![[Gallery] of Brewicide XII: FLITCRAFT ‘Transmission Echo’ LP Launch @ Bergy Bandroom, Melb (AU) 29.11.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1764671096623-EGOUYSOPQ1LHSNUA47HU/Flitcraft+-+The+Bergy+Bandroom+291125-36.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide XII: FLITCRAFT ‘Transmission Echo’ LP Launch @ Bergy Bandroom, Melb (AU) 29.11.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide] XII: Matinee of Madness - Flitcraft Transmission Echo Album Launch @ Bergy Bandroom, Melbourne (AU). Supports: Aardvark & Cult of The Night. Check out the link for some fantastic shots and some words of opinion by local photographer/ISC affiliate Richie Black Photography, plus links for all involved artists! Support the scene.
![[Gallery of Brewicide] XI: OPETH w/CALIGULA'S HORSE @ Palais Theatre (Melbourne, AU) 21.11.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1763890043331-AEFX406JFOSML7OUJEUE/Opeth+-+The+Palais+211125-12.jpg)
[Gallery of Brewicide] XI: OPETH w/CALIGULA'S HORSE @ Palais Theatre (Melbourne, AU) 21.11.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide] XI: Opeth ‘The Last Will and Testament’ Australian Tour Photo Gallery, with Caligula’s Horse @ Palais Theatre, St Kilda, Melbourne AU 21.11.25 (via DRW Entertainment/Metropolis Touring).
![[Gig Review] POSSESSED ‘Seven Churches’ 40th Anniversary Tour, Melbourne (AU), 31.10.2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1762257893942-GKNPJFZKLLJISQ1Z3MVL/Possessed+-+The+Croxton+311025-63.jpg)
[Gig Review] POSSESSED ‘Seven Churches’ 40th Anniversary Tour, Melbourne (AU), 31.10.2025.
[Gig Reviews]: Who needs candy when your Halloween involves the first ever Australian tour from the death metal godfathers themselves in Possessed? Furthermore, who’s got food on the brain whilst copping the 40th anniversary of genre-progenitor album Seven Churches, backed by none other than locals In Malice’s Wake? Not us, and not the punters at Croxton Bandroom. Read on for the full gig review!
![[Gallery] of Brewicide X: POSSESSED (US) + IN MALICE’S WAKE (AU) @ Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU) 31.10.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1762169952097-PNVWCQGUVDLFQ5ACJ27J/Possessed+-+The+Croxton+311025-45.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide X: POSSESSED (US) + IN MALICE’S WAKE (AU) @ Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU) 31.10.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide #10]: Ahead of our written review, enjoy some fantastic snaps from Richie Black Photography from Possessed’s inaugaural Australian tour for the 40th anniversary of seminal death metal iconic LP Seven Churches. Additional footage and artist links/media within also!
![[Gallery] of Brewicide IX: COFFIN CAROUSEL Album Launch (AUS) @ Revolver Melbourne, 25.10.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1761738534753-H02Q10RHVGOLFULARKWG/Coffin+Carousel+-+Revolver+241025-36.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide IX: COFFIN CAROUSEL Album Launch (AUS) @ Revolver Melbourne, 25.10.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide] #9 is a-gogo, courtesy of local Melbourne music photographer Richie Black Photography. See within for galleries for Coffin Carousel (VIC, AU) and local support False Dichotomy from CC’s Quantum Chainsaw Part: Three Six Nine album launch at Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne. We’ve also included links for all artist, as well as some additional media for supports AMAH & Atriox!
![[Gallery] of Brewicide, VIII: HEADBORE + Supports @ Last Chance Melbourne, 11.10.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1760693108871-31QJ17J2J3PH8ND1NF2M/Headbore+-+Last+Chance+111025-87.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide, VIII: HEADBORE + Supports @ Last Chance Melbourne, 11.10.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide] VIII: Headbore ‘Branded’ Album Launch Tour @ The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne. Featuring supports Armoured Earth, Malicy & Nothing. All images care of Richie Black Photography - shout-out to the venue and organisers Churches of Steel for putting on a fantastic night of local/SA metal!
