by Krista Melsom – Kristabella Photography
Knotfest isn’t just a festival—it’s a gathering of a family bound by a love for heavy music, unity, and pure, unfiltered energy. From the moment you step through the gates, there’s an unspoken understanding: this is a place where you can be unapologetically yourself. There’s no judgement here, only acceptance, camaraderie, and a shared passion for the music that fuels us. Whether you’re a pit veteran or a first timer embracing the chaos, you’re welcomed with open arms. I was lucky enough to be a part of the family for the final stop in Sydney.
Arriving an hour before gates opened, I was impressed by the massive crowd already gathering—clearly, no one wanted to miss a moment. Before heading to the stages, I explored the newly updated Knotfest Museum, packed with authentic memorabilia—worn drumsticks, iconic masks, even a bass drum sporting a large hole inscribed with “please let me see last show!” Fans could even shred on guitars used by band members. I could’ve spent hours soaking it all in, but the music was calling.
First cab of the rank was Santa Cruz hardcore punk band, Drain, who wasted no time in enticing the crowd to move forward and kick the day off in style. Opening a festival is never easy, but Drain made it look effortless. Bursting onto the stage with relentless energy and ferocity, they wasted no time whipping the crowd into a frenzy. With pummelling riffs, unrelenting drums, and a frontman who commanded the stage with raw intensity, Drain set the tone for the day—proving that hardcore punk belongs on the biggest stages.
Once a parody, now a hardcore powerhouse, Sunami delivered a crushing set. From the first note, they commanded the crowd, urging those in the back to step forward. Their beatdown-heavy sound hit like a sledgehammer, proving that despite their tongue-in-cheek beginnings, their performance was anything but a joke. By the end, one thing was clear—Sunami has perfected the chaos.
Next up was Vended, a band I’d been eager to see live, and they didn’t disappoint, absolutely annihilating Knotfest, proving they’re a force to be reckoned with. Their explosive set, featuring bangers like ‘Nihilism’, ‘Ded to Me’, and ‘Asylum’, had the crowd in a frenzy with circle pits breaking out left, right and centre. A giant lobster, dubbed the ‘mosh patrol,’ kept the pit chaos in check while adding to the madness. Sure, two members are sons of Slipknot legends, but that didn’t matter one bit. Vended were a total highlight of the day, standing on their own and completely separate from their legendary fathers. The next generation of metal is here, and they’re absolutely crushing it.
Miss May I brought an electric energy to the stage, with an undeniable connection to the crowd that kept everyone fully engaged from start to finish. Their intensity was matched by the crowd’s enthusiasm, creating a perfect synergy throughout the set. Amid the chaos, I was briefly distracted by a young girl dancing along by the side of the stage, embodying the next generation of fans with infectious energy. She reminded me why we’re all here—to feel the music. It was a moment so pure, I momentarily forgot I was there to take photos and make review notes. Miss May I’s performance was a reminder of the power music has to unite and inspire, regardless of age.
Health brought a refreshing change to Knotfest Australia with their industrial/noise rock sound. As they hit the stage, the heavens opened, and the rain brought some much-needed relief, cooling off the crowd. Their relaxed, almost hypnotic vibe provided a welcome breather after the intense performances of the earlier acts. Initially, they felt a bit out of place, but as the set unfolded, it became clear that their unique sound was the perfect counterpoint to the ferocity of the previous bands. Health’s set gave the crowd a moment to regroup while still delivering an engaging, raw experience.
In Hearts Wake kicked off the Aussie contingent of Knotfest Australia with an unforgettable set. A lone female dancer took the stage with the band, delivering an intense and ferocious dance routine during the first few songs, adding a dynamic visual element to their performance. The band took a moment to acknowledge their roots, sending well wishes to their families back home in Byron Bay, especially given Cyclone Alfred. They expressed their gratitude to the crowd, reminding everyone that without them, moments like this wouldn’t be possible. The set saw some epic collaborations, with Jaime Hails of Polaris joining them for ‘Hellbringer’ and Ryan Neff of Miss May I for ‘Earthwalker’. Security worked hard for their money, with crowd surfers flooding over the barrier. To top it off, a special guest, Paul from Maracas (re: Dune), jumped in to ride the Knotfest ‘sand-worm’ during ‘Gen Doom’.
Hatebreed’s return to Sydney after 11 years was a momentous occasion for fans at Knotfest Australia, with the crowd eagerly singing along to every track. Lead singer Jamey Jasta kicked things off by trying to stir up some friendly chaos with a screaming match, rallying both sides of the crowd to compete for volume supremacy. Though it was unclear if there was an official “winner,” the energy was palpable. Jasta, in his usual commanding style, also took a moment to reflect on the legacy of metal, paying tribute to fallen legends like Paul, Joey, and Dimebag, reminding the crowd to honour their metal elders and keep the community strong. Before wrapping up, Jasta acknowledged the die-hard fans, especially those who had made the trek from The Metro show the night before, calling them the true hardcore. It was an electrifying performance that highlighted Hatebreed‘s enduring impact on the scene.
