Review: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

8 Sept

Written by: Tom Wilson
Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
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Sunday 8th September 2024

Heartache in Miami

Miami Marketta is not your typical concert venue. A long undercover laneway with roller doors along each side, opening up to various bars and food trucks, it doesn’t seem like the place you’d hold a metal gig, but they are, and it’s glorious. Metal gigs don’t normally start with the sun still up either, but here we are. Tonight will be done and dusted by 8pm, and I wholeheartedly endorse this for gigs on Sundays (which always seem to be the case in Queensland).

Having just battered SENSE’s eardrums at the excellent Necrosonic Festival, Brisbane’s DESCENT take to the stage and waste absolutely no time. Their fanbase has put in a strong showing in the crowd tonight, and both horns and beers are held aloft for their crushing riffs (and absolutely mesmerising drumming). After Filth, vocalist Ant takes a second to praise the venue, explaining that he’s played to crowds this wide before, but never this long, casting his eyes up to the far end of the venue. They bring their set to a close with the devastating Resolve, and no doubt walk offstage with a lot of new fans.

Currently in Australia supporting IRON MAIDEN, metalcore titans KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have been playing to some huge crowds, but tonight they are the main attraction, and as they emerge onstage and break into My Curse, the sold-out Miami Marketta loses its shit. Jesse Leach launches himself into the crowd without missing a note, and the man has still got a serious set of pipes. “You sold this motherfucker out,” they proclaim, beaming with pride.

Guitarist Adam D is his usual incorrigible self, asking if anyone in the crowd has shat their pants before, and threatening to knife Jessie for touching his beers. Fair enough. It’s fun playing stadiums with IRON MAIDEN, Jesse tells us, before pointing to the sweaty mosh in front of him, “but this is what we’re all about.” Rose of Sharyn triggers an almighty circle pit, and the vibe is elated. The End of Heartache is an almighty singalong, before My Last Serenade leads into DIO classic Holy Diver, and they leave the stage victorious. Spectacular stuff.