The 28th of February couldn’t have come and gone any quicker, as Knotfest 2025 rolled through with a stacked lineup, bringing thirteen bands from across the world to Australia for three massive shows. For Melbourne, we were the first to be graced with the onslaught of pure metal and adrenaline, alongside a newly refurbished museum and layout.

Let me set the scene—driving in with Drew and Bri, we were cranking the Knotfest 2025 playlist to get ourselves hyped for a massive day of heavy tunes and, of course, a little bit of cheeky drinking. The energy was already high, and we hadn’t even stepped foot outside the car yet, already hyping ourselves up for the glorious day ahead of us..

We started the day off very strong, being lucky enough to get to be some of the first people to step foot into the brand new Knotfest Museum. It set the bar high, offering a deep dive into Slipknot’s rich history as a band. From their previous masks, old setlists, and worn jumpsuits, it felt like walking through a time machine, seeing firsthand how the group evolved over the years. Slipknot didn’t just shape heavy music—they grew alongside their members and fans, and this exhibit made that legacy feel more tangible than ever.

*Previous Knotfest Masks / Photo Credit:* *Drew Hill*

Arriving early, Bri and I checked out some of the stalls scattered around the venue. We sussed out the merch lines from a distance, the lines were quite staggering so instead we went off to “24/7 Sunnies” and got some new glasses to replace the ones I lost last year at Good Things. As Bri fitted themselves out with new fingerless gloves and a ridiculous fur hat, we spotted a shop named “Haus of Cult” and decided to grab some matching chains, a solid momento to remember the day. From airbrush tattoos, band patches and even booty shorts with “Mosh” written across the back, we were taking in everything Knotfest had to offer before the chaos kicked off.

The heat was brutal—28 degrees but feeling closer to 40. Thankfully, a tent set up with a mister near the bathrooms offered a much-needed cool-down. There wasn’t as much shade as I’d hoped, but at least the water supply made up for it. Hopefully, everyone stayed hydrated because the sun was relentless.

*Griffin Taylor (Vended) / Photo Credit:* *Drew Hill*

After grabbing some drinks, we caught the tail end of Sunami’s set before Vended took the stage. Featuring Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan, sons of Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Shawn Crahan, Vended brought raw energy to the stage. Unfortunately, Simon and Shawn couldn’t make the shows due to an emergency back home. Stepping up on drums for Knotfest and their sideshows was Josh Clinch from The Gloom In The Corner. It was a huge opportunity, and he absolutely delivered, keeping the band’s energy at full throttle.

By the peak of the day’s heat, just standing still was enough to break a sweat. So, I did what any rational person would—jumped straight into the pit. I am a firm believer that the only thing that beats the heat is an elbow to the face. Enter Shikari was the band that finally got me involved. I hadn’t listened to much of their music before, but that’s the beauty of festivals—you get to appreciate the bands you love and discover new ones along the way. So, I threw myself into the chaos, a bit of moshing, a smidgen of crowd surfing, and a whole lot of water once I crawled over that barricade. Props to the legends handing out water cups, keeping everyone from keeling over after a solid surf.

After that, my mate and I were dead set on getting some ice cream to cool down. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones—the line stretched further than most merch queues, packed with people trying to escape the heat. While we waited, Slaughter to Prevail hit the stage, and even from the other side of the festival, we could hear Alex Terrible’s monstrous growls tearing through the air.

Jake Taylor (In Hearts Wake) / *Photo Credit:* *Drew Hill*

An honourable mention goes to Polaris, Australia’s homegrown metalcore icons who I’ve seen more times than I can count. As expected, their set was unbelievable, but the real surprise came when Jack Bergin—formerly of the now-retired Void Of Vision and current host of Triple J’s The Core—burst onto the stage to help Jamie perform Hypermania. I went from lying down in the shade, mildly deceased, to bolting up and getting as close as possible to see Jack again, his fry screams hitting just as hard as ever. It was an unexpected treat for Void Of Vision fans, and I, for one, was absolutely overjoyed.

Babymetal put on an unbelievable set, as expected. A few of my mates had never heard of them before and made the mistake of not listening beforehand to get a feel for what they were about. To say they were shocked would be an understatement—but in the best way possible. As any normal reaction should be when witnessing a band that continues to push the boundaries and redefine what it means to be a metal band. You can never go wrong with a group that has a strong concept, each member a caricature of their own designated personality, choreographed down to each drum fill and guitar solo. I don’t think I’ve seen a barricade so devout, nearly every fan had their own, older merch to proudly wave around, everyone surrounding me enamoured by the raw talent.