Enter Shikari brought an unforgettable surge of energy with a set that was as fun as it was outrageous. Lead vocalist, Rou Reynolds proved himself to be the ultimate frontman, effortlessly feeding off the crowd’s hype and returning it with an intensity that set the stage ablaze. His connection with the audience was undeniable, and his enthusiasm only amplified the excitement. At one point, Reynolds took a moment to acknowledge the band’s long-standing relationship with Australia, remarking that after almost 20 years of performing here, every show remained “a fucking pleasure”. The band’s dynamic presence and infectious energy made their performance one of the standout moments of the festival.
Within Temptation was up next, made a striking debut, with an intro that set a cinematic tone, evoking a ‘Hunger Games’ vibe before the band took the stage. Lead vocalist, Sharon den Adel addressed the crowd with gratitude, acknowledging it was their first time in Australia and expressing heartfelt thanks for the warm reception. Her vocals were hauntingly beautiful, effortlessly blending with the band’s symphonic metal sound to create an enchanting, yet powerful atmosphere. With soaring melodies and heavy riffs, they captivated the audience, proving that their blend of grandeur and intensity is a perfect fit for the festival’s diverse lineup.
Slaughter To Prevail absolutely stole the show at Knotfest Australia, delivering an intense set that left the crowd (and me) in awe. To put simply, it was fucking brutal. Renowned for sparking wall of deaths, circle pits, and pure mayhem, the band unleashed chaos in every sense. However, behind the chaos, lead vocalist Alex Terrible proved to be a true teddy bear, showing genuine concern for the crowd. He even stopped the set midway when he noticed a fan in distress, jumping off stage to check on them. His vocals were a ferocious display of raw power, perfectly complemented by the band’s bone-crushing death-core sound. Terrible‘s gratitude for the fans was evident as he thanked the crowd multiple times, acknowledging the surreal experience of touring alongside some of their favourite bands, all thanks to the support they’ve received. If you have been sitting on the fence about seeing this band live, jump off right now!
I caught the majority of Polaris‘ set from afar, to have a brief interaction with Corey Taylor—definitely a moment worth stepping away for. I wasn’t able to get a personal message for my 6-year-old son, Elliot, but here’s Corey’s response so he can get bragging rights: “You tell Elliot that Uncle Corey says Hi.” Anyway, moving on, even from afar, I could see the crowd feeding off Polaris’ energy, with pyro lighting up the stage and arms flailing all around. Luckily, I made it back in time for the tail end of their set and witnessed a special guest appearance by Jack Bergin from Void Of Vision for ‘Hypermania’, which was an epic way to wind down their performance.
Babymetal delivered a performance at Knotfest Australia that perfectly embodied the concept of what I would call “cute, but metal.” The crowd was filled with smiles, dancing, and singing along, with fans diving into Babymetal‘s style of moshing known as “mosh’sh” — a ‘safe, fun, and friendly style of push and shove’. Knockout tracks included the high-energy collaboration with Electric Cowboy, ‘Ratatata’, and the iconic ‘Gimme Chocolate!!’ Towards the end there was what I would call a silent wall of death. The band simply gesturing moving their hands apart to divide the crowd without noting a word.
Okay, I’m calling it—A Day To Remember simply cannot play a bad show. Their Knotfest setlist was almost a condensed version of their side show earlier in the week at Fortitude Music Hall, but the festival energy made it feel just as massive. They delivered all the bangers, like ‘The Downfall of Us All’ and ‘All Signs Point to Lauderdale’, before slowing things down with ‘If It Means a Lot to You’, where the crowd almost overpowered vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, singing every word. As always, their set was packed with all the bells and whistles—confetti, pyro, streamers, beach balls, and even toilet paper flung into the crowd like it was Halloween night, adding to the wild atmosphere.
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for—the mighty Slipknot. ‘Dream Weaver’ echoed through the speakers and the crowd stirred in anticipation for the band’s arrival. A sea of mobile phones then filled the air as ‘742617000027’ started, everyone eagerly waiting for the first song. As the first drum beat of ‘(sic)’ hit, the band erupted onto the stage, throwing the crowd into an absolute frenzy. A word of caution: some mobile phones may have been harmed in the process.
Corey Taylor took a moment to acknowledge the absence of Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan, who couldn’t make it due to a family emergency. He emphasised the severity of the situation, stating that Clown would never miss a show unless it was something critical. Taylor also mentioned that tonight’s setlist would not be the highly anticipated ’25th anniversary’ set but assured fans they had prepared something special for this tour—joking that it was so good they might reuse it on future tours. Turns out, he wasn’t wrong.
Listening to thousands of people scream ‘People = Shit’ was an unforgettable experience and one of the first major highlights of their set. Despite the anniversary, the band leaned more on recent releases like ‘Yen’, ‘The Devil in I’, and ‘Unsainted’, but they didn’t skip the festival favourites like ‘Duality’, ‘Wait and Bleed’, and ‘Spit It Out’. However, I was a bit disappointed that the signature moment of Corey telling the crowd to “Get the fuck down” during ‘Spit It Out’ was missing—along with the massive leap into the air when he shouted ‘Get the fuck up.’ It’s always a personal highlight for me, and its absence dampened my mood a bit. I suspect time constraints were at play.
That mood quickly shifted, though, as soon as the first notes of ‘Surfacing’ hit, sending the crowd (and me) into an absolute roar. The night ended on an incredible note with ‘Scissors,’ a song that had been shelved from live performances for years, making it a rare and special treat for fans
As the dust settled and the final notes faded into the night, Knotfest Australia proved it is more than just a festival. It’s home.