Void Of Vision’s Final Melbourne Show | Northcote Theatre
It was Thursday, the 20th of February—Melbourne’s weather was cold and dreary, but the same couldn’t be said for the enthusiastic fans queuing outside Northcote Theatre. They were eager to catch every note of the incredible music being showcased alongside Void of Vision on their final “What I’ll Leave Behind” Australian tour. Northcote Theatre is a beautifully ageing venue, featuring an upstairs balcony with clear stage views and a spacious floor complete with a generous bar, creating a vast setting for those fortunate enough to be inside.
As soon as you enter the venue, you’re greeted by a gorgeous ascending staircase leading to the upper story. Venturing beneath it, you discover an expansive lower floor bathed in skylight, an immensely stocked bar, and a crowd ravenous for music. When the first opener, Knosis, took the stage, the audience erupted. Japanese multi-instrumental vocalist Ryo Kinoshita—formerly with the Japanese metalcore band Crystal Lake until his departure in 2022—now fronts his brainchild, Knosis, alongside drummer Moroishi Kazma, bassist Kosuke Tano, and guitarist Daiki. They owned the stage with great energy and vocal excellence, showcasing Ryo’s incredible range. Alongside many original songs, Knosis played their hit “Fuhai” featuring Yukina from HANABIE, where Ryo leapt into a mosh that had grown even more lively. As they wrapped up their set, the band treated the crowd to a cover of a song by American heavy metal band Machine Head, exciting everyone even further.
Following the hypnotizing performance by Knosis, Unity TX took the stage—a dynamic American band from Dallas, Texas, that blends hip hop and metalcore into a lethal melody which further enticed the ever-growing crowd. Consisting of lead vocalist Jay Webster, guitarist Brandon Castaneda, bassist Kendrick Nicholson, and drummer Jonathon Flores, the band experiments with subgenres and creates progressive, artful sounds paired with incisive lyrics. They delivered their hit songs “ROC SH!T” and “RUCKUS” (Spotify’s number one and two tracks for the band), each electrifying the audience and intensifying the mosh pit.
Up next, all the way from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Gideon stormed the stage with music blasting loud and hard from the very start. For the third act of the night, Gideon fused country with metal, a blend that lent the performance almost patriotic undertones. The band’s character shone through in every member—vocalist James Daniel McWhorter, drummer Jake Smelley, guitarist Tyler Riley, and bassist Caleb DeRusha. As they played on, James stepped to the edge of the stage, and as the music swelled, he introduced their hit “Cursed.” Typically featuring Brian Garris from Knocked Loose for a verse, this time the band welcomed Ryo from Knosis back onto the stage to help own the moment.
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. The lights dimmed and the crowd grew rowdier until a profound silence fell as Void of Vision took the stage. Lead vocalist Jack Bergin stepped forward into a solitary spotlight, his custom helmet—with an embedded microphone—accentuating his presence as he launched into the intro of “Beautiful Things.” This song, with its artful approach and softer vibe compared to much of the band’s work, powerfully convey the themes of trauma and recovery behind their final album. As they embarked on the last leg of their farewell tour, “What I’ll Leave Behind,” the fans could sense both the excitement for the performance ahead and the melancholy of an ending drawing near. The show also featured a standout moment when drummer George Pfaendner took centre stage to unleash an unforgettable drum solo, while guitarists James McKendrick and Mitch Fairlie also enjoyed their moments in the spotlight. They performed hits like “Blood for Blood” alongside older tracks such as “Year Of The Rat,” fuelling an energetic, rowdy mosh just as Jack had envisioned.
As the night drew to a close, the band reflected on 12 incredible years together—reminiscing about old tours and cherished memories. “It’s not a sad goodbye, but a happy ending, as we want to leave the fans with the same energy we always have,” they declared, dedicating every bit of that passion to tonight’s audience. Overall, it was a night for the history books—a fusion of varied music and genres that created an unforgettable experience. Although Void of Vision has now concluded their journey, keep an eye on the three magnificent bands that shared the stage that night: Knosis, Unity TX, and Gideon, all poised to offer so much more to their fans and the music world.
Void Of Vision, you left more than just a mark on everyone in that room. Everyone who came to see you off for the last time in Melbourne witnessed the incredible impact you made. Band members Jack Bergin, James McKendrick, Mitch Fairlie, and George Pfaendner have set the bar high in the metal scene. As Jack said on stage, “It’s not a sad goodbye, but a happy ending.” And truly, you still have a lifetime ahead. On behalf of the entire community, thank you for putting music in our ears and lyrics in our hearts. You have given us more than enough, and now it's time for your next chapter. Long Live Void Of Vision.
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