KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA // CENTENNIAL PARKLANDS SYDNEY // 23RD MARCH 2024

Knotfest without Slipknot just doesn’t seem right to a lot of people but this year, Knotfest AU did not disappoint and brought the heat with a huge line-up that featured Lamb Of God, Disturbed, and Pantera! Slipknot was missed but not for long once these fucking ruthless bands started to play. Saturday the 23rd of March saw Knotfest take to Sydney and man did it turn up - the sun was out, the people were piling into Centennial Parklands, and the drinks started to easily go down as the day kicked off.
Not only did the festival bring many great bands out, but they also had good food, frozen cocktails, market stalls, rides and a fucking sick Slipknot museum that featured many of the bands personal items from their touring collection - it was insane!

Escape The Fate certainly wasn’t the first band to grace the Knotfest stage, but was the first band I got to encounter and what a fantastic time that was! Emo nostalgia slapped you straight in the face as these guys came out with their catchy hooks, thick screams and amazing range throughout a sick thirty minute set that had the crowd pumped up and wanting more.

Wage War blew me away with their crazy, unmatched energy mixed with the perfect blend of clean vocals and deep screams sent chills out and had literally everyone in the crowd headbanging along. Vocalist Briton Bond brought fierce power with his stage presence as he moved around headbanging his long hair left, right, and centre. It was a strong set that I’m glad I didn’t miss.

Straight after on the other stage, Asking Alexandria walked up to an everlasting eruption of screams. Kicking off the set with ‘Closure’, dense screams blew out of the speakers over the top of violent guitar chugs as they were showing us that they were just getting started and only got the crowd warmed up for the rest of the set. Each member moved with force around the stage, exchanging glances with the audience and singing out the words to them.

At this point, everyone seemed to be absolutely buzzing for The Hu to kick off as the crowd at the front started to chant the band's name before they even walked out. The whole festival was in awe of The Hu with their vibrant energy, double note singing, and mongolian lyrics. Their songs were deemed to be perfect in a live setting as each member played their instrument hard with passion setting off those sick mongolian infused metal sounds out into the crowd.

Lzzy Hale walked out onto the stage first to show fans a little bit of her vocal power before the rest of the band rushed out and kicked off ‘I Miss The Misery’. Fans screamed out in excitement as horns were thrown up in the air after Lzzy, it was like a sea of horns raised throughout the festival.
Next up ‘Love Bites (But So Do I)’ was played showing the bands harder side as Joe and Lzzy were absolutely shredding on guitar. ‘Familiar Taste Of Poison’ was next giving the crowd a taste of the bands softer side and as Lzzy mentioned that they were the only female fronted band on the line-up and dedicated it to all the strong women in the crowd - it was a moment not to forget.
Halestorm never fails to put on one hell of a good show.

It was finally time for Lamb Of God and the crowd was packed and buzzing full of energy. As soon as the band came out, headbanging, crowd surfing, and pure chaos was unleashed. High false cord heavy screams from vocalist Randy Blythe which went spiraling out into the sea of metalheads absolution eating it up. Stage presence is something that Lamb Of God never fails on as the band moves around on stage, jumping and engaging heavily with their audience. The set was stopped short around the fourth track as Randy took notice of a medical emergency in the pit - legend! Everyone was patient as they got the person out safely before the band continued on.
Ending their set with ‘Redneck’, Lamb of God played their best, leaving everyone at the festival on a high.

Disturbed did not disappoint one bit as they played through their classic’s as well as some newer tracks and adding some slower songs into the mix like their cover of ‘Sound Of Silence’ which had everyone's phone torches on and in the air.
Towards the end of the set, the band brought Lzzy Hale out on stage to sing “Don’t Tell Me” which was fucking amazing - David and Lzzy’s vocals meshing together was a huge highlight of the set.
Don’t get me started on how crazy the festival went as Disturbed spewed out ‘Down With The Sickness’, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a crowd scream the lyrics to a song that loud in a long time.

Finally, to end the night Pantera brought hellfire to Sydney. The band haven’t been to Australia since 2001…which is just fucking mind blowing as heaps of people in the audience weren’t even born back then. Even without two of their most beloved members, Pantera paid tribute to them and told the audience to hold them in their hearts which made it feel bittersweet and  like they were there in spirit watching the show. The band played a fantastic hardcore set that went for an hour and twenty minutes, playing favourites like ‘Walk’ and my personal favourite ‘Cowboys From Hell’ as person after person flew over the barricade from crowd surfing. It was a sick way to end the night and close out the Sydney leg of Knotfest for 2024.