Photos by Glen Muller
Presented by Melbourne Metal Mates, this was an unapologetic, raw showcase of volume and grit. The evening offered a seamless progression of heavy music that left the floor shaking and the fans wanting more. King’s Vengeance kicked off the festivities with an explosive opening, delivering a thunderous performance fueled by magnetic riffs and infectious rhythms, as a fitting prelude to their debut album launch the following week.
The atmosphere shifted as Demonhead took the stage, unleashing a darker, more visceral brand of sonic assault. Driven by bone-shaking grooves and an uncompromising ferocity, there was absolutely no reprieve as they hammered the audience with a relentless wave of aggression, expertly building the tension through a haze of smoke and seasoned stage presence. Their first live performance of Walking Dead went perfectly and received many raised horns.
Finally, Katana Cartel tore the roof off, with a blistering display of modern metal, complete with sparks flying, accompanying their varied set from their heavier classics to a completely unexpected pop-gone-heavy cover and singalong. Their set was packed with anthemic hooks and neck-snapping transitions. It was a physical, sweat-soaked and adrenalised finale, closing the night with a massive surge of energy and surprisingly no burns, given the amount of pyro.
Katana Cartel’s frontman, Fluffy, thanked the fans on their social media for what was a unique gig for the band, saying… “It was an absolute success of a show. We are still on a high on Monday morning. We really wanted to say thank you. If it weren’t for you guys that came out, showed up early, showed support for ALL the bands… It made our night very special. We are so grateful. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be able to do shows like that and we keep upping the ante, every single show we do. We know that we’re doing this for you. If you liked the pyro, you’re going to love the next shows.”
If you were unfortunate enough to miss out, you can catch Katana Cartel and Demonhead at Metal United Down Under at the Leadbeater Hotel on Saturday, 23 May 2026 with Melbourne Metal Mates alumni, Dreadnaught.
You can find King’s Vengeance in Sydney for the first time Saturday, 9 May 2026 at Chuck Trailers (CBD) with the Hush and Electrik. They will be back in Melbourne on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at Wheat Wine Whiskey (Collingwood) with Avalanche, Monroe and Hard Mercury, then Saturday, 30 May 2026 at Bad Decisions (Fitzroy) with Social Hijack. King’s Vengeance’s debut album, Overthrown, launches this Saturday in Sydney and they are recording new singles for release later in 2026, with announcements to follow shortly.
