Get ready to unleash the fury as Dark Down South III returns to Kirup this November 21 and 22, bringing two days of relentless metal mayhem to Western Australia’s South West. From Friday through Saturday, Jim McDonald Oval will once again transform into a haven for metalheads, showcasing a lineup that cuts across the full spectrum of heavy music. Headlining this year’s festival is a crushing lineup of extreme acts, featuring Mexico City’s unrelenting force Demente, the blistering grind chaos of Melbourne’s Nembutolik, the oppressive weight of Iniquitous Monolith, scene veterans Infected, and the raw, unfiltered energy of Melbourne’s Kunt Squad.
Backing them is a stacked undercard of Western Australia’s underground, including Psychonaut, DeadCode, Vanadium B.C., Oceans & Omens, Enforce, and Psytopia, alongside interstate chaos merchants like Adelaide’s Greedy Bunch of Parasites. Rounding out the lineup is a wave of emerging acts in Terror Adaptors, FistDead, Valmara, Undeniable and Deathcap Dinner Party, each bringing their own flavour of noise, grit, and violence to the stage. Dark Down South III isn’t just about the music; it’s an immersive experience. With free camping, a BYO policy (no glass), and on-site food vendors, the festival delivers a full weekend escape built around community, volume, and connection. Designed as a family-friendly, all-ages event, it remains a rare space where generations of heavy music fans collide under one roof—or sky.
HEAVY sent out a list of questions to each band so we know what to expect before they set the stage on fire (not literally!), with DEMENTE taking the bait today. But first, get to know the band a bit better…
Demente is an independent Mexican thrash and death metal band hailing from Amecameca de Juárez, State of Mexico. Formed in 2014, the group initially cut their teeth in the local underground scene by performing heavy thrash covers of legendary acts like Slayer and Sepultura. However, by 2015, they shifted their focus entirely toward creating original, punishing death metal music.
Throughout their career, Demente has been recognized for using their aggressive sonic platform to confront gritty, real-world themes, frequently tackling complex societal issues, human behaviour, and intense political corruption. After releasing an early demo in 2016, the band went on a temporary hiatus starting in 2017. They officially reformed in 2022 with a renewed vigor and an even heavier direction.
The current power-trio lineup consists of vocalist José “Pepo” Sanvicente, drummer César Reyes, and guitarist Emmanuel “Checo” Espinosa. Together, they hit a major milestone in late 2024 with the release of their debut EP, titled Corridos Berreados y Bailables. Recorded, mixed, and produced entirely at Silver Records by Silvestre Ramos in their hometown, the EP marked a definitive sonic evolution for the band. With this release, Demente actively leaned into the raw, brutal aesthetic of gore metal while maintaining their signature thrash roots. Operating as an unsigned, independent act, Demente continues to be a fierce voice in the modern Mexican metal underground, proving that their decade-long journey of sonic evolution is far from over.
DEMENTE Q&A
HEAVY: DARK DOWN SOUTH OPEN AIR celebrates its third year as the only open air metal festival in WA this November. How excited were you to get the call up?
DEMENTE: It was a great thrill for us when we were confirmed to participate in the Dark Down South Open-Air Festival III.
This marks a historic milestone in our career, as we are the first Mexican band to participate in this massive festival, alongside legendary bands from Australia.
HEAVY: How important are festivals like this to the Australian music scene?
DEMENTE: Festivals and events that provide an opportunity to showcase and discover diverse projects, talents and future promises from different places are fundamental parts of cultural growth. Not only in Australia but throughout the entire world.
The fact that DDSIII is considered one of the remaining open-air festivals in WA is admirable, and we are sure it will continue to grow.
HEAVY: Have you ever been to DDS as a punter or playing?
DEMENTE: This is our first time participating in the DDS and, most importantly, it’s our first time appearing in Australia. And we are very excited to be able to learn about a part of this great culture on this side of the world. Furthermore, we are ready to put on a great show as part of our participation in the festival.
HEAVY: If so, best memories of the day, or if not, what are you most excited for? .
DEMENTE: We’re happy to be able to enjoy this festival from beginning to end. Discovering new projects and meeting new people. You know, to enjoy every moment on this tour.
HEAVY: It’s a long day of music. What will you be doing to make sure you will still be standing come your set time?
DEMENTE: We really enjoy festivals like this! You have everything: Open air, rain, sun, mosh pits, bodies flying everywhere, food, great people having a blast, people showing their best dance moves, the occasional costumes and of course, killer music at full volume. Those hours just fly by.
HEAVY: Give me your Top 3 Festival survival tips.
DEMENTE: Oh man, this is a tough one. But I’ll give it my best shot and dig deep into my inner Boy Scout lol.
– Stay cool! Meet new people and don’t be grumpy.
– Check all the acts and enjoy! – There’s a reason why they’re playing in the festival.
– Stay hydrated.
HEAVY: Which band – other than yourself – do you think will get up to the most mischief on the day?
DEMENTE: We’ve been checking out the different projects and I’m sure each one will bring their own magic to every act. We are delighted to be able to enjoy world-class bands like Infected, Nembutolik, Iniquitous Monolith, Vanadium B.C., Oceans & Omens and MANY more. But I assure you that this event will be memorable from beginning to end.
HEAVY: Run us through your typical live show and what punters can expect.
DEMENTE: A beautiful chaos! From the very beginning, you’ll know you’ve entered the realm of Death Gore Pop. And the first thing you’ll do without realizing it is start showing us your best dance moves. This will be a party, bring your best costume 😉
HEAVY: If you could get one band on the line-up to cover one of your songs who would it be and what song would they cover?
DEMENTE: Air Supply! Just kidding (I love them). I assure you that any band decided to play any of our songs will turn it into a great sexy monster capable of melting any brain.
HEAVY: How can fans find your music to get amped up for Dark Down South?
DEMENTE: You can find us on our social media networks, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube as @DementeGorePop Also, you can find our EP ‘Corridos Berreados y Bailables’ on any digital platform such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Diito Music and many more. Please stay tuned as our second full-length album will be released in early 2027 and it’s going to be a real kick in the teeth.
Gracias amigos, see you at Jim McDonald Oval on November.
Tickets HERE
