Written by: Madelyn Jade
Saturday 4th May 2024

Hardcore Hits The Backdocks

With some of Brisbane's music venues closing down it’s great to see a diamond in the rough. Backdock Arts is the perfect example, featuring the best outdoors smoker’s area and good seating for nursing those pit injuries. Over the weekend it hosted a sold-out show, proving the local hardcore scene is still on the rise.

STREET SUFFER, Brisbane's newest up-and-coming hardcore band, brought a solid vibe to open the evening. Safe to say they are one hell of a contribution to the scene – you want to see these guys! The pit was moving from the first second, really setting the tone for a night of violence and unity. 

CROSSFACE came out swinging, punishing anyone not wearing ear plugs. Their intensity and crushing chainsaw riffs got the room moving. Grabbing elements from Swedish death metal and sprinkling it over their classic hardcore sound, you can't not move. Candice Bankovacki (of CRAVE DEATH) stepped up to do her feature on the song ‘Distorted Perceptions’ which only threw gas on the fire. There is a reason we fear the CROSSFACE.

BULLY SQUAD brought absolute violence to the D-floor. The big boys in the pit didn't come to play around. Opening their set with the start of a HER NIGHTMARE cover, and blessing us with a 100 DEMONS and CROWBAR cover, it was the perfect opportunity for a mic grab. From the first to the last song, there were arms thrown with intent to harm. 

COLD BLOOD, everyone's favourite from the 617, has no business being that hard. With those cave man riffs and heavy pay-offs, chaos wasn’t optional. They hit us with one of their toughest tracks and a personal favourite ‘Primal Hands’ – very appropriately named. Even with someone in the pit getting hit with the old 'one-shot body-drop', they stuck with the golden rule of “never stop playing.” 

CRIME SCENE, Byron Bay’s finest, were headlining, and once again showed that they still have it, with a setlist compiled with pit hits ranging from their 2008 debut Overcome to newly released tracks like ‘Lifeless’ and ‘System’. They reformed at the end of ‘23 after a 13-year hiatus for a stacked bill at Vinnies Dive, and it’s safe to say that everyone is stoked that they did. Even you didn’t come with the intention of moshing, you. were. moshing. 

Even you didn’t come with the intention of moshing, you. were. moshing. 

All in all. It was a fantastic night full of smiles, dancing, singing, music, community and friends. Thanks to everyone for keeping the scene alive. 

ONLY FANS

Support Your Locals

Please go checkout these bands and photographers.
They do amazing work bringing us the music and capturing all of the chaos.

Bands

@crimescenebbhc
@coldbloodau
@bullysquad793
@fearthecrossface
@streetsuffer_hc

Photographers

@shaneoliverexperience
@64_pit  
@_moonriot  
@deadset.photography

Videographers

@the_lobster_trick
@no.comply.collections