Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)

JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED w/ THRESHOLD, Nowhere 2 Run, Twist of Fate
Jive Bar, South Australia
March 20th 2025

Like the previous Saturday, it was another scorcher in little old Adelaide- but unlike the ERRA show, the airconditioners were effective and little old JIVE BAR was not a sauna- well unless you were throwing down the pit.

And with this show? There was definitely movement.

It has been awhile since we had the incredible JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED in Adelaide and boy oh boy, was the appreciation shown. Before we jump into the headliners though- we need to talk about just how much the opening acts showed up to cause absolute carnage.

Given the task of warming up the stage, Adelaide’s own Twist Of Fate hit the stage. While there were a few technical hiccups at the start, the band did not let it kill their momentum. It is also fantastic to see that Adelaide hardcore bands are starting their sets with an Acknowledgement of Country- really shows you that this generation of hardcore scene understand the real hardcore ethos.

Not only was their set straight up 2-stepping, hardcore vibes- it was a real testament to the community spirit the Adelaide scene embodies. With the singer giving talking about how happy he is to be surrounded by friends, it was a wholesome set but still hardcore as shit. Real punch your friends in the pit and then pick them up after type vibes.

Next up was NOWHERE 2 RUN. The pit was nuts. The riffs were even crazier. This band is really picking up momentum, landing some pretty decent shows recently. After just dropping a new EP too, it seems like they really are on the up and up.

Things picked up and they picked up QUICK! Also helped the members of Twist Of Fate were straight from the stage to the pit and throwing down hard. Another tip the cap of the scene embodying inclusivity, the band also dedicated a song to the women and non-men in the scene, showing just how much of a safe space the Adelaide scene really is becoming. Hats off to the local bands- they really showed a side of our local scene we should be proud of.

One last stop before Justice For The Damned, and that was with Melbourne hardcore band Threshold. Good to see Melbourne Hardcore alive and well because boy oh boy, did Threshold absolutely RIP. Their vocalist was an absolute beacon of primal rage, you could feel it in your soul. The audience paid that energy back, kicking off with an unmatched fury.

The drums were fast and furious, the bass beefy and riff chunky and heavy. Everything you want in a heavy hardcore band. A few more tech issues arose, but that was all handled while the band gave food reviews from their road trip to Adelaide- so the energy that had been created did not drop. If anything, it came back in full force until they played their final note.

By the time the men of the hour hit the stage, the pit was warmed and the entire main floor of the venue was ready to get wild. As a few Australian acts have made the decision to skip Adelaide, frontman Bobak tapped into the punters anger and enticed them to take it out to the music. With mosh calls like “find your best friend and punch them in the head” and calling every single musician that played before them to jump into the pit- it was a constant flow of side to side action, two-stepping and spin kicks.

From new song like the freshly released ‘The Current’ and unreleased, ‘Stay Relentless’ to classic Justice For The Damned tracks ‘Guidance From The Pain’, ‘The House You Built Is Burning‘ and ‘Pain is Power’– it felt like a real celebration of the bond our scene has created with the Sydney lads.

Telling tales of previous visits to Adelaide- like the time they played the same day as the AFL Grand Final in 2017- yes the year the Adelaide Crows were playing- and nobody showed up. Along with encouraging ‘Adelaide Style’ in the pit, there was definitely so much love and respect going around the room.

Finishing off with a bang and a stunning display of unity, the band finished with ‘Please Don’t Leave Me’, which had the entire audience singing back the gang vocals section. Absolute chills in a way I don’t often get to experience at hardcore shows.

Ultimately, this show was not just a fun night out but a real statement of community spirit in the scene. While many bands maybe skipping Adelaide, now and in the past, for the artists that do show up- our local scene is turning up and giving them the love and respect we are being shown.

There are still two more shows of the tour, and from all reports, the Blacktown Tour final is SOLD OUT. So Sydney, head out and grab your tickets here.