Spite @ The crowbar (26/04/2026)
- Zoe Aitchison
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Who would have thought? The crowbar had us all absolutely spoiled on a Sunday night with this stacked lineup!
Kicking off the night, we had the Melbourne metalcore band Ends in Tragedy. While they had some choice words about Sydney's roads, they really knew how to charm the crowd. The mosh was alive from the moment they began playing. It was refreshing to see bodies close to the front for the first act on the bill.
Moving through to Diesect, we had a couple of false starts to their set when the track playback failed. Despite this, the Crowbar's sound team and vocalist Damien Bigara worked quickly to get it fixed.
After getting it working, the sound was akin to starting a lawnmower: Three short stabs, and we were roaring. Overall, Diesect absolutely ripped and our Aussie metalcore scene was well represented with both openers!
Varials !! I was so excited for these guys. I got the idea that everyone who came to the show was equally hyped to see Varials and Spite. I would say it almost felt like a co-headline. When Varials took the stage, they took the energy up with them. Kicking off with Where the Light Leaves, vocalist Skyler Conder shared the mic with the audience, and of course, they knew every word!
The moment you've been waiting for. Spite !! These guys were actually insane. I think one of the first things Darius said to the audience that night sums it up well.
"I came a long way to be here tonight, i wanna see fucking bodies!!!"
Opening their set with the title track of their recent album New World Killer, Spite gave us exactly what we needed to hear.
Darius Tehrani (aka deathcore Jesus) tore the crowbar apart with the way he commanded everyone to move. The urgency in his tone cut through rows of people with sheer malice.
As soon as I heard Alex Tehrani start the riff for Gavel, that's when I knew it was about to go off!
I have to say, I think this track was twice as good live. It's a fair argument that Spite's music was meant to be heard loud, in the middle of a circle pit.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Spite gig without their anthem, IED. This was the song that sent the pit into a frenzy.
Stephen Mallory and Travis Regnier combine forces in a way that is just pure violence.
When you add heavy strobe lights and a pit full of stage divers, what you're left with is "spite cult motherfucker!!"
Overall, the setlist for this night was a good mix of old and new. Personally, I'm really glad they played Hangman. It was truly a privilege to experience Spite's stage presence on this one. Darius swung his head around with such force that I was genuinely worried he would end up snapping his own neck. Of course, I tried to look away to avoid biting my nails, but Alex, Stephen and Travis were truly going just as mental.
From what I've heard across the sydney spite cult, it seems like a good chunk of the audience woke up with stiff necks on Monday morning. That's how you know the night was worthwhile!
I felt like all the favourites were hit with Caved in, Lights out and of course Kill or be Killed, which was a legendary pick to close the night. The only other thing I would've wanted from the night would have been to hear them play despise for the sole purpose of hearing an Aussie crowd chant "Shove it up your fucking cunt."
As a first-timer in terms of seeing Spite live, I was thrilled to find that the fandom was full of the lovliest people. There was a really solid energy, especially in the way of mosh etiquette!
Dare I say, in comparison to some of the crowds spite has played for in the United States, I think we Sydneysiders probably looked a little soft, but alas, I'm Glad I left the venue with my limbs intact!
All this to say, if you are considering seeing Spite live, you should jump at the chance to grab a ticket. You will not leave disappointed!!
