Municipal Waste, Stabbitha & The Knifey Wifeys, Bone Reaper @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide 12/7/2024
Adelaide was the second to last stop on Municipal Waste’s long awaited return to Australia with their last visit back in 2013. So to say it has been a long time between drinks is an understatement and the die hard and staunchly loyal contingent of fans more than made up for lost time.
Opening proceedings were new kids on the block Bone Reaper. Still finding their way, it is definitely a matter of watch this space as they continue their journey but no doubt would have picked some new fans after their performance last night. Set highlights include Obsessed With Death and The Judgement.
Stabbitha & The Knifey Wifeys followed and they were in scintillating form playing a spirited set confirming beyond doubt that they are a formidable outfit. They looked like they were having a blast with plenty of banter between themselves with larger than life and dynamo drummer Alex Hollow unleashing plenty of energy on the kit. Singer Sass Ryan didn’t hold back either commanding plenty of attention. Plenty of set highlights including Out For Blood, Fedora Destroyer, Stockyard but it was the cover of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive which was Stabbitha & The Knifey Wifeys that was most memorable.
The stage was well and truly warmed and the energy in the room went up more than ten fold as the chant “Municipal Waste will fuck you up” heralded the entrance of Municipal Waste. Even with a few technical issues the band went full throttle through opening songs The Executioner, Sweet Attack and Mind Eraser. Front man Tony Foresta said he felt slightly offended with only one security guard down the front telling the crowd “you know what that means?” responding with “free for all!” Literally a green light for the crowd to go off with crowd surfing, circle pits and all round chaos. By the time Breathe Grease had finished there were two security guards down the front drawing the response from Foresta “that song was that good we got two security guards!”
Asking the crowd if they want to go faster it was well and truly on with You’re Cut Off and the song about stage diving when you are dead with Grave Dive. The switch was flicked and the crowd went in to hyper drive as Municipal Waste knocked over one by one the likes of The Thrashin’ of the Christ, Poison The Preacher, Beer Pressure and Headbanger Face Rip. Foresta asked the crowd “does that feel good?” It was a resounding yes especially when they went back through classic metal album Waste ‘Em All playing the title track, Toxic Revolution, Substitute Creature from it.
With Foresta suggesting that crowd surfing wasn’t a great following up with saying that nor was starting a metal band whipped the crowd in to a frenzy with Wave Of Death. The crowd went nuts for Sadistic Magician, Slime And Punishment and Crank The Heat. Foresta took Under The Waste to a different level throwing out cardboard boxes and a bin which found its way in to another circle pit. Hats off to Foresta who was clearly unwell pushing on and leaving absolutely everything on the stage by the time Art Of Partying and Unleash The Bastards were featured. Great show and hopefully it isn’t so long before a return visit.
Live Review By Rob Lyon