Slaughter To Prevail’s Knotfest Sideshow | Northcote Theatre
For the third year running, Knotfest Australia has returned with a stacked lineup, bringing both local and international heavyweights to Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. And what’s a festival of this scale without some blistering sideshows? Among the standout performances was Slaughter to Prevail, the Russian deathcore juggernauts known for their punishing breakdowns, guttural vocals, and unrelenting stage presence. With their reputation for delivering some of the most intense live sets in modern metal, this was a show I couldn’t afford to miss.
Slaughter to Prevail’s show took place at Northcote Theatre, a venue steeped in history. Built in 1912, it holds state significance for its historical, social, and architectural value. As Melbourne’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema, it blends old-world charm with modern live music energy. Once the city’s longest-running independent cinema, it has since evolved into one of the most atmospheric venues around.
Dane Evans from To The Grave / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
Opening the night was Sydney deathcore act To The Grave, known for their unrelenting intensity and politically charged lyricism. Their music doesn’t just hit hard—it carries a brutal message, tackling animal rights, environmental destruction, and humanity’s darker impacts.
The band's lineup features vocalist Dane Evans, guitarists Jack Simoni and Nic Webb, bassist Matt Clarke, and drummer Rangi Barnes. Evans stormed onto the stage, wearing his iconic pig mask and wielding a butcher’s knife for their opening track, "Terrormilitary," off their latest album Everyone’s a Murderer. With only two acts on the bill, the venue was packed early, and the crowd wasted no time throwing themselves into the chaos. Moshing, crowd surfing, and all-out mayhem erupted as To The Grave tore through fan favourites like "Wastage" and "Terrorist Threat."
Despite the carnage on stage, Evans was a huge sweetie at heart, constantly checking in on the crowd. Even during the final song, he dropped the mic mid-track to check on an attendee who seemed unwell, triple-checking they were okay before launching back into the set.
Alex “The Terrible” Shikolai / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
I first saw Slaughter to Prevail live at the 2023 Good Things Festival, and the experience was unforgettable. So, when I had the chance to see them again—not just at their sideshow, but at Knotfest too—I was beyond excited. Back then, they played 170 Russell, but this time, they had levelled up to a bigger venue, proving their relentless hard work was paying off.
Before they took the stage, pounding techno built anticipation. After about 10 minutes, the music cut, and the room erupted as drummer Evgeny Novikov, bassist Mike Petrov, and guitarists Jack Simmons and Dimitry Mamedov stepped out. Then, without missing a beat, Alex Terrible emerged, all of them sporting their signature demon masks.
Jack Simmons from STP / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
Alex had an extra touch to his look—along with his mask, he wore a military vest with "Made in Russia" printed in bold white letters on the back, with both a Russian and Australian flag patch stitched to the front.
Slaughter to Prevail’s setlist was stacked, kicking off with the crushing "Bonebreaker" before tearing through fan favourites like "Baba Yaga," "Viking," and "Bratva"—the very track that sparked the world’s biggest wall of death at Hellfest 2024. They also debuted "Koschei," an unreleased track teased from their upcoming album, expected to drop around June or July.
Adding to the intensity, CO2 cannons were rigged across the stage, blasting bursts of smoke in sync with the heaviest breakdowns, amplifying the chaos.
And of course, no Slaughter to Prevail set would be complete without "Demolisher." As the song built up to its crushing breakdown, Alex raised his hand, demanding silence. The entire venue fell dead quiet before he unleashed the infamous roar—no mic, just raw, inhuman power that sent the crowd into an all-out frenzy.
With Knotfest delivering another massive year, this sideshow was just a taste of the chaos still to come. Slaughter to Prevail proved once again why they’re one of the most ferocious live acts in modern metal. With Brisbane and Sydney still to come, fans are in for an unforgettable ride—if this show was anything to go by, the next few days will be absolute carnage.
Alex “The Terrible” Shikolai / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
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