Live Review: Day of Contempt @ Lion Arts Factory 31/07/26

Day Of Contempt w/Life Pilot, HAMMER618 & Forge @ Lion Arts Factory 31/07/26

"I won’t forfeit the chance to bring it back." – Ben Coyte, Day Of Contempt, 'Nothing Remains', See Through The Lies (2003).

Adelaide's metallic hardcore trailblazers Day Of Contempt were arguably at the forefront of bringing their sound to an international audience when it comes to the heavy music subgenre. The iconic quintet (who commenced in 1998) did not just undertake a touring venture overseas (they had already achieved this feat numerous times); the outfit in fact relocated to Orange County, California in 2004.

The five-piece would go on to acquire astronomical accomplishments while abroad, including performing on the Vans Warped Tour, supporting the likes of Good Charlotte, Avenged Sevenfold, The Used, Alexisonfire, Underoath, Atreyu, Between The Buried & Me, Bleeding Through, Eighteen Visions and many more. DOC also recorded an EP entitled The Will To Live with producer extraordinaire Josh Abraham (Slayer, Linkin Park, Kelly Clarkson), which was released via Pulse Recordings and Epitaph Records.

By 2006, though, 'The Ghost Of Tragedy' haunted the Australian metalcore adventurers beyond resolve. The remaining members returned home, and it was thought that Day Of Contempt had called it a day on their astonishing career.

"I won’t forfeit the chance to bring it back."

Even while abroad, DOC did return to their home town of Adelaide once in 2005, alongside Good Charlotte at the prestigious Thebarton Theatre. The quintet then reconnected for a dream tour of their own, supporting metalcore pioneers Earth Crisis around Australia in 2009. In June 2011, Day Of Contempt fantastically executed their last headline show in Adelaide.

For South Australia, the 2024 Froth & Fury festival marked the proper reunion for the five-piece. After a scintillating showcase supporting California's The Ghost Inside last year, now was the time for Day Of Contempt "to bring it back" home the best way they knew how – headlining high and mighty, as they had accomplished magnificently for decades.

An event as illustrious as this one (thanks to Jason North from The New Dead) was to be celebrated with local heavy acts only. Similar to the earlier times of South Australian hardcore, where DIY events were held in community halls and any other venues that would embrace this life-altering movement, which sensationally sprouted many years ago.

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Adelaide’s deathened metallic hardcore quartet FORGE was to be the introduction to this glorious exhibition, and besides an early start and growing crowd, the quartet attacked with an excellent abrasive energy, undeniably celebrating the opportunity set before them.

Having recently released their bone-crushing EP 2026 only weeks ago, the four-piece were gratefully promoting these punishing tracks in maniacal style, provoking a tremendous tension for the spectators. 'Born 2 Expire' was a devastating deathened drone hardcore pummelling where guitarist Mark Webster practically dislocated his neck in psychotic hysteria. 'Napalm' simply stomped venomously with dissonant beatdowns that slammed the souls of the observers in the best way possible.

"Tides' brought out HAMMER618's Shaun Hueston as a guest vocalist, where FORGE's BJ and Mr Hueston exchanged growls, snarls and shrieks in a brutiful hardcore bromance of insanity. 'F BOMB' enhanced this unhinged DEMONstration further, and truthfully, a bold statement had not only been made, but forged into the crowd with malevolent splendour.

If a fusion of Harm's Way with Arkangel is an auditory assault that would inspire and enthral you – FORGE is a requirement to the playlist.

"Come with me if you want to live…"

These eight famous words were uttered by Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 Model 101 from The Terminator (specifically the sequel Judgement Day). When the theme song from the action blockbuster erupted through the Lion Arts' sound system announcing HAMMER618's arrival, the audience was potentially hoping to hear this not-so-reassuring quotation from front-man Shaun Hueston.

It was not to be…

The command that was domineeringly delivered and understood more so came from the quartet’s track 'Banished': "Pick this shit up you fuckin' pussies!"

If the concertgoers were going to be terminated, they may as well go down swinging. Mr Hueston was delightfully deranged from the moment Shane Brown thrillingly thrummed his guitar strings, and Scott Williams wondrously walloped his drums. Two-stepping with the severity of a ravenous wolverine, the venue's stage was soon not enough for the vocalist, who carried out his magnetising derangement with the crowd below.

It was HAMMER time.

FORGE's BJ returned to the stage for another destructive duet of hardcore radiance and bromance – hardcore in Adelaide has undoubtedly been a "family" since its earliest incarnation (this alliance has actually taken place worldwide too in hardcore communities), and these bands thankfully embrace this historic bond beautifully.

'SIX ONE EIGHT' instigated the severity properly, with its Sunami-driven musicianship and mayhem. Two new songs were featured that escalated the overall excitement of the exhibition superbly; this vehement vitality then elevated impossibly further for 'King Of The Pit' and 'N.F.N.C.' in remarkable ruination.

