[GIG REVIEW] MEMPHIS MAY FIRE + BLESSTHEFALL W/ SIENNA SKIES @ NORTHCOTE THEATRE 24.04.26.
Author: Mal Keecher
Presented by: thephoenix.au
Venue: Northcote Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Still Photography: Callum Thomas
Memphis May Fire wholly ablaze. Photography by Callum Thomas.
On this Anzac Day eve, it was round two of Seeing Memphis May Fire, a kind of welcomed de ja vu, with eight months between seeing them co-headline with Atreyu at this very venue.
Tonight, it's the same resplendent location, Northcote Theatre, except this time around, they headline with Blessthefall, peppered with the punch of Sydney-siders Sienna Skies.
Sienna Skies mesmerise, Photography by Callum Thomas.
Sienna Skies energised the standing room theatre, setting the tone with their set that served as an early precedent for the evening. I fondly recall nights out at local rock clubs over a decade ago where Sienna Skies headlined the evening, breathing life into the room with their post-hardcore onslaught. Since 2016, Sienna Skies have had a new lead vocalist in Thomas Pirozzi who brings the kind of technique and ferocity that local and international audiences have come to expect of Australian metal. Their 2025 single 'Elated' highlights that Sienna Skies are still as relevant tonight as they have ever been. Their performance tonight left me in high spirits; you could even say inebriated, albeit from the metal injection more than the beers.
The grand opulence of this venue is often best viewed from the second storey balcony where I ventured for an overview, and looking down upon the floor and stage to see that Blessthefall had gathered before them a hoard of faithful followers, assembled like a faithful choir.
Bless this band and venue. Photography by Callum Thomas.
The lighting along with the sound show at Northcote Theatre is second to none, with each band tonight being complemented by a shifting multicolored array beaming through on still images like cathedral windows. With Beau Bokan on lead vocals, Blessthefall were evidently intent on showcasing their triumphant return to Australian audiences after a seven year hiatus. "One hand in the air!" enthused Bokan, as the crowd enthusiastically patted and stomped the floor down to the blasting beat.
As with Sienna Skies set, the floor is dense with enthused fans whom are possessed with synergy and a shared love of metalcore, with a resounding and charged applause highlighting the enthused vibe.
Blessthefall showcased tracks including Cutthroat from their latest album ‘Gallows’, all the way to their 2013 title track from the album 'Hollow Bodies'. "We are Blessthefall from Phoenix, Arizona! And we flew a long fuckin' way to party with you guys tonight! If you came to party say hell yeah!" Bokan exclaimed. "We're gettin' warmed up, baby! On the count of four, move this whole fuckin' room, let's go Melbourne!"
Blessthefall, and the rise of Banana Man. Photography by Callum Thomas.
Bokan and band turn it up a notch further as these djent-lemen injected an energetic and uplifting kind of bro-band energy into the venue around the time that the aptly titled Awakening jolted folks from their places with a jarring kind of visceral intensity.
Bokan instigated almost full participation of the floor in a mosh to equal that of any metal gig of recent memory, with the energy proving to be highly contagious. Halfway through their set, Blessthefall had several fans crowd surfing for extended periods, fans being tossed up and around like beach balls. Around this time, they played through a personal favourite of mine called Hey Baby, Here's That Song You Wanted.
Right on cue at 9:50pm, amid a low rumble and an ambient beat, Memphis May Fire thrust into view, Matty Mullins with his cap and strong presence capturing the crowd's attention as they launched into Paralyzed from their 2025 album 'Shapeshifter'.
Tonight's Memphis May Fire’s performance was pleasantly reminiscent of their July show last year with Atreyu, except tonight felt much more intimate as they took charge of the stage, firing on all cylinders.
The show is neither dense nor sparse, with what feels like the perfect number of patrons, and it's good to be able to move my arms without worrying about spilling anyone's drink.
Smoke machines are utilised early on and throughout for maximum effect as most people revel in the moment. "Melbourne! We are Memphis May Fire and it feels good to be back!" Mullins exclaims with a fist raised, as we embrace this metal moment collectively.
Memphis May Fire point the finger. Photography by Callum Thomas.
Memphis May Fire enthralled and entertained their devoted attendees for over an hour with more new tracks including Shapeshifter then working their way back to the exhilarating Bleed Me Dry where the crowd sang along to lyrics like "You want me dead but I'm alive..." And tonight, Memphis May Fire are very much alive, and so is this Melbourne audience.
The set list was mostly chronologically in reverse, following on with Somebody, Misery and The Other Side. Matty Mullins ability to switch from rough to clean vocals is something worth noting, as tonight his clean vocals cut through with a crisp clarity and conviction. Their performance of The Other Side was an awesome spectacle of raised hands that swayed, soaring vocals and a vibe you had to feel within the moment to wholly capture. Similarly, Infection spread the vibe far and wide, with audio tech to be congratulated on a job well done. Another solid song from 2011's The Hollow ,The Sinner , added more fuel to the flames with crowd participation building to an all-time high.
This was a metalcore show brimming with a copious amount of exhilarating, energising, elated moments of pure passion.
By 11pm, the sounds and show had subsided, and fans were satiated, bustling bodies moved throughout the theatre after having witnessed a triple whammy of metalcore catharsis. It felt great to shake out the week's woes, and be a part of yet another successful gig, kickin' it with like-minded fans who continue to show up in droves to support quality metal year after year.
The tour continues during April! Next to experience the onslaught of Memphis May Fire, Blessthefall and Sienna Skies is Brisbane tonight, Sunday 26/4 at Princess Theatre, then Adelaide Tuesday 28/4 at Lion Arts Factory and finishing up with Perth 29/4 at Magnet House.
Tix for the remaining three dates available from Thephoenix.au here!
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