![[Gig Review] STONED JESUS ‘XV Anniversary & Australian Debut Tour’ Richmond (Melb, AU) 04.10.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1759744362508-5G439OBC7QUZTTUTXZC5/%5BGig+Review%5D+STONED+JESUS+w+EMERGENCY+RULE+%26+OCEANLORD+04.10.25.png)
[Gig Review] STONED JESUS ‘XV Anniversary & Australian Debut Tour’ Richmond (Melb, AU) 04.10.25.
[Gig Review] Ukrainian stoner/psych rock legends Stoned Jesus surpassed all expectations with a brilliant performance at The Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne (AUS) alongside equally competent supports Emergency Rule (SA, AU) & Oceanlord (VIC, AU)! Check the link for full review with images care of Richie Black Photography.
![[Gallery] of Brewicide, VII: DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN/Ho99o9 @ Northcote Theatre, 13.08.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1755692170097-715VFEYVPNF43TKLHX5C/The+Dillinger+Escape+Plan++-+Northcote+Theatre+130825-47.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide, VII: DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN/Ho99o9 @ Northcote Theatre, 13.08.25.
To commemorate a week (!!) since our coverage of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s firestorm set at Northcote Theatre, Melbourne last Wednesday, as well as that of fantastic industrial punk-hop act Ho99o9 - see within for our latest Gallery of Brewicide photo-gallery! Images courtesy of the talented Richie Black Photography.
![[Gig Review] THE DILLINGER Escape Plan @ Northcote Theatre Melbourne (AU), 13.08.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1755267466021-XP4KMF4OESQ00R2JNUY1/The+Dillinger+Escape+Plan++-+Northcote+Theatre+130825-33.jpg)
[Gig Review] THE DILLINGER Escape Plan @ Northcote Theatre Melbourne (AU), 13.08.25.
[Gig Reviews]: Truly a special blessing and an honour for Inner-Strength Check! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I was joined on Wednesday, 13th August to witness The Dillinger Escape Plan’s final Australian procession in Melbourne, with a Calculating Infinity-centric set helmed by original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis! TDEP were joined by fantastic hip-hop punk/electro-heads Ho99o9 to make up one amazing evening!
![[Gallery] of Brewicide VI: THE HIVES @ The Forum, Melb (AU), 20.07.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1753366823707-OEEA2MYULSTYAP7827CW/The+Hives-35.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide VI: THE HIVES @ The Forum, Melb (AU), 20.07.25.
Now that’s a spicy Svenska meatball! Peep the link for our 6th iteration of the Gallery of Brewicide photography series. Massive thanks to photographer Kaza Black (IG: @kaza.black_photography), staff at Forum Melbourne & Frontier Touring and today’s stars The Hives! Links included for further visual and auditory enjoyment, too.
![[GALLERY] of Brewicide, IV: BURNING WITCHES @ The Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU) 23.05.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748431847550-BYWRBL37LNQ622HIOHHC/Burning+Witches+-+The+Croxton+230525-33.jpg)
[GALLERY] of Brewicide, IV: BURNING WITCHES @ The Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU) 23.05.25.
Master with an eye for all things visual, Richie Black Photography took some time out last Friday to invade the coven presenting all the way from Switzerland in Burning Witches, at The Croxton Bandroom! Check out the link for Richie’s fantastic coverage of the gig, including a slew of pics for Melburnian thrash-supports Mason, plus artist/promoter links and more. Big thanks to Hardline Media!
![[Riffs] New Series - ‘Gallery Of Brewicide’ I: CONAN/PALLBEARER 12.03.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1745839916980-2MFXVH9LPRH7Q3IEF297/Conan+-+Max+Watts+120325-21.jpg)
[Riffs] New Series - ‘Gallery Of Brewicide’ I: CONAN/PALLBEARER 12.03.25.