*Alex Terrible (Slaughter To Prevail) / Photo Credit:* *Drew Hill*

The next band I absolutely had to be in the pit for was A Day To Remember. I hadn’t seen them since Good Things 2019, so their long-awaited return was met with open arms. The energy they brought to the stage and the way they matched it with the crowd was something worth noting. Despite their massive success, they’ve never lost that ability to connect with their fans on a personal level, proving just how down-to-earth and humble they are at heart.

A few standout moments included t-shirt cannons being launched into the crowd, the now infamous (but “extremely safe and definitely not condoned by ADTR,” as they put it) “crowd surfing on a crowd surfer”—which was as insane as it sounds—and a cheeky cover of Nirvana’s Come As You Are. Of course, they got the entire crowd to sing along, only to stop right after “Come” for… well, reasons I’m sure you can figure out if your sense of humour is as twisted as the rest of us who got the joke. The final track of the setlist was All Signs Point To Lauderdale, a true classic, and as the infamous chorus resonated out into the open air, a few familiar faces including Sabian Lynch and Jack Bergen popped back out on stage to toss rolls of toilet paper into the crowd.

After getting absolutely destroyed in that pit and a few crowd surfs later, I needed to catch a break and chill on the outskirts with my mates. Perfect timing, too—headliners Slipknot were finally about to take the stage. With the sun slowly setting, ADTR’s set ended with an explosion of confetti that fluttered through the stunning, pastel sunset, and the mood was set for one of the biggest metal bands in history.

*Jeremy McKinnon (A Day To Remember) / Photo Credit:* *Drew Hill*

As the music started to build, the words “come play with us” from the beloved movie The Shining scattered eerily around the stage, which was bathed in a murky, green hue. One by one, the members emerged to open with Sic. Unfortunately, there were some sound issues, with most of the instruments and vocals barely coming through—a rough start for a headliner, but completely out of their control.

But honestly, it just made the moment even better. When the sound finally kicked in, it almost felt scripted, as the first words that blasted through the speakers were Corey Taylor roaring, “Melbourne! Put your motherfucking hands in the air!” The crowd, from front to back, gave Corey exactly what he wanted—every fist in sight raised above their heads, pounding to the beat of Sic. Slipknot had promised a set like no one had ever seen before, and they weren’t wrong.

Sure enough, after tearing through Sic and the old-school classic People = Shit, they threw in a surprise no one saw coming—the live debut of Gematria (The Killing Name) from All Hope Is Gone. Six minutes of pure, unrelenting chaos, and for the first time ever, fans got to witness it in a live setting. The absolute hypnosis they had over the crowd, holding the maggots in the palm of their hands like puppets, was unreal. It was a masterclass in stage presence and showmanship, proving just how much control Slipknot has over their set and fans. Every movement, every pause, every eruption of sound felt meticulously crafted to keep the energy at its peak.

*A Day To Remember / Photo Credit:* *Drew Hill*

It was an absolutely mental day, and I’m sure that, like us, everyone who spent the whole day in that relentless heat felt both sad and relieved that it had finally come to an end. As the cool night air rolled in, offering much-needed relief, Slipknot closed out their set with a three-song encore, marking the end of Knotfest 2025.

Personally, I’d call it a successful day—not just because of the incredible sets, but because, for once, I managed to keep hold of all my belongings. Unlike Good Things 2024, where I somehow lost half my essentials, this time my portable charger, sunnies, phone, and everything else were still safely tucked away in my satchel. So, I’d say that’s an absolute win. And to top it off, a cheeky Macca’s feed (that has become ritualistic for Drew, Bri and I after every gig) on the way home really made the day a 10/10. That McChicken and frozen Coke slapped after a full day on my feet, and satiated any last dopamine hit I could possibly crave.

Here’s to metal festivals, sunburn, day drinking, and socialising—I can’t wait to get covered in bruises at the same time next year at Knotfest 26. Huge thankyou to Destroy All Lines and Dallas Does Pr for this amazing opportunity and their continuous, undivided passion in creating a memorable, inclusive and all in all flawless event.