Review: ALESTORM and NEKROGOBLIKON - Live in Melbourne

28 Feb

A Night of Goblins, Pirates, and Pure Chaos at The Forum

Friday 28th February 2025

Written by: Jake Folmer
Photos by: Steve Green

The Forum in Melbourne set the perfect stage for a night of metal mayhem, with its Roman-inspired architecture, glowing starry ceiling, and spacious layout. It was the ideal battleground for three bands who brought epic adventure, absurd antics, and relentless energy to the stage.

Kicking off the night, PIZZA DEATH delivered a set that was as cheesy as it was brutal. Between flying salty fish, pineapple-wielding mayhem, and tracks like Plague of Pepper Rabies and Yeast of the Deceased, the band was a perfect mix of ridiculous and relentless. With riffs heavier than a deep-dish pizza, they set the crowd up for a night of pure chaos.

From the second John Goblikon took the stage, the crowd erupted. NEKROGOBLIKON opened with “Powercore”, with John stepping in as hype-goblin extraordinaire before “Dr. Hubert” kicked the energy up a notch. Their goblin mascot’s stage presence was unmatched, working the crowd with comedy, chaos, and a chug of VB (yes, he actually did it).

Between Jason Bourne jokes, shoeies, and a deep dive into Aussie slang (bogans and cunts, anyone?), the band never let up. “Darkness” was played in honor of Jay, bringing an emotional moment before the set surged back into high-energy shredding. By the time “No One Survives” and “The Magic Spider” closed things out, Nekrogoblikon had cemented their reputation as one of the most engaging live acts out there.

With ALESTORM’s giant rubber duck inflated, The Forum became a pirate’s playground. The crowd, mostly decked out in pirate gear (myself and Kellie included), were ready for chaos. “Keelhauled” kicked things off with roaring singalongs, followed by Chris Bowes shredding his keytar in “Shipwrecked”. “Mexico” had the accordionist showing off serious precision, while “Under Blackened Banners” delivered a massive shred fest.

The energy never dipped. “1741” was a melodic highlight, “Zombies Ate My Pirate Ship” sent the crowd into a frenzy, and after endless teasing, “Party” finally dropped. Just when it seemed over, they smashed through “Wooden Leg” and “Fucked with an Anchor” for a chaotic finale.

With insane stage presence, wild themes, and pure, unapologetic fun, Alestorm and Nekrogoblikon delivered an unforgettable gig. Whether it was pizza-fueled brutality, goblins hyping the crowd, or pirates leading drunken singalongs, every band brought something unique, ridiculous, and utterly entertaining. If you love metal that doesn’t take itself too seriously, go see these bands live—you won’t regret it!