Review: MUNK & PETAL 2025
Munk & Petal 2025 @ The Brightside - Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 4th January 2025
Review and Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
Munk & Petal 2025 promised to offer some of the best talent in punk and metal across not just South East Queensland, but from as much of Australia (and in one case overseas) as they could draw.
Based on the sound coming from the Outdoor Stage as BRIDGE 2 NOWHERE opened up the day, they were off to a good start. Even with a schedule designed to minimise overlap, it was still going to be a challenge to try and cover all the action of the day, so after taking in a few of their punk rock tracks I bounced over to the Indoor Stage.
DEDWAY came out swinging with their heavy tunes, letting everyone know straight up that they weren’t messing around. They locked in tight with each other, creating a groove that was a constant in their sound. Nothing to do with their music, but their vocalists sported a pair of red and yellow mismatched Jordan’s that I enjoyed spotting all throughout the rest of the day.
Pictured: BRIDGE 2 NOWHERE
Pictured: DEDWAY
In the bright light of the outdoor stage, NEW ANOMALY gleamed in their matching white fits. A brave choice as I’m pretty sure even all my black clothes have noticeable stains on them. They played some very tight melodic rock that got angry every now and then, causing their bass player to go off. Very fun to watch.
Hailing from Dharawal Country (Wollongong), NONE FOR ONE had bought all the heavy riffage they could pack with them. Which turned out to be a lot. Vocal duties shifted between the band members as they cranked out belter after belter, accentuated with the use of a Yidaki (Digeridoo).
Pictured: NEW ANOMALY
Pictured: NONE FOR ONE
What better thing to do on a hot summer’s day than snack on a nice refreshing cucumber? Well, that’s what FIST’s bass player was doing between quick bursts of punk. The band had travelled from Newcastle and, as opposed to fellow Newcastelians, New Anomaly, who stated during their set that they were ‘here to give and receive love’, Fist said that they were here to ‘give and receive hate’. But how could you hate something this good?
You may think you’re seeing double after DEADWEIGHT 80’s brutal tunes have smacked you upside the head, but that’s just the Wren twins tearing it up on guitar. No strangers to our city, it’s getting to the point where this Melbourne crew perform here more often than many local acts. Can we just keep them?
Pictured: FIST
Pictured: DEADWEIGHT 80
You’d be forgiven for thinking that fill-in vocalist, Connor, was part of WILDASH’s regular lineup. You’d also be forgiven for thinking that he’d had more than just that morning to learn the band’s entire set, because he smashed it out of the park. His own band, RVNNT, might have a fight on their hands getting him back.
Sound and instrument issues weren’t going to get the best of THE SQUARE TUGS, and they tore through their set. At one point their drummer, Randall, concerned that he was setting too blistering a pace, bequeathed the audience to tell him if he needed to slow down. Nobody told him to slow down.
Pictured: WILDASH
Pictured: THE SQUARE TUGS
Most memorable set of the day had to go to DAD FIGHT. Amidst their combustive punk Colonel Sanders appeared on stage and engaged in a street fight with a chicken. Upon gaining the upper hand, The Colonel decapitated the chicken, carved it up with a chainsaw, and later on in the set came back out and served chicken nuggets to the crowd. Shit was wild!
THE PUNK ROCK HILLBILLY was a nice change of pace. Drawled-out versions of punk rock classics from THE LIVING END to NOFX had the crowd both laughing and singing along. It marked the half-way point for the festival and a moment of respite in preparation for what the evening had in store for us.
Pictured: DAD FIGHT
Pictured: THE PUNK ROCK HILLBILLY
Meanjin (Brisbane) punk rock legends, FLANGIPANIS, were in fine form and a big part of it was to do with the fact that it was Jodie Flange’s birthday. Her band mates presented her with not one, but two Woolie’s mudcakes, and if that wasn’t enough to make a punk queen feel special, the festival organisers surprised her with additional sugary treats.
Electro-rock outfit SIN SOTO made their presence known with all three members lined up at the front of the stage. Their driving mix of uptempo yet ethereal sounds wove spells amongst the audience that transfixed them to their performance.
Pictured: FLANGIPANIS
Pictured: SIN SOTO
SERIAL KILLER DINNER PARTY might be a long name, but it is also one that has been long synonymous with South East Queensland Punk. Due to their many good deeds in the music community, and the fact they back it up with some serious chops, meant that they more than deserved their spot on this festival. Not just because, you know, they organised it (love you guys, thanks for having us, do it again next year???).
The GC’s AWAKE IN TIME destroyed the indoor stage of the Brightside. While they needed absolutely no help in doing so, who doesn’t enjoy wanton destruction with friends? They were joined on stage by Connor, who must have somehow found the time to cram in learning one more song from another band. The dual vocals between him and Awake In Times vocalist Alex were truly menacing.
Pictured: SERIAL KILLER DINNER PARTY
Pictured: AWAKE IN TIME ft Connor of RVNNT
Outside the soaring vocals of THESE FOUR WALLS vocalist, Steve Gibb, reverberated off the surrounding buildings and out into the Valley. A band that always sounds huge, the open air vibes just gave it more room to breathe. A class act and one that I always enjoy the opportunity to catch.
PISTONFIST crushed. I’m really not sure what else I’m supposed, or need, to say about it. Geoffro’s got an infectious smile? Jimmy’s hair is magestic? Just go watch this band where and whenever you can.
Pictured: THESE FOUR WALLS
Pictured: PISTONFIST
Festival top billers AREA-7 had taken up residence on the outdoor stage. Brass blasted out between strings, keys, and drums, as the ska legends got down to business. Vocalist Steveo praised the music culture of Brisbane, and 4ZZZ for all the support they had received throughout their career. They had less glowing things to say about Triple J. I guess even as rock royalty you can be made to feel like a second class citizen.
HAMMERS continued their trend of flawlessly executing their set. Vocalist Fish got into the crowd and delivered his lines a little more intimately for those up close, while their slamming tunes were felt all the way to the back.
Pictured: AREA-7
Pictured: HAMMERS
CHASING TITANS had flown over from New Zealand to play Munk & Petal as part of their Infinite Paradox tour. They played a sample-laden set, with monstrous vocals, thunderous instrumentation, and some of the most unhinged drumming of the day. Go out and see them if they’re coming to your town.
It was so late in the day that it was now tomorrow, but BEING JANE LANE brought the energy required to take the festival to a fitting end. The room was full of fans singing the words to their songs as they danced along after a long day of receiving just what Munk & Petal had promised. Some of the best punk and metal that there is to offer.
Pictured: CHASING TITANS
Pictured: BEING JANE LANE
Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
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