Knotfest 2024
Knotfest 2024
Sydney, NSW - 23/03/24
Australia’s BIGGEST Metal festival returned in 2024, unleashing upon Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for 3 massive days of music. Knotfest Australia is proving to be the hottest and heaviest of events this side of the equator, with a promise by creators, Slipknot WILL return to these shores for Knotfest 2025 and that this year’s attendees will have first access to the next year of ticket holdings.
“Had the best day”
Centennial Park Sydney again played host to the Sydney leg on Saturday 23rd March, 2024. Embarking on a special mid-morning tour of the Slipknot Museum, Head Art Curator Caelin presented the display of interactive Slipknot Instruments, Sculptures, Awards and an abundance of Slipknot band costumes. This year’s edition was blessed with a Gold Clown mask worth a whopping $50000 touring outside of America for the very first time. The unique museum again added a multisensory festival experience, giving Maggots a chance to be up close and personal with the Heavy Metal Giants’ effects.
The gates opened and Grindcore outfit King Parrot kicked off the Knotfest 2024 Sydney volume to an eager crowd. Formed in 2010, the renowned Australian band brought their palpable energy loud and fast with lead singer Matthew “Youngy” Young owning the breadth of the stage. King Parrot opened with a homage to the great Kevin Bloody Wilson before belting tracks Get What Ya Given, Disgrace Yourself, Bozo and Psychotherapy and Valium.
Canadian deathcore Brand of Sacrifice made their first tour down under a big one, gracing the stage at Knotfest 24. Embracing the bands’ Manga-inspired roots, Brand of Sacrifice donned a prequel Pokemon theme song before bringing a HEAVIER speed to the warming festival grounds. Admittedly without ‘much of a voice left,’ lead singer Kyle Anderson commands the circle pit early, exciting with an amalgamation of growls and melody toward the agreeable masses. The set was fast and short, but that does not deny how HUGE it was.
The pace was down-tuned for Australia’s own Windwaker, blasting a metalcore assault. Braced with melodic harmonies and alternative instrumentals, the band seduced Sydney, with tracks SIRENS, Superstitious Fantasy and Beautiful.
Local hardcore band Speed rolled on before turning up the notch with a hardcore set, demanding the mosh to ‘move the fuck up’ and calling spectators to ‘get in the pit.’ The 5 piece band were a stomping explosion of fast lyrics and heavy bass lines as they relished the native parklands. Fans nodded their approval and body slammed with consent at tracks like Shut It Down, One Bleed We Bleed and Real Sick.
Clapping in time to Star Wars’ Imperial March and backdropped by speaker art, Skindred Set Fazers onto Sydney with their heavy funk and stomping beats. Benji Webbe brings a fun style to any stage, adorned by loyal fans joining in with the lyrics and the mutual banging of heads. The funk onslaught continued with That’s my Jam, Gimme That Boom and Warning.
Kicking off their 2024 World Tour, Escape The Fate showcased a harmonic anthem-filled setlist with Forgive Me, The Flood, Ungrateful and Gorgeous Nightmare. With plenty of touring shows already under the belt, Escape The Fate performed an effortless set to a plethora of throbbing fans under the persistent Sydney heat.
Thy Art is Murder took to the home stage with an urgency, releasing Destroyer Of Dreams, Blood Throne, Holy War and Reign of Darkness onto the crowd. Formed in 2006 and with a thronging of admirable fans, the Sydney Deathcore artists are still fresh off the back of their latest album Godlike released in September 2023.
Wage War screamed and banged in unison with band members and patrons alike. Hailing from Florida, the metalcore band who brought an ominous mood, stamped with Briton Bond’s gravelly vocals on the Knotfest Australia table. War was waged upon the mosh with Stitch, Low, Manic and the highly anticipated brand-new release, MAGNETIC.
Heavy English Rockers Asking Alexandria punched out a massive setlist boasting a well-rounded sound, proving a force among fellow local and international artists. Capturing Centennial Parklands attention, Asking Alexandria delivered Closure, Alone Again, Into The Fire, A Prophecy and Alone In a Room.
Hunnu Rock pioneers, The Hu were hotly contested as a must-see at Knotfest 2024. Conjoining a mixture of traditional music and Mongolian throat singing with a heavy metal element and dramatic performance, The Hu were excitedly accepted and revelled by the amassing Sydney Horde. Selling out a myriad of events throughout the planet, guitars screamed tracks, Yuve Yuve Yu, Wolf Totem and the patriotic This is Mongol.
With the title for the only female front woman representing Knotfest 2024, Halestorm vocalist Lizzy Hale stole the Knotfest show with her unsuspecting heavy vocals, beautiful melodies and emotion-filled stage performance. Lizzy shared the spotlight along with brother and Drummer Arejay, captivating with I Miss the Misery, I Get Off, Freak Like Me and Takes my Life.
“All the bands were awesome”
The sky started to dim and the ambience tilted as Lamb of God reigned in on Sydney. Barking out a menacing set packed with tracks, Memento Mori, Walk With Me in Hell, Resurrection Man and Ruin. Lamb of God showed no signs of aging as they filled the stage with adrenaline, and showered the mosh in fast and emphatic lights.
Disturbed dropped a huge set, unwavering to the audience amongst renowned bangers. The entire parklands were at attention as they received Hey You, Ten Thousand Fists, Land Of Confusion and The Game. A harmonic break mid-set and the coveted Simon and Garfunkel; The Sound of Silence caused a welcome pause for punters before reconvening the action-packed deliverance including The Light, Unstoppable and fan favourite Down With the Sickness.
With nostalgic remembrance, video footage spanning the 43-year career of one of the biggest Heavy Metal bands in history blasted the screens as hyping fans crossing generations of time gathered in wait. Pantera need no introduction to metal heads. The broadcast video tributing images of all past members including the late great Dimebag Darrell and brother Vinnie Paul also need no introduction.
The cheer that formed when the banner dropped to the stage was filled with both excitement and a happiness in sadness.
Clutching the lead guitar, Heavy Metal royalty Zakk Wylde fulfilled an unbridled justice in the role of the heavy metal pioneer who came before. There is no denying the fit of Zakk in the lead instrumental position of Pantera.
Phil Anselmo remained the showman he always was as he led the band through a fast and heavy set with A New Level, Strength Beyond Strength, 5 Minutes Alone and This Love. No Pantera set is complete without the anthem Walk and Cowboys From Hell. A mass mosh exodus over the front rail was testament to the heaving throng of a heavy Pantera posse.
Destroy All Lines and Knotfest Australia are still stomping the way in event curation and deliverance to patrons in an ever-growing combatitive market of festival events in Australia. Knotfest 2024 offered and delivered a top-tier line-up, stacked with organisation professionalism and an evident eye for detail of consumer expectations. Fans already know that Knotfest 2025 is going to be bigger and better yet again. There's only one question remaining- Who will join stages next with the almighty Slipknot Down Under, 25?
Our thanks go to Knotfest Australia, Knotfest, Destroy All Lines, TEG LIVE, Finely Tuned and Dallas Does PR for having along for this monumental event.
Review by Pieta Clarke
“First Knotfest this year, great venue and well run, look forward to next year”
“You can’t beat Knotfest”