What can I say about this show. Top to bottom front to back this was the perfect show to kick off 2025 for me. In fact I know this show will be on my best of 2025 shows list already and that’s a huge call for me to make 3 weeks into the new year.
Tonight’s supporting line up of Silent Knight and Valhalore were picked to perfection both bands flying the metal flag high and proudly.
Silent Knight have that old school metal style down pat. Searing high pitched vocals that take you back to where that power/classic/euro metal style began with band like Halloween and Iron Maiden. Huge riffs and a powerhouse rhythms, searing vocals and riffs and solos for days, these guys were impressive as they had a filling Northcote Theatre with their fists in the air, engaged and chanting along.
Hailing from Perth, Western Australia it’s easy to see why these guys have such a following not only here at home but in Europe as well. For an opening band to have this reaction and engagement with a crowd is insane. A small circle pit started during their set and this pit just seemed to grow as the night progressed. It was such a great sight to observe. Based on this set alone we were all in for one hell of a show. Tonight, I know Silent Knight earned more than just a few new fans. I’m proud to say I’m one of them.
Valhalore from Brisbane brought a yet another flavour of metal to tonight’s gathering. Their amazing melodic folk death metal commands your attention. Their execution of what they do is flawless. Riff, breakdowns, growls and power are all accentuated by the elegance and mystery of tin whistle/flute from Sophie Willis adding that Celtic folky hint that makes this band so special. Frontman Lochie is super engaging and knows how to draw in a crowd. In a day and age where backing tacks are used to fill studio tricks and instrumentation Valhalore are the real deal. The whole blend of styles gives Valhalore enough variety in their set to keep you engaged. I for one was just transfixed on their set.
What has been amazing for these two opening bands is the sharing of production. The sound and lighting here tonight were on point with both support bands being given some great production which isn’t always the case with support bands who typically have the bare essentials provided in this regard. I tip the hat to all involved and hope that others take note of how much difference it makes to the overall enjoyment of a band when you can hear and see them as they should be presented.
How it has been a decade since Hammerfall last played in Australia is a mystery to me. They are the perfect festival band, just listen to their catalogue and you will understand why. Their songs are bold, sing-a-long anthems, powerful and balance on the very fine line of being so damn melodic yet powerful and heavy.
I have always loved what Hammerfall do. Musically I love their attention to detail, the way they present themselves on record and live through the videos I have seen. This was my first time seeing Hammerfall live as they have only ever played one show here in Australia and that was a decade ago.
The anticipation from me was palpable as I knew we were in for something truly special tonight, or had I set the bar so incredibly high for what we were about to hear and see. There was only one way to find out.
From the moment Hammerfall took to the stage there was this energy that consumed you. Starting tonight’s set was ‘Avenge The Fallen’ from their 2024 album of the same name and if you know the song you know it’s one hell of an anthem. It demands to be sung loudly and for fists to be piercing the air. This is exactly what the crowd at Northcote Theatre did tonight, but they didn’t stop at just the first song, they kept going all night. The small circle pit that started during Silent Knights set had grown into something much bigger engulfing the middle section of the floor.
Tonight’s seventeen song setlist was a true celebration of the bands career with anthems being plucked from almost every album while still maintaining a focus on “Avenge The Fallen” which has four songs in tonight’s set.
The energy coming from the stage was amazing, guitarist and founding member Oscar Dronjak is all over the stage tonight, his pure energy and personality are larger than life, a true heavy metal warrior. I simply help but gravitate my attention to him on so many occasions. Not only is he an incredible guitarist but he is so much of the Hammerfall sound.
Frontman Joacim Cans is on point all night, vocally he could sing the phone book and have you joining in. The way he commands your attention and achieves the connection with each and every audience member is nothing short of captivating. He has enough to say in his stage banter to keep you engaged and essentially keeps the pace and energy of the songs as the focal point. I haven’t quite seen a frontman work a room like Cans did tonight. His performance vocally was incredibly on point and seemed effortless.
The rhythm section of Fredrik Larsson and David Wallin are driving and solid. In many ways these two really do give Hammerfall songs that bounce that just makes you move, whether that be throwing your fist in the air, banging your head, bouncing in the mosh or simply tapping your foot. Their foundation is super solid.
Tonight, I must admit I was blown away by lead guitarist Pontus Norgen who I seriously consider got be one of the most underrated guitarists in heavy music after seeing him tonight. It’s one thing to be impressive in recordings but Norgen is everything a lead guitarist should be, melodic, technically profound, classy and effortless. In the words of Joacim Cans when he introduced Norgen “who needs Yngwie Malmsteen when you have this guy?” a thought that had entered my mind within the first six songs of the set. He is simply one of the most exciting players I have heard and seen live.
Highlights from the show song wise for me were ‘Avenge The Fallen’, ‘Hammer Of Dawn’, ‘Let The Hammer Fall’, ‘Glory To The Brave’ and ‘Hearts On Fire’. However, every moment was thoroughly enjoyed. The sheer presence of Hammerfall on stage is something to behold, the power, energy, execution and performance are of an elite level. There is so much magic coming from the stage tonight it’s an experience within itself.
I took away so much from this show but the biggest take away was how much fun it was. The true spirit of heavy metal was alive and thriving. Hearing an audience sing back as loudly as they did tonight was amazing to hear and you could tell by the smiles on the faces of the band they had a great night too.
Any emerging band needs to see these guys live if you want to unlock the secret of a perfect performance, how a band should look, sound and perform even if you aren’t a fan of the heavier genre’s tonight was a master class in rock n roll. A show that without over-the-top production rocked us all to our cores and had us all wanting more.
Should Judas Priest ever decide to hang up their touring duties, Hammerfall are their immediate successors to the throne of heavy metal titans. Having said that if I had to decide between seeing Judas Priest or Hammerfall live me decision would be Hammerfall by quite a margin. On that note, hopefully we won’t have to wait another ten years before they are back again.
With every confidence I will safely say tonight’s show will be in my top 10 for the year.
Setlist : Avenge The Fallen, Heeding The Call, Any Means Necessary, Hammer Of Dawn, Freedom, Renegade, Hammer High, Last Man Standing, Fury Of The Wild, Chapter V : The Medley, Let The Hammer Fall, Threshold, Glory To The Brave, The End Justifies, (We Make) Sweden Rock
Encore : Hail To The King, Hearts On Fire
With thanks to ThePheonix.au & John Howarth for the media accreditation.
GALLERY by Shot By Slaidins
