Live Review: Burning Witches – Brisbane 2025

HEADLINER: BURNING WITCHES
SUPPORT: REVENGER AND ASYLUM
DATE: 24/05/2025
PHOTOGRAPHER: MERT TYSON PHOTOGRAPHY
REVIEWER: MERT TYSON PHOTOGRAPHY

The air crackled with untamed energy. The moon hung heavy over Brisbane, illuminating the stage where three titans of metal prepared to unleash chaos upon the mortal realm. This wasn’t just a gig—this was a ritual, a convergence of the heavy metal underworld where riffs were spells, drums were war cries, and every note threatened to tear open the very fabric of reality.

Rising to the call in the wake of Temtris’ unexpected setback, Revenger answered the challenge like true warriors, stepping into the breach with fire in their veins and fury in their fists. Andrew commanded the stage with the presence of a battle-hardened king sword in hand, his vocals soaring through the venue with a force that could shatter mountains. If the great halls of European metal weren’t already listening, they’ll have no choice now.

And the riffs? Merciless. Unrelenting. Precise as a blade sharpened in the shadows. Sinister elegance, haunting melodies wrapping the crowd in an unbreakable trance. A sonic equivalent of a lightning storm, guitars crackling with pure adrenaline as drums pounded like the march of an unstoppable legion pure masterclass that left Brisbane utterly spellbound.

At the heart of it all, Viola wielded her guitar like a weapon forged in the depths of hell, each note cutting through the atmosphere with lethal precision. With Jack bringing the heat and Phil laying down a bass tone that shook the foundations of Crowbar itself, Revenger proved beyond doubt that Queensland’s scene stands tall among the global elite.

If Revenger were the heralds of doom, then Asylum were the messengers of mayhem, delivering blistering riffs and unrelenting speed with the precision of seasoned assassins. Their brand of thrash was feral, raw, and executed with near-surgical accuracy.

Shane’s vocals? Pure grit, pure venom, pure domination. Rob’s solos? Like lightning splitting the sky, electrifying the pit in ways that defied explanation. Levi’s drumming? The unbreakable spine of the operation, a force of nature keeping the chaos in check. Brodie’s bass? Thunderous, razor-sharp, and completely commanding in his Asylum debut.

Together, they flattened Crowbar, a whirlwind of thrash metal excellence that left everybody in the pit bruised, battered, and absolutely begging for more. If Testament needs support, look no further—Asylum belongs among legends.

And then… the high priestesses of pure heavy metal sorcery arrived.

As the lights dimmed, a chill ran through the crowd—the unmistakable feeling of witchcraft in the air. Burning Witches stepped forward like spectres emerging from the abyss, and in an instant, Brisbane was theirs.

“Unleash the Beast” – And unleash it they did, with raw power tearing through the venue starting a Heavy Metal ritual!

“Wings of Steel” – An anthem of flight and fury, sending fists to the sky in defiance.

Laura Guldemond, a siren with the voice of a goddess of war, seized the stage with electrifying command, her vocals weaving spells that awakened the spirits of metal’s greatest icons. Not a single note faltered, not a single moment wasted—every scream, every melody a blade sharpened for battle. Visual and powerful presence dominated the Crowbar stage.

“Dance With the Devil” – A devilish groove that tempted even the most hesitant souls to surrender to the darkness.

“Hexenhammer” – The hammer struck, and Brisbane trembled beneath its crushing weight.

Lala Frischknecht & Jeanine Grob held the rhythm section like guardians of an ancient fortress, their timing tighter than the grip of fate itself. Jeanine’s bass thundered through the venue like dark magic unleashed, while Lala orchestrated the storm from behind the kit, a sorceress in absolute control.

“Lucid Nightmare” – A heart-pounding, adrenaline-soaked masterpiece, leaving every listener gasping for breath.

Courtney Cox & Simone Van Straten—a duelling guitar force that burned with the fury of a thousand suns. Courtney’s shredding was mesmerizing, every solo a spectacle, while Simone delivered ferocious riffs with the elegance of an executioner. Together, they summoned a firestorm that engulfed Crowbar in unrelenting metal dominance.

Burning Witches did not perform—they possessed Brisbane, leaving the city in ruins after an unforgettable ritual of metal magic. Their presence was a warning and a promise: metal is eternal, and Burning Witches are its unwavering flame.

Queensland stood tall as Revenger and Asylum proved beyond doubt that Australian metal belongs among the elite. And Burning Witches? They came, they conjured, they obliterated. A force beyond reckoning, a night beyond comprehension.

A blistering testament to the gods of metal. Brisbane will never forget.

We all here at Hear2Zen and Mert Tyson Photography wish a very speedy recovery to our metal brother Nicholas Bolin who is responding well and recovering well and wishing all the Temtris crew all the very best. We will see you up here in the near future!

Big thank you as always to Hardline and the Crowbar, crews, staff and people that make this shit happen! We need to keep it alive. A huge thanks to my Fam Hear2zen who trust me with sharp objects, unedited videos where anything is possible and a camera! COAT! Thanks!!

Mert

Burning Witches Setlist: