Photos by: Missy Smiley
Words by: Belinda Quick
Special thanks to Destroy All Lines
“Tonight you’ve got fire in your bloodstream, your frail human heart is still pumping; Then make this one night you remember… It is time for the Evening Prayer” – Ezra Furman
The opening weekend of the Australia-New Zealand Big Rock Tour bookending Easter celebrations, disciples representing the multiplicitous denominations of heavy music descended upon the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to worship.
An event anticipated since its announcement in December 2025, prophesied to be the live event of 2026, a musical trinity awaits their audience. Iconic LANDMVRKS paving the pathway for prodigal sons, PAPA ROACH, and the ‘hybrid heavyweight’ headliners to return; A DAY TO REMEMBER has finally arrived.
The pounding brokenbeat bilinguality of France’s Landmvrks is a mystifying Creature to witness. Gracing the City of Churches last May as part of a debut national headline tour, once more in February 2024 in support of NORTHLANE, many knew what to expect, but few could imagine the command these rising stars of metalcore would take on the state’s biggest stage.
Vocalist Florent Salfati bathed in crisscrossing light, breathing in Sulfur to exhale serenades as effortlessly as demonic growls. La Valse Du Temps, a contrast of light within The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, the quintet, less Lost in a Wave, controls the dance. Salfati, instructing those standing at attention to ‘split this fucking room‘, Rainfall in Blood Red saturates the arena. Guitarists Nicolas Exposito & Paul Cordebard, alongside bassist Rudy Purkart, harmonise, while Kevin D’Agostino pounds his drumkit within an inch of life into a Self Made Black Hole of visceral perfection.
Fire columns and dystopian visions projected upon an LED screen are symbolised by a unique and ever-moving flag, as smoke canons coordinate Papa Roach’s entrance. Blood Brothers stand united, alongside and supporting ‘the one and only, the fantastical‘ ADTR, frontman Jacoby Shaddix attests: Even If It Kills Me, tonight the legends of nu-metal and icons of rock vow to show us, one-and-all, what it feels …To Be Loved.
The band split across electrified twin daises, Tony Palermo and Anthony Esperance oversee brother Tobin and Jerry Horton, ignited for the band’s phenomenal contribution to the Queen of the Damned soundtrack. Dead Cell is living, as Shaddix, leaping out into the arms of the crowd, screams, “I can’t believe this is my job – and that I still get to play for you all!” Asking, “Are you ready to slay demons?” ‘it’s time To Kill the Noise’ and celebrate Getting Away With Murder together.
Taming the tempo, Shaddix personifies the moment, “In loving memory of Chester Bennington”; ‘Days come and go’ but this fallen friend will stay Forever, through his eternal music. A heartfelt testimonial to all those in the dark: “Mental health is something this band has talked about since the beginning and, for those of you who need it, we’ll Leave A Light On. A donation has been made to a local suicide prevention charity on behalf of this event tonight.” Scars bared by the artists felt deeply by the audience tonight, “this song saved the life of everyone in this band”.
Accelerating once more through Tupac’s hiphop homage and California classic, 2025’s brilliantly BRAINDEAD single segues with a little Help into a new level. Born for Greatness and surrounded by it, Papa Roach performs a final montage of nu-metal anthems synonymous with their own and, immediately recognisable for every man living Between Angels and Insects, there is no other like it, ‘this is (our) Last Resort’.
In all-too familiar fashion, my racing heartbeat is resurrected. Amongst a delirious congregation, I try in vain to quell the excitement from reaching a premature crescendo, knowing The Last Supper is still to be savoured. An almighty and brutal truth of being human, great highs can also spell The Downfall of Us All, so temperance is invited, although it is not destined to stay.
Formidable frontman, Jeremy McKinnon, explodes in great strides from side-to-side of stage. A feat of extraordinary stamina, maintained throughout the entire set, he embodies the infamous lines from the comparable I’m Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of? The audience are collectively the ‘puppet in the palm of my hand’ and there’s no denying; it is ADTR that controls the tempo of every individual now and, like the columns of smoke seething from the platform, it is set to full volume.
Seizing the moment, the unmistakable wail of Kevin Skaff’s guitar bleeds into videogame samples and I fully surrender to the perennial tertiary track of ADTR’s setlist, 2nd Sucks. Cursed never to crowdsurf to this personal favourite, blessed to have seen it performed live so many times, without a moment of pause to contemplate philosophical propositions, we’re Right Back At It Again. Confetti canons projected toward the heavens, a paper rainbow hangs suspended, as if with “no gravity”, throughout the whole song.
Bad Blood goes unshed as McKinnon apologises on behalf of the band “for taking over a decade to return to you, Adelaide” (since, in fact, the days of SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL when ADTR commanded a staple spot of the lineup), yet, on the LED screen it drips. The vocalist dancing between firey flares calls for “the biggest fucking circlepit” for Paranoia; Skaff alongside rhythm guitarist Neil Westfall and bassist Bobby Lynge waltz back-and-forth to the ‘footsteps’ laid forth.
In nothing short of a Miracle, dizzy on adrenaline under the same roof as All My Friends the jubilation continues. McKinnon’s gesture to “Cheers, Adelaide” reciprocated by thousands, another round of confetti is catapulted towards the ceiling; falling gently like the petals of Flowers, contrast Alex Shelnutt’s hardhitting, penetrating drumbeat for the Homesick pair – the contemplative Have Faith In Me and angst-ridden Mr Highway’s Thinking About the End.
Still far from ‘circling the drain’ ADTR returns to the modern era with Resentment, taken from 2021’s predecessor to 2025’s New Testament, before the classic All I Want rallying cry to ‘keep your hopes up high and your head down low’ deepens The Plot further. A storm before the calm, If It Means A Lot To You’s soft lullaby ‘might be for the best’, lest we ‘won’t make it out alive’; the end is Closer Than You Think. Time to follow All Signs, even when they Point that tonight is ending – there will be a next time.
Borrowing from Ezra Furman once more in closing, “We music fans go to shows for transcendence”. We go to feel our heart beat true and in unity with those ‘forever by your side’ and return to the experience because it is incomparable and infinite in this way. We go to rejoice in the night, the artists and sounds which inspire our passion; we return because we’re assured, with music, tomorrow promises to be A Day to Remember.
GALLERY
A DAY TO REMEMBER
PAPA ROACH
LANDMVRKS
