Review: Escape The Fate @ The Gov 11/06/26
Escape The Fate returned to Adelaide ready to open up the pit with a few special guests in tow to lend a hand.
Words Brad Pine // Images Justin White
Escape The Fate w/the Word Alive The Gloom In The Corner @ The Gov 11/06/26
Personally, my introduction to Escape The Fate came from my wife. As a music teacher, she works with her senior students to deliver various songs for assessment; one of which was ‘Gorgeous Nightmare’ back when Escape The Fate was released. So that song has always had a place in our memory.
We have not seen Escape The Fate on Australian shores for a few years, with their visit long overdue. Settling in the back of the elongated line at the Gov, we quickly entered to a sea of black clothing, with smatterings of unique hair colours and styles. Not long after the crowd positioned themselves just right, Nickelback’s ‘How You Remind Me’ was turned up with a singalong ensuing.
Not long after, Melbourne’s The Gloom In The Corner made their way onstage. Resplendent in a three-piece suit, vocalist Mikey Arthur took centre stage, declaring the first track to be a love song. For the uninitiated, the band’s metalcore style may not lend itself to love songs and ballads, however, amidst the screaming vocals, Arthur certainly has a superb voice – with his attire, he could have been a lounge singer crooning throughout the night.
“I expect headbanging,” came the call not far into their set. The band were there to warm us up, and they definitely lit the fire. The action-packed set created some slamming in the pit, especially during ‘Assassination Run.’ A highly entertaining start to the evening.
The second support for the night was Nashville metalcore heavyweights The Word Alive. Drummer Devin Attard commanded us to move up closer to the stage, with vocalist Tyler Smith also campaigning for more energy – “We gotta wake up!”
Instantly, we were thrown into their world; an absorbing, manic world. Within ‘Trapped,’ Smith’s vocals caught me immediately with a drawn-out scream that seemed to go on forever. Attard stood on his kit several times, glaring at us all to be involved. The audience participation with The Word Alive was constant; from kneeling before springing back up, to screaming back “HELL YEAH!” at the top of our lungs. A special guest appearance from Craig Mabbitt for ‘Casanova Rodeo’ had this crowd fully warmed up for the night.
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Light rods appeared on stage, no sooner than The Word Alive had left it. With a not-so-surprising ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ singalong, the stage was ready for the main event. Strobing, stark white lights signalled the entrance of Escape The Fate. “Rock horns at the ready!” Craig Mabbitt yelled as Escape The Fate opened with ‘Ungrateful.’ The band was thumping right into our souls with a new song, ‘Déjà vu,’ before delivering crowd favourite ‘Gorgeous Nightmare.’
“Adelaide, let’s scream!” There was no chance that the crowd would let the band down. ‘Ten Miles Wide’ and ‘The Flood’ were screamed back to the stage with as much power as the crowd could muster. So much so that Mabbitt genuinely seemed surprised we knew all the words. His incredible smile saying it all. “Are there any Ashleys in the room?” Another rapturous cheer. Actually, I think the cheering did not stop throughout. Sing-alongs became louder with each song, and the band’s energy went up every time.
‘Cheers To Goodbye’ had more guttural vocals from Mabbitt, kneeling and pleading throughout. “Give it up for you guys… You let us make music… It’s the soundtrack to yourself.” Mabbitt continuously praised the Adelaide crowd for their support.
After another new song, ‘Idle Potential,’ it was before ‘Low’ that the band officially agreed to open the pit; a brilliant interaction between Mabbitt and drummer Robert Ortiz, who seemed to have the final say. Many in the centre of the room pushed back to give the pit participants their space. The unreleased song ‘Last Goodbye’ became the perfect soundtrack for the pit.
The set did consist of many favourites, but the amount of new material littered within had me thinking when a new album might be on the way. Another new track, ‘Paranoia’, showed that the new stuff will go as hard as the older songs. It also signalled the end of the main part of the set.
With somewhat of a fake encore exit, guitarist Matti Hoffman came out to deliver a blistering solo before the back screen portrayed flames to the main theme from Halo 2. This interlude introduced the band once again, with Mabbitt screaming intensely to ‘This War Is Ours.’ Ortiz showed his amazing skills in ‘The Aftermath (The Guillotine III)’ before another outstanding and thunderous closer, ‘One For The Money.’
For over two decades, Escape The Fate have carved out their place in post-hardcore with an incredible stage presence and a reputation for being highly entertaining. Tonight was no exception. If your ears were not ringing after this show, you either had your earplugs in too far or you were not there. A night filled with blistering vocals, insanely good guitar riffs and drummers that were not afraid to stare down the crowd to keep on moving.
Want more pics of the gig? Check out our full photo gallery here.