I’m a man of few talents as podcast host/blog chief here at ISC. But two I can certainly point to - bad music puns and new thematic series! Presenting the first Gallery of Brewicide, featuring some preamble words of support for music photographers out there, plus additional pics from our prior Conan/Pallbearer headline gig review, courtesy of Blackened Lights Photography/ Richie Black Photography !
![[Gig Review] NERVOSA & Supports @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, 19.04.2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1745495168713-BNP4RWCSGUFHT5HWO2SZ/Nervosa+-+The+Northcote+Social+Club+190425-36.jpg)
[Gig Review] NERVOSA & Supports @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, 19.04.2025.
‘Girls Rock’, huh? Nah, man. If Saturday’s outright devastation of the Northcote Social Club Melbourne by Brazilian death-thrashers Nervosa (with breakneck local supports Resistance and Mason) is anything to go by - girls THRASH. Check out our review and photography coverage of a truly blistering, fun and frantic night of riffs via the link.
![[GIG REVIEW]: GHOSTSMOKER + Supports @ The Bendigo Hotel, 29.03.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743590066945-0ZAAM6895AYSBIOAY2U8/DSCF2051.jpg)
[GIG REVIEW]: GHOSTSMOKER + Supports @ The Bendigo Hotel, 29.03.25.
Brutal Truth once titled an album titled Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses. I couldn’t think of a more fitting analogue to Dean’s review! Leviathan Gigs Demand Leviathan Content, and this here review is stacked floor to ceiling with the finest detail regarding Ghostsmoker’s devastating headliner show on Sat 29th March @ The Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne. No expense has been spared for supports Bentham’s Head, Mammon’s Throne or AGLO, either! [Featured Image Credit: Rajesh Kotian aka Raj of Blackened Lights Photography].
![[Gig Review] ENFORCER @ The Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne 25.01.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737969903782-LTJ9L6VK9H41K3HBL7QD/Enforcer+-+Leadbeater+Hotel+250125-28.png)
[Gig Review] ENFORCER @ The Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne 25.01.25.
What an honour! Our first local review as an official outlet in Melbourne, and it could’ve been a better pick to kick things off in that respect. Sweden’s Enforcer blazed The Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond last night with a level of NWOBHM/trad/speed-metal and classic rock bombast that was transcendent, skilled and heartfelt! Read on for full the review, including sets by support acts Burnout, Aardvark and Livewire, gig footage, pics and more!
![[Archive - Gig Review] CONAN + BELL WITCH, Max Watt's Melbourne, 08.11.2018](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737196099289-Z3VX5TL0N2071BWLAQHU/conancover.jpg)
[Archive - Gig Review] CONAN + BELL WITCH, Max Watt's Melbourne, 08.11.2018
This was originally published on the now-defunct Overdrive Music Magazine during my time as Senior Contributor, whereby I attended this fantastic gig and reported back thoughts on the Melbourne leg of the 2018 Conan/Bell Witch tour. Thanks to Sebastian for permission to repost in both cases. Check out this retrospective from a great night - can you believe 2018 was that long ago already?!
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 27: Interview with REECE of Australia’s DIPLOID.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737166933930-0IDD356JFLU6VIGIYXUW/diploidtour.jpg)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 27: Interview with REECE of Australia’s DIPLOID.
Originally posted to our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP) in May of 2024. Diploid are one of Australia’s most interesting underground extreme metal acts, blending metallic hardcore, grind, noise, electronica, post-metal and much more into a fierce live show. I caught up with bassist/electronic noise-maker Reece about their most recent EP ‘Mantra’, touring prospects, band history and much more!
Live Review - Nicolas Cage Fighter, Stay Gold Brunswick 12/08/22.
Archival repost of my first local gig review for Inner-Strength Check, for Nicolas Cage Fighter @ Stay Gold in Brunswick, 12.08.22.
Rest in Peace InnerStrengthCheck.com, 31/12/2024. Welcome to innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com!