Review: A COLD IN BNE 2025
Break Out Those Hoodies!
Saturday 26th July 2025
Written and Photographed by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
Growing up in the tropics, I value cold weather immensely, so a festival that features sick bands from across Australia, and celebrates the lower end of the thermometer is one that I can definitely get behind. Now, in its third year, it is once again time for us to head to The Triffid for A COLD DAY IN BNE.
I walk into the Triffid to catch the closing notes of NO HARM’s set. I try to get my camera out to at least get a shot or two, but before I’m able to get my lens cap off, they’ve said their thanks, and have begun exiting the stage. While I may not have prepared well enough to catch NO HARM, I am ready to catch DRUDGE’s high BPM antics. They have some fans in the crowd, and they surge forward whenever their vocalist gets down to the barrier for mic grabs. You know you’re at a hardcore show when an open area for a karate pit has formed before any ninja-ing has even begun, and a couple of eager crew start making use of the space for some good ol’ two-stepping.
During their set up time, TUMOUR’s drummer displays some extremely fast and tight double kicks, so I get the impression that this is going to be pretty intense. They kick into filthy beatdown riffs that sit at a more medium pace, and occasionally feature passages that allow those kicks to fly. Speaking of kicks flying, their vocalist remarks that the audience has made space for a pit, so they’d better start using it, and their beatdown riffs are just perfect for that.
Image: DRUDGE
Image: DRUDGE
Image: TUMOUR
Image: TUMOUR
GLITTER STRIP is an enchanting name for a hardcore band, and they do kind of have a sparkle about them as they tear through their material. Their vocalist powerful bark cuts through the mix, which is doubly impressive when he has to compete with WILDHEART vocalist Axel, who is on backups and bass.
There were many a snarled lip and furrowed brow on display today, but when it comes to CROSSFACE, the stank is indeed strong with this one. They deliver an absolutely crushing set with riffs that chug harder than an alcoholic at an all-you-can-drink booze buffet. Featuring members from multiple Gold Coast hardcore bands, what else would you expect?
Image: GLITER STRIP
Image: GLITER STRIP
Image: CROSSFACE
Image: CROSSFACE
HOMESICK are thoroughly enjoying their time on stage, so I don’t believe they are missing their homes in NSW that much. Maybe it will hit them later. For now, they hit us with a set of groove laden hardcore that has plenty of bounce to it. While they may be glad to get home, hopefully, it won’t be long before we see them back in QLD again.
Decked out in balaclavas and combat attire, BLOODMOUTH command the crowd to move forward in drill sergeant fashion before unleashing a blitzkrieg of heavy artillery in the form of killer riffs that destroy everyone in the room. Maybe we would have been better off hiding in a foxhole.
Image: HOMESICK
Image: HOMESICK
Image: BLOODMOUTH
Image: BLOODMOUTH
Performing at 4:20, you’d think maybe now would be a good time for something slightly more chill, but PUTRESCENT SEEPAGE have other ideas. Instead, they choose to blast us with mind-melting technical riffs with some of the gnarliest vocals of the day. Now there’s gutturals, and then there’s this guy, who would give the Panama Canal a run for its money.
SPLINTER take to the stage, and the two-stepping intensifies. They perform with a lot of heart and energy, and the crowd responds by funnelling it straight back to them, breakdown after breakdown. Their vocalist speaks about the virtues of community at hardcore shows, and that they are a place where you should always feel safe. While I agree, I also advise that you don’t drop your guard if you’re standing near their pit.
Image: PUTRESCENT SEEPAGE
Image: PUTRESCENT SEEPAGE
Image: SPLINTER
Image: SPLINTER
Not afraid of creating more SICK PEOPLE, their vocalist gets down amongst the crowd to pass the infectious old school hardcore vibes on up close and personal. While they’re away in the crowd, the rest of the band hammer away on their instruments with relentless fury.
If you get an itching feeling after the show, it may be because of HISTAMINE. The itching to listen to more old school hardcore that is. Fast punk beats, crunchy guitar, and harsh vocals are a classic cocktail that they mix together very well.
Image: SICK PEOPLE
Image: SICK PEOPLE
Image: HISTAMINE
Image: HISTAMINE
We then move from the medical, to the mystical with POTION. Sludgey, and drenched in reverb the crowd collectively sinks into the mire of their sound as it seeps into every pore. Where was this at 4:20?
I EXIST continues the move towards sludge riffed stoner territory while crisscrossing through multiple genres. Their sound is triple enforced by the three guitars on stage, and, with multiple members assisting with vocals, they create a colossal sound.
Image: POTION
Image: POTION
Image: I EXIST
Image: I EXIST
If PUTRESCENT SEEPAGE was the Panama Canal, then ALGOR MORTIS pull us down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Swimming amidst the crushing pressure, (and sixgill sharks), we get screaming guitars fit to awaken a leviathan. It’s brutal as fuck, and I love it.
GUTLESS blast out fast and technical Death Metal, with fierce growls, and even meaner riffs. They had promised us a ‘quick but painful death’ at A COLD DAY IN BNE, and they keep to their word.
Image: ALGOR MORTIS
Image: ALGOR MORTIS
Image: GUTLESS
Image: GUTLESS
After copping a musical stabbing from GUTLESS, we are then further assaulted with quick bursts of grinding death from SHACKLΣS. Violent connotations aside, they are stoked to be performing at A COLD DAY IN BNE with a bunch of bands they have admired for a long time.
DISENTOMB hit the stage like a freight train transporting a dangerously oversized load of jackhammers. Their vocalist heaves themselves across the stage with their arm outstretched, poised to choke the life out of any poor fool that gets within grappling distance. It is menacing and powerful, and just how DISENTOMB rolls.
Image: SHACKLΣS
Image: SHACKLΣS
Image: DISENTOMB
Image: DISENTOMB
A COLD DAY IN BNE closing honours go to EXTORTION. Did they earn this spot on their own right, or do they have something over on the festival organisers? We may never know the answer, but what we can tell you for sure is they kick arse. Vocalist Rohan is in constant motion, rampaging from one side of the stage to the other as they crank out their own unique brand of powerviolence.
Image: EXTORTION
Image: EXTORTION
Image: EXTORTION
And with the conclusion of their set, another year of A COLD DAY IN BNE is over and ready to go back into hibernation until we can break out the hoodies again for next years edition of awesome hardcore and extreme metal.
Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
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