Knotfest has landed in Sydney. The sky is overcast, and while Cyclone Alfred threatens Queensland and Northern NSW, the weather here holds steady. The storm might be looming up north, but today, the only chaos in Sydney is in the pit.
First stop: the Slipknot museum. A treasure trove of artefacts from the band’s history, it’s a fan’s paradise—a visceral reminder of why Slipknot are one of the most iconic metal bands of all time.
Drain kick things off with a last-minute slot. The Californian hardcore crew waste no time in making an impact, delivering a set that’s all muscle, no filler. If you weren’t awake before, you are now.
Sunami follow, bringing pure destruction. The crowd barely has time to catch its breath before they’re hit with a hardcore punk sledgehammer. This is violence in sonic form, and Sydney laps it up.
Vended bring Slipknot’s DNA to the stage. Griffin Taylor (son of Corey Taylor) and Simon Crahan (son of Shawn “Clown” Crahan) are carving out their own legacy, and if today’s set is anything to go by, they’re on the fast track to greatness.
Miss May I keep the momentum rolling. The Ohio metalcore veterans prove why they’ve been at this for nearly two decades—stage one is heaving as bodies collide in the pit.
HEALTH deliver industrial chaos under ominous skies. Their dystopian, beat-driven soundscape is the perfect soundtrack for a festival that thrives on the dark and the heavy. One of the highlights of the day.
In Hearts Wake bring heart and fury. The Byron Bay locals use their set to acknowledge the devastation their hometown is facing from Cyclone Alfred. Jake Taylor speaks with raw empathy—this is more than just a gig for them.
Hatebreed are relentless. Their brand of hardcore punk has built a dedicated following, and watching them today, it’s easy to see why. The riffs, the energy, the breakdowns—flawless.
Enter Shikari bring the chaos. Frontman Rou Reynolds is a one-man explosion, flipping, kicking, and launching himself across the stage like the laws of physics don’t apply to him. The UK genre-smashers prove once again that no one does it like them.
Within Temptation cast a spell. Sharon den Adel’s voice is nothing short of ethereal, and with a Ukrainian flag painted on her arm, the band’s set carries an added weight of solidarity.
Slaughter to Prevail turn the pit into a war zone. Originally from Russia but now Florida-based, they denounced the war in Ukraine back in 2022. Today, their set is pure carnage, a scene made even more unforgettable when a girl in a wheelchair crowd-surfs to the front—where she’s embraced by frontman Alex Terrible. A moment of brutality and beauty intertwined.
Polaris close out my day in a blaze of glory. The Sydney metalcore titans appear through a storm of black streamers, unleashing pyrotechnics so intense they might just melt your face off. A fittingly explosive end to an unforgettable day.
Knotfest isn’t just about the bands—it’s about the die-hard fans who show up decked out in masks, jumpsuits, and war paint, transforming the festival into a living, breathing horror-metal spectacle. From the fearless warriors in the pit throwing themselves into the chaos with reckless abandon to the crowd-surfing legends defying gravity, these are the true heroes of the day.
