Words:
Mal Keecher
Photography/Footage:
Sarah Barnett*
Presented by:
Venue:
See end of article for artist/stakeholder links.
*NB: Sarah was approved for media accreditation to shoot the prior evening, 09.11.26. We believe these photos to be representative of Mal’s written review, just know that as a technicality in advance.
The inherent beauty of regularly having the privilege to attend high-calibre international live music events is that personal woes tend to melt away, ameliorated by a plethora of sonic solace. Tonight at Melbourne’s iconic Forum, the topical treats include the seasoned metalcore legends Killswitch Engage alongside the UK’s Sylosis, and Sydney supports Heists.
This particular Tuesday night is the second consecutive show at The Forum for this tour, and it’s a sardine sell out. Heists had the crowd swaying and engaged early on, and throughout their seven-song set. Heists delivered invigorating warm-up performances of their 2026 singles 'Lights Out' and ' Left to Loathe', in addition to tracks from their EPs Beneath The Surface and Troubled Souls.
It’s been almost 9 months since Sylosis slayed a gig with a crowd brimming to its capacity at Max Watts Melbourne. With The Forum able to hold up to 2,000 fans, it’s fair to say that Sylosis have doubled their audience exposure since the last time they were here, in Melbourne at least.
Initially standing to one side of the stairs with a transfixed stare and grin, I was far from alone in feeling mesmerised by the intensity of the dazzling metal spectacle that is Sylosis. The blistering barrage of British metal at times seemed unyielding, with their distinctively visceral and energetic performance pleasantly reminiscent of their February show. The Sylosis-express was full steam ahead for much of their set, hurtling along with intensely confronting songs like ‘Lacerations’ and ‘All Glory, No Valour’ from their 2026 album The New Flesh. Sylosis certainly deserve all the accolades, kudos and praise they receive for yet another successfully enrapturing performance.
With leading man Josh Middleton front and centre, Sylosis appeared intent on firing on all cylinders, and drawing this crowd into a frenzy from the outset, by inciting a circle-pit straight up. Mission accomplished.
Compared to the last time I'd seen KSE live over 10 years ago in a Colorado auditorium, there were no puffs of smoke billowing sporadically from pockets of this standing room. In its place, a common and giddy sight involving emboldened bodies with flailing arms popping up—those staple metal-maniacs having an Aussie crack at crowd-surfing. A sight that always brings a grin to my already beaming face.
KSE brought a melodic metalcore storm to Melbourne, with most of the vigour and all of the melodic brilliance on a setlist that is always deserving of heavy rotation.
Selecting gems from their extensive and popular discography repertoire spanning decades, KSE also played contemporary songs from their 2025 album This Consequence. My personal favourites performed by the gracious and timeless KSE tonight include ‘The End of Heartache’, ‘In Due Time’, ‘I Believe’, and the last five superbly nostalgic melodic metal masterpieces—’Arms of Sorrow’, ‘Rose of Sharyn’, ‘My Last Serenade’, ‘My Curse’ and the catchy Dio cover ‘Holy Diver’, which rounded out their 18 song onslaught.
With such adoring original and new fans and a killer 2025 album, KSE don't appear to be reaching for that switch any time soon.
LINKS:
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE:
SYLOSIS:
HEISTS:
SBM PRESENTS:
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