In a very short timespan, HAMMER618 have brought hardcore havoc to the masses of enthusiasts in Adelaide – their next malicious manoeuvre is one to pay very close attention to, "if you want to live".

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According to the Fifth Edition of the Heinemann Australian Dictionary, released in 1995, "Anarchy" is defined as "a general state of disorder or uproar".

Welcome to Life Pilot.

Since 2012, Life Pilot have been navigating a manic machination of anarchy and destruction throughout Australia, parallel to the ferocity of the sorely missed noisecore group The Chariot from Georgia.

The "uproar" on this evening began with 'Raw Hide', and chaotic metalcore madness ensued immediately. Bassist Nick Evans stormed the stage with a murderous vigour comparable to a voracious red fox ready to decapitate a hare twice his size. Truthfully, if a red fox and honey badger were able to conceive a musical offspring, Life Pilot might just be that terRIFFying predator.

'Feeding An Illness' was a monstrous journey of post-nu-metalcore that Norma Jean would have been extremely envious of. Intriguingly, if the fantastic frenzy of LP became too much (this is extremely possible, but phenomenal), the spectators could glance above the band to find a hilarious film collection, including self-made band merchandise advertisements, and extracts of Dragon Ball Z.

Who doesn’t enjoy some hilarity with hysteria?

Drummer Eli Green was beyond man (and mad) with his percussive power and character. Astonishingly himself, Mr Evans, vocalist Angus Young, and guitarist Jake Lawrence all created havoc offstage as part of their rage ritual. The crowd understandably, and possibly frighteningly, responded with their own crazed antics. Specifically, a piggy-back situation between two moshers that was attempted but proved to be unsuccessful, but for all the right reasons, was an unquestionable highlight.

Closer 'By The Book' was animalistic and astounding. In all honesty, it was surprising there was a stage left after the chaos and anarchy. Guitars were thrown, bodies were bruised, and the smiles were boundless.

Suddenly, hundreds of enthusiasts had piled into Lion Arts Factory's main room; the building suddenly became overwhelmed with darkness, as a luminescent red glow of two sickles crossed glared from the back screen.

Adelaide was being prepared for Day Of Contempt.

Faith No More's 'Easy' blared out of the sound system, which eased the anticipation of the upcoming showcase, but also felt ironic and incredible simultaneously.

"WHAT THE FUCK, ADELAIDE!" Ben Coyte bellowed as he bolted onto the stage…

"This world, a fucking lie!"

'See Through The Lies' was the commencement, and the amazing annihilation in metallic hardcore euphoria that Adelaide required on this very night.

"I won’t forfeit the chance to bring it back."

DOC, you have brought it back, prodigiously.

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'Comatose' followed impeccably, and Mr Coyte galloped around the Lion Arts' platform in almighty exuberance, with both aggression and adoration pulsating through his every roared piece of poetry. This was above memorable; this was home, and guitarist Tom Deverix smiled joyously at the powerful pandemonium happening before the quintet.

"We are going to take it right back, to the 1900s shit!" Ben exclaimed.

'Where Shadows Lie' was charismatically calamitous. Guitarist Kevin Cameron swung his axe, jumped and fly-kicked in acrobatic wonderment, while drummer Ty Alexander shook the Earth remorselessly, almost turning back time to last century when this tremendous track first exploded into the adorers of heavy music.

"This is our first headliner in 15 years! I am recognising faces with more wrinkles and greys, just like us!" Mr Coyte happily expressed.

'Tear You Down' boomed sonically and overwhelmingly; the whole showcase had amplified to lunacy. Time or age didn't matter at this moment; Adelaide was caught in a metallic hardcore bliss of timelessness.

'Walk Away' and 'Scarred Proof' maintained the viperous magnitude exquisitely, so much so that the exhibition had to undergo a brief interlude for an audience member who had passed out. Gratefully, the band and the acutely aware concertgoers ensured the individual was carefully carried out of the situation safely.

Hardcore in Adelaide is a family.

During the interlude, Ben recalled the past, playing with pioneer bands such as Embodiment 12:14 and even Truth Corroded. "We’re lucky to be a part of this town," he articulated with genuine gratitude.

Ben would then go on to thank everyone in the building, as well as each bandmate, recalling how they met, whether through school or even Kevin being too young to enter Enigma Bar. He enquired whether anyone in the audience was in their 20s; numerous were, and at that moment, we all knew how special this showcase was.

'One By One' and 'The Slaughter Begins' closed out this distinguished event, and bassist Ben Loy was vibrant with his passionate vivacity and focus that radiated to everyone in Day Of Contempt and South Australia. Ben Coyte would return to the barrier to share his poetry with his family, as he had done countless times before.

We grasped, howled and embraced what our city embraced in music, regardless of genre. Family, togetherness, and unity.

"I won’t forfeit the chance to bring it back."

Thank you, Day Of Contempt.

Want more pics of the gig? Check out our full photo gallery here.