and engaging, with the crowd responding well throughout. They also made their presence known by starting a “fuck Trump” chant, which plenty of people joined in on.
Next up were Bloodywood, hailing from India, who delivered an extremely entertaining set. Between songs, it almost felt like being at a motivational seminar, with plenty of “the choice is yours” energy, but it came across as genuine. You could tell they truly love what they do and are grateful for their fans.
Musically, their blend of heavy metalcore and nu metal with traditional Indian instrumentation was fascinating to watch live. The use of traditional elements at the start of songs and before breakdowns added a very unique dynamic, and it was great seeing people in the crowd break into dance during those moments. The band’s setup was also a standout, with two drummers (One playing a dhol) and a single guitarist who also played the flute, which added to the performance hugely.
A major highlight came when BABYMETAL joined them onstage for “Bekhauf,” sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The closed their set with “Machi Bhasad” and started off the song with saying “This war has just begun” which felt oddly fitting in the current climate.
While waiting for the headliner, I found myself lying on the grass, watching younger fans around me singing along to Limp Bizkit, Korn, Slipknot, and System of a Down over the PA. It was one of those small moments that just made the night feel special.
While waiting for the headliner, I found myself lying on the grass being curious as how they would pull it off live, especially given how many of their songs feature other artists.
When BABYMETAL, the globally renowned Japanese metal phenomenon, hit the stage, they were met with an enormous reaction, and from there, the energy didn’t stop! The performance was tight, visually engaging, and packed with energy.
They worked through a set that included collaborations with artists like Poppy and Slaughter to Prevail, both of which translated incredibly well live. Bloodywood returned the favour by joining them onstage for “Kon! Kon!”, once again getting the crowd going.
The band leaned fully into their signature kawaii choreography throughout the set, including tracks featuring Tom Morello and a guitar sound I instantly recognised as Polyphia, both of which were great to see performed live. A definite highlight was “RATATATA,” their collaboration with Electric Callboy, which had the entire crowd dancing.
Of course, they played their biggest hit, “Gimme Chocolate!!,” followed by a two song encore that had the entire crowd sitting down and jumping up on cue. My back may not have loved it, but I still joined in.
What stood out most was how well BABYMETAL handled their collaborative material live. By combining well executed pre-recorded elements with synchronised visuals, they managed to maintain the impact of those songs while adding to the overall spectacle.
All in all, I had an absolute blast. For someone who doesn’t usually listen to this style of music, I’m so glad I went and got to experience such a diverse and genuinely fun show.
— Natalie Lorenz Photography
