Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)

OUTSIDER w/Crave Death, NOWHERE 2 RUN
The Cranka, Adelaide, South Australia
November 24th 2024

Nothing beats a Sunday session, especially when it’s some good old hardcore down at the iconic The Crown & Anchor (known to locals as The Cranka). I’ve been very lucky this year to travel around Australia and Asia covering shows and festivals, but it’s been a while since I’ve been really able to get down and check out the local Adelaide scene.

So when Outsider announced their release show, I knew I had to get down to it.

Opening the show was Adelaide lads NOWHERE 2 RUN, giving some great old fashioned beatdown hardcore. With a bass tone that went crazy and high energy all round, it was all action from the jump. Groovy as hell and just overall happy dudes, they started their set not only an Acknowledgement of Country but a statement about gendered violence- so straight up you knew the vibe of the show was great.

The first song had barely kicked off when the guy in front of me asked me to stand in front, so he didn’t get his beer knocked over- which was a good call as the pit opened instantaneously. There is such a weird dichotomy of this both feeling like the safest show while having to dodge a bit of good ole’ crowd killing. There was a little switcheroo going on between vocals and guitars, allowing plenty of chances for the band members to join in on the two-stepping and spin kicking action. All up, it was just a hard hitting but super groove-laden set. This band is certainly another example of the talent that is just brimming in the Adelaide scene.

Taking over the stage was the guests from Brisbane, the grimey as hell Crave Death. Hitting us with a bit of doom metal vibes, it quickly channelled it to some real sludgy heavy hardcore. Songs riddled with sick tempo changes and another example of sickening grooves; it was straight up nasty in the best way. While there were a few tech issues, it really did not get in the way of what was ultimately a stellar set.

Telling the crowd that “nobody is too cool to have fun”, urging those holding back to let loose, vocalist Candice Bankovacki effortlessly controlled the room. Backed by the squealing guitars, a disgustingly heavy bass and an absolute weapon behind the kit, this band had me hooked for their entire set. Being their first time in Adelaide, they definitely won the crowd over so hopefully we get them back sooner rather than later.

Having us out by six was apparently the mission, so headliners and the band of the hour Outsider did not waste much time hitting the stage. Their new three track ‘Surrounded By The Ashes Of Others’ is what got me out to see them for the first time and oh boy, do I have a new favourite local band. Right from the get-go it was heavy, headbanging riffs, quickly switching to some infectious two-stepping beats. It felt like riff city up in The Cranka, a perfect blend of that heavy hardcore fused with both classic and nu-metalcore sound from Josh Lim. Precision drumming, along with some tasty little fills, from Harry Mason providing a real sick sounding dynamic with bass player Coen Miller– adding that extra dimension to their sound.

Of course, frontman Tom Drizners needs to be mentioned. His presence hard to be reckoned with, especially when the man tells you to two-step, you bloody well two-step. Ripping through their set without much space to breathe, no mean feat especially since they had just got back from playing Melbourne the night before, this band is an underrated class act. There is an undeniable rhythm to their sound that just takes over your body, making sure that even the most stoic of punters is nodding their heads along. Finishing off with a little mic takeover by Nic from fellow Adelaide band STRESSED, it was a real community affair.

Overall this show made me nostalgic. As somebody who grew up spending every weekend at local shows in Adelaide, it made me miss the time I was living away and regret how out of touch I had become with our scene. It is good to see not only is Adelaide hardcore alive and well, but it is in the safest hands right now. The vibe of the room was exactly what you want from a hardcore community- and not only that, but the music was also so damn sick.

So the main takeaways are here: if you are in Adelaide, go to local shows and if you aren’t, go check out the new release from Outsider (and of course, check out Crave Death and NOWHERE 2 RUN).