Written by: Belinda Quick
Photos by: Alysha Mallia >> SEE PHOTOS

Beneath a Crescent Moon and with pure mayhem unleashed, merit was put to motto in declaration: ‘KHAN is king!’

Adding their names to the ever-growing list of heavyweights selling out nationwide this year, KUBLAI KHAN TX descended upon Adelaide for the second night of their headline Australian tour. Visiting just shy of a year ago in support of POLARIS on their release of album Fatalism, tonight was theirs. The Supreme Rulers of hardcore joined by fellow Americans, TERROR, the UK’s GUILT TRIP and domestic entity, SPLINTER, in each city stop, cold winter nights have never felt hotter.

Temperature soaring before even starting, Newcastle's SPLINTER opened with an ICE CUBE classic. Despite an already festering pit filled with literal youthful exuberance, courtesy of our own LITTLE ROCKA, the call to arms was raised: “You can do better, Adelaide!” If Bloodshed was required so be it. Self Implosion imminent, it seemed brutal in its Suffering that there were just two songs remaining. Penultimate number, Ten Thousand Hours is the defining track from the band's 2024 EP, The Hill I'll Die On, and maintains intensity into final seconds and One Last Darkest Day.

‘Bring it in and don't be shy’, GUILT TRIP upped the pace and let us know we were on Thin Ice. With distinct style and swagger, the dynamic of the Manchester five is purely electric. Putting credo to the song played and named Tear Your Life Away, lead singer Jay Valentine demands everybody to make the most of zero barrier, and “get the fuck on the stage with us!” Stagedivers flying, throwing back to the beginning, 2016, every Fraction of Time was being relished here.

Releasing their latest EP Severance a year ago, Valentine begs his adoring audience: “I know you've got more” before kicking into the rhythm of the title track. A band attesting to metal music magazine and institution, KERRANG, “We’ll probably always be a hardcore band … but we're trying to see how far we can push the sound”, they do just that. Steeped in the genre, variation in tempos and sound combinations border on the styles of MACHINEHEAD, for example. Paying homage to them in closing, GUILT TRIP offers something precious, Sanctified even by the Hands of God.

TERROR unfolding, in oddly familiar style for the evening through hiphop legends first, the Los Angeleans pledged to Ride or Die, Scott Vogel vowing to Spit My Rage. In demonstration, they are more than One with the Underdogs, pulling crowdsurfers close they Stick Tight to the relentless beat and each other in performance. Shouting positive affirmations, and cheersing the crowd, this is an outfit that breaks stereotypes: brutal in sound, they are compassionate in nature. “Everybody feeling good?” These true men will Feel the Pain with us, it is avowed.

Although official photographers would vehemently disagree, Vogel heralds The Gov's lack of barrier for the night. Hands bouncing and bodies hurtling from the stage, older divers knew and the youth were prepared to learn it Always the Hard Way. The pure mayhem continuing into the second-half act, acrobatic surfers threatened to Strike You Down if unaware of their movement, simultaneously all knew we were safe in the hands of those that preach Keep Your Mouth Shut but love each and every one of us - Keepers of the Faith.

Screaming ‘say my name bitch’ and begging for two step, KUBLAI KHAN TX unleashed the monkey early with Theory of Mind. With just a touch of Resentment, an hour of unadulterated mayhem ensued, both on and off stage. Bodies begged to ‘take a swing at me’, Nolan Ashley announces, “This is Boomslang, bitch”, and every person is set to Self Destruct. Far from Swan Song, we're just getting started, fittingly with TERROR’s Vogel along for the riot.

The sixth time back to our shores, it's the first headlining; KUBLAI KHAN TX are as determined to drop The Hammer as we are to live up to their High Hopes. Completing the trilogy of tracks released just a fortnight ago, Low Tech garnered amazing echoes from the crowd, suggesting the new single had greater longevity in the zeitgeist. In the latter half finding New Strength, with dog bark and Taipan strike we continued. No longer Us & Them this is a bonding that can't be broken now.

“According to this piece of paper, we've got two songs left. I'm not saying that we'll walk off and come back on, we won't … You need to bring it Adelaide, you beautiful bitch!” Even in potential insult, these glorious men prove why they wear the crown, and maintain an enduring Dynasty. One last thrash upon the Antpile, and with a final Kiss From the Rose and royals, this is The Truest Love.

Photos by: Alysha Mallia
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