Saturday 5th October 2024

Written by: Madelyn Bentley
Photos by: Tyson Gierus + Moonriot
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HARDCORE ON A BOAT

Frozen margaritas. Check. Bangers to fill in intermission by our resident DJ for the day, Dylan from WETWORK. Check. Flawless weather, on a boat cruising around Brisbane city. Check and check. But most importantly a whole heap of dope hardcore bands. DOUBLE CHECK.

People from all parts of the metal scene stacked into this fricking boat. Ready to have a sick day all pulled together by the absolute man Jrod from WORLD ROT. it was great to see so many people from in and out of town, moshers, photographers and videographers all there to capture and soak up the chaos. Walking to the back of the boat, turn around and down the stairs all you see is people piled in the small room, packed to the brim spilling out to the top of the stairs.

The loud atmospheric sounds of DREAM INERTIA filled the sea air to start out afternoon strong. The three-piece screamo band with a shoegaze vibe played their flawless set and even rewarded us with two new songs that sounded brilliant. Taco, the guy behind the guitar and screamibois lost his voice leading up to the show, this man even brought tea on board nursing those precious vocal chords. Still absolutely killing it!

BRAWLIST, now this was actually the first time I got to catch them and damn, So. Fucking. Sick. Zahra is tough as fuck. The DRAIN shirt with the speedies, the VEX call-out and having her own fucking sound bites. Putting the mic down to mosh and crowd kill everyone, myself included. I'm so about it. MOSH BIT AFTER MOSH BIT. Amazing. we love it. The pit was moooovin’. Fucking Aiden strikes again, hanging off the rails off the boat, booting someone across the room. Later in the arvo I found out she also was having dramas with her voice earlier in the week?! I couldn’t tell at all!

HIGHLAND LIGHT was so perfect for this show. They are a post-hardcore/emo band from Canberra. This was the bands first time in Brisbane and they got to do their BNE debut on a boat. The vibes were already high, and then proceeded to bring in a TITLE FIGHT cover! They had great voices and the perfect tone. Post hardcore isn't where I usually gravitate to, but it really was beautiful! Atmospheric even? Chill vibes, every single head on the boast rocking to the tune. I’m an instant fan!

COLD BLOOD, The fucking boiiis. By this point the margaritas were hitting, so everyone who came to mosh squished their way to the front. They opened up with a HATEBREED cover - not surprising considering, but definitely welcomed! Amazing, we love it. But … but … coming in hot with The Rat, the first COLD BLOOD song I was hooked on, needless it say, I was well chuffed. The boat was already moving from the wind and then the dancing was getting gnarly! As soon and as you hear those words, “6 1 fucking 7” you know there’s about to be chaos. People hanging off the rafters, crowd killing with life jackets, cartwheels and obviously a little side-to-side action, all with the mic being cooked and cutting in and out. Did not matter - when the riffs call for bloodshed, that's what you get.

WETWORK was absolutely amazing, unsurprisingly. I have seen them so many times and this was probably my favourite set to date. Again, even with the mic in and out, it really doesn't matter when your band is fronted by the powerhouse that is Lucus. Every song was dedicated to a person or band who pulled this dope-as-hell boat show together. WETWORK has well and truly proven why they are legends up and down the east coast. Nothing I love more then a two-step being demanded. Their finishing song got restarted after a small brawl broke out. All you see is bodies and the massive unit we know as Balanciaga Balaclava, mic in one hand not missing a beat, grab someone by the scruff and pull him off the pile. So many mic grabs. The king of videography, Liam, getting sent into a PA system. Hilarious. Fantastic headliner and I will never miss their shows.

So many cameras got damaged. I know of 2. Another got dropped but picked up real quick. This shit’s expensive, also they are in the front line of the pit, poor Liv (@sicklysentimental) copped a savage wrist injury. All to document the fun. So don't forget to share, like, comment, chuck on the door, pay, tag … ANYTHING to support these beautiful people.

Today I’ve used a whole heap shot by our man Tyson alongside Raimee. Tyson's been on the scene for ages and his work just gets better and better. Raimee takes gorgeous shots every time and is always happy to contribute.
Again. massive thanks to WORLD ROT, who always do amazing shows, but I'm keen as for more hardcore on a boat.

@world.rot
@tys666snaps
@sicklysentimental
@_moonriot
@good.good.food.food
@pain.program
@duhsam

Photos by: Tyson Gierus + Moonriot
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