Cog, The Unset, Myriad Drone @ The Gov, Adelaide 18/12/2025
As the sun starts to set on the gig scene for 2025 there was still one big one left to check out which was Cog at the home of live music The Gov. What a show to finish 2025 on! Cog have definitely reigned triumphant and a near full house is a testament to that. The last few years have been tough for a lot of bands but these Aussie rock legends have come out the other side even stronger than ever before and what was pleasing to see is the next generation of fans that are in to Cog. Just the tonic for a balmy Thursday and with the energy at an all time high after the Aussies dominated the Ashes cricket test match at Adelaide Oval it was buckle in for a big night.
The calibre of supports was top shelf and worth the ticket price alone. Opening proceedings was Melbourne band Myriad Drone. Described as “post-rock” they are definitely one of those bands that defy any sort of labels. Impressive to say the least and their 2025 release A World Without Us is definitely worth checking out. Flying the Adelaide flag were locals The Unset who had another solid outing. With new EP Decathect in the kit bag their set list now has so many more possibilities and so much so that their set felt way to short.
It was like a home town heroes reaction as Cog took the stage and it is of no surprise why their supporter is so fiercely loyal about their band. This was vintage Cog at their finest. No filler, just cut to heart of it right from first drop Doors (Now and Then My Life Feels Like It’s Going Nowhere) followed by as equally powerful Are You Interested? It is what they do and how they blend power, precision and groove that is captivating. What was equally compelling is their considered political perspective reinforcing the need to be “come together” and “not drifting apart” with some of the themes that run wild through some of their songs are just as relevant now as they ever have been during their thirty year strong career.
Flynn Gower opened with “we are still here, still alive and we’re back on stage celebrating a thirty year long journey, a long way from our Crown & Anchor days.” Adding that we are living in a strange time, also that we need to find common ground and not be afraid of each other. After recent events that is something that needs to be a priority. Albums The New Normal and Sharing Space were a big focus. What If took on far greater meaning and the following lyrics amplify that…
What if in the future
People just decided
No more leaders fighting
To control us
Each song seemed to carry so much emotional weight proving very, very powerful, more than a show but an experience. The crowd reaction, the impassioned singing and the intensity that the band played with was incredible to watch. The energy that bassist Luke Gower brings is wow and drummer Lucius Borich is equally wow. New single Walk The Line is impressive and is far from out of place with the rest of the back catalogue.
Drawn Together and Silence Is Violence reinforced the themes of stop people drifting apart and coming together particularly when the shit hits the fan. The groove driven Run shows the band flexing plenty of muscle and was one of many highlights. Flynn took one more moment to express gratitude to the fans coming out tonight finishing on the anthemic Birds Of A Feather. When you’re that good you don’t need an encore with point proven. Cog was exactly what we needed, coming together and celebrating this incredible band.
Live Review By Rob Lyon