Knot-as White as I Thought

KNOTFEST 2025 review

Knotfest 2025 was a celebration of heavy music today. Offering a unique introspection of how many ridiculous sub-genres, waves, and eras we have made in our head, the line-up forced attendees to draw down their barriers and enjoy a hot and humid communion of nothing but heavy music. 

Sunami were the first band of the day, showcasing the cutting edge of hardcore right now. From San Jose, California, the beatdown-hardore outfit displayed the intensity it borrows from its younger fans. As metal-core bands jumped from each stage, Health was the first change in style. Sonically, this band stood out, a shining light of this festival lineup’s diversity in style and taste. Australia’s own metal-core four-piece In Hearts Wake, was the first glimmer of corniness for the day. Although having some great breakdowns, the band could just not recover from the horrendous black singlet of vocalist Jake Taylor, and painfully horrible stage presence. 

Hatebreed was a celebration of how far beatdown hardcore has come. A triumphant curtain call for “Perseverance”, released 23 years ago, the set was a mixed bag. ‘Metal-core’ fans have ruined Hatebreed, and from the lack of any windmilling and awfully quiet crowd, the band struggled to capture the presence that die-hard fans often reminisce on. Although a disappointing failure to completely return to form, their 45 minutes was nothing short of pure aggression. 

Slaughter to Prevail had the standout set of the night, with purely guttural vocals, mixed with an aura of violence that was missing from the entire day. The deathcore outfit hailing from “Mother Russia” (their words), are on the cutting edge of heavy music today. With a fanbase resembling those of an early Pantera – including the white supremacists – their breakdowns were terrifying to say the least. The Slaughter to Prevail checklist of gimmicks were all ticked; someone getting injured, an insanely large wall of death, the iconic no-mic scream, Alex Terrible’s bleeding forehead, and a dented microphone. However, the set brought about mixed emotions. A small pre-show r/Deathcore deepdive led me down a rabbit hole of discussion on whether or not Alex Terrible is currently a neo-nazi, a discourse that I could not shake the entire 50 minute set. After 10 dizzying minutes staring at small text on the bus, I can conclude Alex Terrible was once a neo-nazi, and not anymore. Yay?

The gratuity of SlipKnot’s hospitality was not unrecognised by all. Each band expressed their thanks to the legends leading the charge and curating a purely diverse celebration of heavy music today. However, watching the legendary metal outfit told a different story. Their place in the industry seemed dated, and out-of-place when playing against their newer and younger peers. Although a testament to their pioneering of a space for heavy music in pop-culture, will every SlipKnot show from here on out be a nostalgic ode to the 2000’s, and will it be every other year? Despite the staleness of its organisers, however, Knotfest 2025 was incredible, special, and not as white as I thought.