Killswitch Engage - NX, Newcastle 11.10.2025
- Sean Friswell
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Killswitch Engage
Hatebreed
Decapitated
A four band bill on a Saturday night normally means an early start and the first band playing to the room as the crowd are still filing through.
Not so for tonights opener however as NX had pretty much already filled out when Decapitated took to the stage to kick off this evenings assault on the senses! I know a number of folk who’d got tickets because Poland’s death metal quartet were on the bill and they certainly weren’t disappointed! Bathed in a wash of blue and green backlights and blinding strobes the four piece smashed through their 30 minute slot setting the pace for the evening.
With the bar already set high New Jersey’s Fit For An Autopsy weren’t taking their foot off the gas and delivered a skull crushing seven song set to a very receptive crowd .The complexity of songs like 'Pandora' and the epic 'Sea of Tragic Beasts' stood out to me as a first timer but no doubt came as no surprise to the seasoned fans smashing each other about the floor.
Unlike the first two bands tonight I am a bit more familiar with our third band on the bill Hatebreed who are now into their 35th year! ( whaaaat?) I was first introduced to these guys by a fellow dj friend of mine at the club we ran back in the day and hearing them open with the big floor filler of that time I Will Be Heard brought waves of memories flooding back.
With each band the presence of security in the pit increases expecting the surfers and by the time we get to 'As Diehard as They Come' and 'Perseverance' it’s probably a good plan !
Our headliners Killswitch Engage take to the stage with a pounding 'Strength of the Mind', Jesse Leachs’ intro scream letting us know he means business tonight and in no time at all those increased security folk are earning their keep catching the bodies flying over the barrier!
Now while I do love my metal I still like it to have melody amongst the brutality and that’s something Killswitch have by the bucketful. The twin guitar attack of Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz give the band plenty scope to take your face off off with the likes of 'Numbered Days' and 'Hate By Design' but also have the subtlety of 'Aftermath' and the Queensryche tinged 'I Believe' sitting comfortably in the set with pure ragers like 'The Signal Fire.'
It has to be said the crowd tonight were one of the best I’ve seen in a long time not only showing up early and packing the place for all the bands, mosh pits all over the place, crowd surfers aplenty but also creating spine tingling moments with every voice singing those huge hook lines in 'My Curse' and 'End Of Heartache' much to the bands delight!
It was great to see the band having so much fun up on stage too for a genre that gets such a serious rep.
I was over the moon a particular favourite of mine 'Rose of Sharyn' was early in the set while I was in the photo pit so I got to see close up Adam resplendent in his “I’m With Stupid “ t shirt bouncing about the stage trading licks with Joel just living his best life having a blast!
Set closer is the classic 'My Last Serenade' combining all of their power, melody and heavy ass beats it’s no wonder this song has stood the test of time these last 23 years since its release it still sounds as fresh and huge as it did back then!
Have to admit it’s a long time since I’ve been at a gig where all four bands gave a 10/10 performance I don’t think anyone could argue that point.
Mind you it’s the first time I’ve been at a gig where the sound was so beefed up ( not ridiculously loud just really powerful) it battered my head so much I thought I might need a dentist the next day to fix the teeth it had rattled loose haha.
Photos - G's Gig Shots
Comments