Windwaker’s “Hyperviolence” Tour | 170 Russell
If your only hobby is going to gigs (me too), then you’ve probably been to 170 Russell more times then you can count. It’s home to a plethora of genres, I’ve been to raves, kpop shows and metal gigs (and unfortunately also The Chats. I was 15, in my defence). For most local bands, to headline this beloved venue would be nothing short of an honour, and for Windwaker, tonight was their time to shine.
Hailing from Brisbane, the first set for the night was Headwreck, and they managed to win me over pretty quickly with their nostalgia-bait thematics. Their backdrop featured low res depictions of each member looking like they were straight out of GTA San Andreas, their logo spinning and reflecting in the center. Their sound was a unique blend of nu-metal and industrial, while also sliding in some melodic grooves through the choruses. Connor prowled the stage with a certain coolness as he delivered unrelenting screams, oftentimes sharing the mic with guitarist Jamo. My favourite track they played was actually their unreleased one, “Filet O’fish”, a blistering, high energy song that really encapsulated the bands personality as a whole.
As Headwreck wrapped up, the room was already hunched down to shoulder-to-shoulder shuffling, and as the amps screeched with thundering brutality, Diamond Construct took to the stage. Kynan was donned in a distinct, bedazzled Nike tracksuit. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing these boys play around Melbourne a few times now, and ever since the release of their album “Angel Killer Zero”, it’s been nothing but wins in the scene for them. Their stage presence is electric, as they power through beloved tracks such as “Faded” and “Hit It Back”. They never fail to hit that sweet, yet guttural spot, and the audience's spirits were high in the wake of their set.
Kynan from Diamond Construct / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
Next up to bat was Thousand Below, coming all the way from San Diego to jump onto this line up. Their sound is a touch more melancholic and emotional, their music frequently bouncing between brutal riffs to soothing vocals. The last time they were down under was to open for Ocean Sleeper in 2022, shortly before the release of their album “Hell Finds You Everywhere”. Live, they were really interesting to watch perform. They’re confident in their instruments and presence, a genuine radiance of affection for what they do glowed across the room. They finished out by playing “Sabotage”, a song I’ve since had on repeat since this gig.
Drew, Tristan and I found ourselves settled into the back corner of the room on the couches, conveniently near the bar as yet another beverage seemed to magically float into my hand. While discussing the morality of different Angry Bird characters, the soft white and blue hues that washed across the venue slowly dimmed, a familiar crackling whirred through the speakers, their album opening track “Infinity” played as each member took to the stage. The crowd swarmed to push themselves as close to the barricade as possible, just in time for the track to explode.
Windwaker’s Indey Salvestro & Connor Robins / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
Immediately, Justin’s guitar caught my eye, glowing a neon orange under the washed, blue lights, gliding through the opening riff. The room shook as they slammed into the chorus, Liam’s voice screeching and soaring, and from the back of the room I watched as bodies slammed into one another, a smile creeping across my face. Live, each member's wrath can not go unnoticed. Connor synth’s are a focal point in their sound, adding high energy texture to the soundscape. Neon soaked arpeggios crash into the blistering percussion provided by Chris, painting a futuristic, gritty image in the listeners mind.
“Dopamine Freestyle” was the first Windwaker track I listened to, I remember my friend Gurk playing it nearly every single time I was in the same car as him, and yet I can’t seem to get sick of it. Hearing it live courses red hot adrenaline to course through my veins, and tonight was no exception. The crowd screamed back the lyrics “Run up, run up, get up, set up,” the energy in the pit was palpable, resonating around the room. At a certain point, Liam ducked off stage as an instrumental section led by Chris and Connor played out. Neon strips around either platform the two were situated on pulsated red along with the beat, until the singer ran back on stage, now donned in a Cool Shirtz hoodie and an MF Doom mask.
The rest of the set seemed to fly by in a double kick heartbeat, as they smashed through more of their hits like “Vertigo”, “Villain” and “Apathy”. They finished up with the tracks “Arcane” and then “Venom”, the crowd cheered so loud it almost muted the amps. These boys, in my humble opinion, deserve all they’ve worked so hard for and much more, and tonight only made that more abundant to me. From their intricately embellished discography and their extremely loyal fanbase, to everything they have lined up for their futures, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Windwaker!
Windwaker / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
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