Hail The Sun, Reliqa, Fallweather @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide 28/6/2026
American post-hardcore band Hail The Sun from Chico, California played Adelaide for the very first time to a small but fiercely enthusiastic crowd who made enough noise and brought the energy of a crowd three times the size. Having seen them play in Melbourne with The Fall Of Troy last year is was great to finally seen them on our home deck. One thing is for sure, when everyone catches on to Hail The Sun they will be wondering and more likely be ruing the missed opportunity to see this band in full flight.
Opening up was Melbourne melodic hardcore outfit Fallweather from Melbourne. They were in rampaging form and having seen them a couple times before they continue to grow and get even better as a band. Their sound was loud and bombastic and the crowded responded particularly when vocalist Cullen Forbes said that Adelaide is his favourite city. They have some big songs in their armoury with Tired Eyes, Glance, Kill My Doubt and set closer Candlelight all impressing.
Great to see rising Sydney progressive metalcore outfit Reliqa back in Adelaide also. Bird’s Robe have done well nailing the supports for this tour. “Adelaide scream for me” hailed singer Monique Pym as they charged through their forty minute set. They have earned their stripes more than proving themselves now. Cave, Killstar (The Cold War) and The Flower were all great moments topped off by “dance song” Your Touch and set closer Physical.
Hail The Sun were fantastic playing a blistering set filled with frenetic energy from start to end. If they were out to make a first impression in Adelaide they certainly did that. It would have been easy to look out at the lean crowd and go through the motions but the way they went about was admirable playing as if they were in front of a packed arena to twenty thousand people.
They went bang with the opener The Drooling Class followed by Falling On Death Ears and the anti-church sentiment of Tithe. “We are Hail The Sun” stated front man Donovan Melero after a temporary pause and picking up the pace again on Consumed By You and love song Made Your Mark. Melero didn’t say a lot but didn’t really have to as their songs did all the talking and commanding attention. Described as a “fun crowd” the fans were massively in to it singing all the songs with much passion and gusto making the most of their first time appearance in Adelaide.
The focus might have been on most recent album cut.turn.fade.back but the discography bats deep and it was great to hear gems from Wake (Human Target Practice, Relax/ Divide, Missed Injections) and Divine Inner Tension (60-Minute Session Blocks, the mass audience sing-a-long on Maladapted) as well. Melero isn’t afraid to mix it up either playing drums on Ow! (Splidao!) [I Like It, Though] being one of many highlights. Melero did express regret that it has taken them fourteen years to get to Australia but promised more frequent touring in future (get on board Adelaide and give them a reason to return).
Those who went had the night of all nights and can proudly say this is one of those gigs that you should of been at. Finishing on ‘Black Serotonin’ wrapped up a terrific show topped off brilliantly with some of the band coming out to say hi to the fans after. Already looking forward to the next Hail The Sun tour.
Live Review By Rob Lyon