November 29th was the day that the Metal United Down Under Festival descended upon Brisbane, alongside 12 other cities to showcase the sheer mass of talent and diversity the Australian Metal scene has to offer. 91 bands performed that day, 13 of which took to the VIBE stage at the Indooroopilly Hotel in Brisbane.

Opening the show at 2:30pm was the relatively new band, SEDATION. They delivered a solid set of Post-Hardcore with a sense of maturity beyond their years and the early crowd were immediately receptive.

TRINATYDE, fresh from their time in Indonesia, engaged with the crowd, with the lead singer spending most of the set on the floor with the punters. These guys have been playing around Brisbane for a little while now and are starting to build a solid fan base.
 

Next on the bill were Cairns based Post-Metalcore band, ANSLINGER. The heavy, yet melody driven music and shared, diverse vocals won over many new fans as this was their first Brisbane show. They performed tracks from their EP "Almost A Trap" with precision and a real conviction.
 

Thrash metal ambassadors ASYLUM then took to the stage and dove headfirst into a collection of their own tracks with a few classic thrash covers thrown in for good measure. These guys are great at what they do and are proudly flying the flag for Thrash Metal in Brisbane.
 

The CILIKIS were the only instrumental band of the day and took the crowd on a musical journey. Showcasing incredible musicianship and songwriting ability, this Progressive Metal Trio have some serious skill and despite the lack of a frontman, they connected well with the audience.
 

ANTI-CHRISTS ANONYMOUS, Brisbane Punk/Metal hybrids, were a major standout on the day with their ability to mix heavy elements with a real Punk (in)sensibility and a refreshing tongue-in-cheek attitude. AA are one of the more interesting bands in the Brisbane scene right now, and upon seeing them deliver so strongly, it is no wonder why.
 

Brisbane's TRIAMERA delivered a tight, guitar-driven show of Modern Metal which included songs from their latest release "Extinction". This band has already made quite an impact over the last few years and don't show any signs of slowing down.
 

The crowd had grown substantially by the time Gold Coast locals AZREAL hit the stage. The band was in top form and blazed through their set. Vocalist Luke dominated the stage and the crowd with his energetic performance.
 

Brisbane Metal veterans LACERATION MANTRA thundered their way through their set like a well oiled machine, proving that the roots of the Brisbane Metal scene still held true. Everything about the performance was heavy, and that is exactly what the crowd wanted.
 

The smoke machine was set to overdrive in preparation for DARKC3LL's performance as the Addams Family Theme song turned everyone's attention to the stage. The band began strong and kept the energy high throughout the performance, satisfying the ever growing fanbase and winning many new fans with their addictive brand of Dark Industrial Rock.
 

The time had come for the headline act, INHAILED from the Sunshine Coast. True musicianship was on show as the band delivered strong grooves and face melting guitar solos that had the crowd screaming for more. Despite a temporary venue power failure the band didn't miss a beat, shrugging off the interruption and diving right back into some seriously heavy riffs. This is one band to look out for in the future.
 

4 DEAD IN 5 SECONDS from the Gold Coast, also recently returned from Indonesia, moved through their set of Melodic Death Metal with purpose and a confidence gained from recent touring.

South Brisbane's LAVIDIUS closed the night with a groove filled set that was unfortunately cut short due to time constraints.

Throughout the day, the ladies from Eunoia Dance performed various routines to keep the crowd entertained and deserve a special mention.

In closing, Brisbane's Metal United Down Under 2014 was an incredible success. To the volunteers and staff at MMK Music Promotions, this would never have happened without your ongoing support of the Brisbane Music Scene.

*Contributed by our Australian partners Metal Roos

Photography: Gethin Hill Photography