Thank You, Mr. Skellington!
Thursday 29th October 2026
Written by Tom Wilson
Photographed by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
The lights are on tonight, giving the place a real DIY punk feel (and making it much easier for our photographer, and probably a lot easier for players to see their fretboards). The first of two bands from Western Australia on the bill tonight, Perth’s BURIED SHALLOW lumber to life, and the crowd swells as the band ask us to show our Canadian friends how it’s done in Brisbane. Combining the crushing weight of deathcore with the groove and swagger of LAMB OF GOD and PANTERA, they make an intoxicating racket, with a rock-solid rhythm section and some vocals that would make Randy Blythe proud. They thank the crowd and venue for their hospitality and announce the close of their set, before we play heads-up-heads-down to the crushing Paint with Pain.
ALL THIS FILTH are demanding maximum carnage from the front row tonight, and PFR turns into a pinball machine as punters bounce from one wall to the other. After their first track, we get an unexpected giggle, as the band realises that the snare isn’t mic’d up, but no one else in the room has even noticed. They show us some love for including them in our Thursday night plans, before urging us to Reject the Machine in the strongest possible terms (and the loudest). A whirlwind of dreadlocks and caustic vocals, Brendan is in strong form tonight, so it was surprising to hear afterwards that he wasn’t feeling well, and barely made it through tonight’s performance. Hopefully he’ll still be able to perform at HOLLOW FEST tonight.
A THEREIN set is always a stylistic left-turn for a gig lineup, and the more straightforward savagery of the previous bands evolves and mutates into a sprawling, unpredictable journey. Prog-rock noodling and shuddering time signatures see everyone headbanging to different rhythms, before Cameron introduces the band, and thanks all of the international bands on the bill … including the two bands from Perth (W.A. counts as a different country, right? Touring bands seem to think so.) “This song is not appropriate for a metal show, but we’re going to do it anyway. I hope you like 80s cop shows and video games.” Based off the crowd reaction to the eclectic jazz that followed, it was a safe bet. We’re introduced to Mr. Skellington, a plastic skeleton, and the crowd is asked to thank him for his efforts and crowd surf him to the back of the venue. All together now: “Thank you Mr. Skellington!”
An atmospheric synth swells from the P.A. as VAEGON take to the stage wearing paper Krispy Kreme hats for reasons best known to them. The intro swells, becoming malevolent, before the band come roaring to life over a clattering of blast beats. The technicality, stuttering tempos and sheer volume create an oppressive wall of sound, and punters writhe and smash together up the front as PFR basks in the chaos.
“It’s lovely to see all of you. We are VAEGON from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We travelled a long fucking way to be here, so it means the world to us to see you all.” From the roar that answers, the feeling is mutual, but it’s fair to say there are a few surprised faces when the opening to PANJABI MC’s Mundian To Bach Ke comes over the P.A., before the famous tumbi riff is interrupted by VAEGON’s crushing dirge. “Everybody in Sydney last night told us we needed to watch out for you guys, ‘cos you’re the rowdy ones,” laughs Josh, and when you’re right, you’re right. This was awesome, and I hope we don’t have to wait too long to have them back on our shores.
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