Chelsea Grin, Currents, Bloom, Heavensgate @ The Gov, Adelaide 10/5/2025
All signs were pointing to The Gov for another monster line up which boasted co-headliners legacy metal band Salt Lake City’s Chelsea Grin and Connecticut post-metalcore outfit Currents (US) who were joined the Aussie contingent of Bloom and Heavensgate. This line up packed plenty of punches and it is of no surprise that this show was sold out a long time in advance so if you got a ticket you were doing pretty well as they were hard to come by. Judging by tonight’s enthusiastic crowd you would have to say the scene is looking really good and as the saying goes ‘bring the bands, the people will come’. This was a massive production, big stage, big lights, big sound and plenty to get excited about.
Heavensgate opened and made their presence felt right from the get go bringing the intensity and energy for a spirited performance. It won’t be long before these guys headline their shows of this size. Their set might have been short but they packed plenty in with the ramping OBLIVION and VIOLENT JOY for starters which set the tone for what was about to come. They are tight and well drilled after touring extensively here and overseas and this set really did demonstrate how far they have come. There was plenty more up their sleeves with COMFORT IN THE SLOW DEATH, GINSICK, CHEMICAL HEAVEN and RATKING leaving the crowd impressed with what they experienced.
Upping the ante was Sydney’s melodic hardcore outfit Bloom. Hot damn! Charging out of the blocks the band more than made it up to Adelaide fans having not been here in a while. “It’s good to be back!” stated singer Jono Hawkey. Their bold stage presence, impassioned delivery connected with the Adelaide fans as they tore their way through The Service. As Hawkey put it, “If you know this band, you know this song” pulling out one of their signature songs Cold. Suggesting that it wasn’t just about the “breakdowns” they slowed it down on You And I before the “boot shaking booties and arse shaking arsies” of The Works Of You. Encouraging that crowd to turn up the energy and go harder than before it was Maybe In Another Life, Daylight and Siren Song that wrapped up their set.
Half way through there was still plenty to come with Currents showing that they were right on top of their game and in top form. Their performance was next level. With singer Brian Willes suggesting “a lot has happened to get here but it is good to be back” and hard to believe that we were experiencing this co-headline gig at The Gov. Never There and Monsters were solid openers but it’s the likes of Better Days that get the crowd going. After So Alone and Unfamiliar Wille posed the question “who came to fuck shit up?” with a resounding response that fuelled Living In Tragedy. There was an overwhelming sense of gratitude in Remember Me dedicated to their families but also saying “we love all of you” reflecting on the Australian tour and being the second to last show not knowing how it was going to go. Encouraging the crowd to “get it all out” on Into Despair it was the melodic A Flag To Wave that proved most powerful. With the crowd energy building it was one last onslaught to get some of the crowd surfers going on set closer Apnea. Elite! The scene is definitely set for a return visit even sooner.
The build up and the hype was real and Chelsea Grin delivered in spades. It was bold, it was bold and no doubt the Earth shattering sound would have been heard suburbs away. Singer Tom Barber has presence and lots of it with first words being “let’s get it!” Hostage got heads shaking and the first of many circle pits going. Keep that energy going on Sing To The Grave it was a throwback to the Desolation Of Eden album with Cheyne Stokes. It was another old one and bringing the nostalgia on The Foolish One and as Barber commanded the stage there was the occasional nod to the crowd appreciating the vibe in The Gov and how immersed they were in the performance. It was incredible to stand back and watch it all unfold.
The guitar fretwork of Stephen Rutishauser was a sheer delight to watch, playing flawlessly and technically perfect. Their set list had all the ingredients of a deathcore fan’s dream with the likes off Orc March (off Suffer In Heaven) to the likes of Suffer In Hell, Suffer In Heaven and The Isnis (off Suffer In Hell). With Barber saying “if someone is standing still next you, don’t let them” it was Recreant that brought a thunderous set to a close leaving the crowd to go hard one last time. With Barber stating in closing ” we bid you adieu, we are Chelsea Fucking Grin” I’m pretty sure fans won’t forget this show any time soon.
Live Review By Rob Lyon