Killswitch Engage, Sylosis, Heists @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 12/11/2026
It has been a massive week in live music in Adelaide particularly for fans of metalcore, hardcore and metal genres being topped off famously by the dream pairing of Killswitch Engage and Sylosis with support from up and comers Heists. Phew! This was an awesome triple bill with Killswitch more than confirming their elite status at the top of their game. Hindley Street Music Hall was the place to be with another near capacity crowd, many of whom are backing up from Iron Maiden the night before. I’d be very surprised if anyone walked away feeling disappointed or short changed with what was experienced because what we did see a band right at the top of their game. In short, Killswitch Engage nailed it! Anyone who says they didn’t doesn’t know what they are talking about.
It was a tough challenge for Heists opening for a band of the calibre of Killswitch Engage. It is no easy feat at the best of times playing to someone else’s crowd but they won this die hard crowd over with flying colours. Having seen them a couple of times over the last twelve months they are rapidly improving, make some serious inroads and proving to be quite the band with plenty of good times in front of them. Charging out of the blocks from the get go they had the crowd bouncing on Lights Out and Death Calls. The sense of gratitude in what was collectively described as “the greatest moment of my life” was a mark of respect to a band they look up to making the absolute most of it. Submerged In Pain, Defeated and Miles Away were awesome complete with the request from the band being the biggest circle pit of their career.
Sylosis were incredible! Quite the step up from last tour at Lion Arts Factory with a big production and earth-shattering sound. Also, this would be the first time hearing songs from new album The New Flesh. Having seen Architects and now Josh Middleton fronting his own band it does make you wonder whether he was being used to his full potential in his former band. He has all the rock swagger and shreds on guitar. There was a real sense of unity with the set with plenty of fists raised in the air like a war chant going in to battle. Beneath The Surface set the tone and the likes of Poison For The Lost and Erased carried that momentum and intensity. Middleton asked the question of the Adelaide crowd whether this would be the “clincher” to be the greatest show on the tour [of course it would be!]. The anthemic All Glory, No Valour was brilliant as was the spirited Pariahs followed by a wall of death in Deadwood that can only be described as brutal. Sylosis left the stage smouldering and a tough ask for anyone coming on after.
Killswitch Engage were clinical and played with such precision full of fire and brimstone. Hard to not be in awe of this headline performance. Walking out to AC/DC’s For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) set the back drop amongst green spot lights for Fixation On The Darkness. Blimey, This Is Absolution was epic with the crowd singing lifting the energy and tone of this one ten fold. This was brilliant and we were only second song in. Hells Bells! Singer Jesse Leach made his opening remarks saying that they would play songs from every album and to “have some fun and drink some beer!” Old fans, new fans… all bases were covered. The band were in rampaging form knocking over The End Of Heartache, Aftermath, A Bid Farewell and In Due Time.
The energy of the crowd was next level, didn’t waver, didn’t off and if they weren’t moshing or crowd surfing it was some of the gnarliest circle pits and wall of death you had ever seen in this venue. Even Leach acknowledged that he felt like they were off to a good start asking the crowd if they were feeling with a emphatic response confirming that. The positive messaging of being united was a theme that ran riot right through telling the crowd that “we are not divided” and that moments like this are case evidence of that. It was a “remixed” version of Unleashed that followed with Hate By Design and This Is Where It Dies also supporting that theme of unity. Forever Aligned and The Signal Fire were massive moments in their set and Leach spoke of his hope that better days are ahead saying that “it starts with you, not a politician or a billionaire, treat each other better and step the fuck up and make the next FaceBook post a positive one”.
The band kept it full throttle right to the end flexing plenty of muscle on Daylight Dies and Rose Of Sharon and a nod to former front man Howard Jones. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz showed a brief moment of humour saying “is that a trash bag?” or “that would be the shittiest Jedi Knight ever” in response to a coat thrown up on stage. My Curse and the epic My Last Serenade were absolutely massive moments of cataclysmic proportions leaving Adelaide with the message that “there is no greater weapon against the world of hatred is love, peace and unity”. Brilliant show which was powerful, unifying and electrifying. Time for a Panadol and a lay down.
Live Review By Rob Lyon