Words and Pictures (C) Adrian Hextall / MindHex Media
Your new favourite Australian metal band has arrived. On a sweltering August night, Battlesnake delivered an appropriate tour-de-force that lit up London’s legendary Camden Underworld, bolstered by ferocious support from Mother Vulture and Dead Air. It was an evening that felt less like a standard gig and more like a high-energy, theatrical sermon for the gods of rock and roll.
Battlesnake, are the rising Titans of Australian metal and hard rock. They have rapidly ascended from the depths of the underground, captivating audiences worldwide with a sound that fuses elements of Queen, King Gizzard, and Judas Priest. Renowned for their high-octane live performances, epic theatrical songwriting, and relentless energy, they have cemented their place as one of the most exciting acts in contemporary metal. Following their debut EP, ‘Myths and Legends from Gorbag’s Domain’ (2020), and self-titled full-length album (2023), the band’s 2024 release, ‘The Rise and Demise of the Motorsteeple’, marked a major breakthrough. Their success in the UK and EU saw them support iconic acts like KISS, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Jane’s Addiction, while expanding their international fanbase.
2025 will be Battlesnake’s biggest year yet, with the release of their new single Fathers of the Iron Flesh earlier in February, setting the stage for a monumental UK and EU tour. They’ve performed at some of the world’s top festivals, including Download, Copenhell (where I first got to see them live), Rock for People, and Mad Cool. With a fierce drive and unyielding dedication, Battlesnake is poised to conquer new territories and continue captivating global audiences.
Mother Vulture
First to the stage were Mother Vulture, a band forged in the Bristol music scene. Since their formation, they have built a reputation for their explosive, punk-infused hard rock and relentlessly chaotic live shows. With EPs like Go Big or Go Home and their acclaimed 2022 debut album Mother Vulture, they’ve honed a sound that pays homage to the classics while injecting a modern, unpredictable energy. This energy was on full display at the Underworld. Despite their lead singer arriving just 20 minutes before they were due on stage, you’d never know a panic was in the making. Mother Vulture delivered a hell of a set. Promoting their new album ‘Cartoon Violence’, they quipped about an upcoming Exeter launch show that no one from London would attend because “it’s too far away.” (If you’ve ever been to Exeter, you’d know that’s factually accurate). If however you’re a little more local than I am, then the ‘Cartoon Violence’ album launch show in Exeter on January 31st 2026 at the Phoenix will be worth doing. Tickets can be found here:
https://www.seetickets.com/event/mother-vulture/exeter-phoenix/3449571
Dead Air
Next up, London’s own Dead Air made the most of the immaculate Underworld sound system. Who are they you might ask? Well to quote one of their own tunes, “The Answer Is In The Question” except, well it isn’t. A bit of research was needed to get to the bottom of a band that emerged from London’s vibrant post-hardcore and alternative scenes. Dead Air formed in 2020 after uni friends Lyle & Rich finally decided to write their own music. The cake was missing the candles however and following a brief record shop encounter, two became three when the musical hurricane Reuben joined to complete the trio.
Dead Air moves beyond traditional hard music, exploring not only their love of a good riff but also a tight groove & anthemic melody. If you like to bang that head, but also belt out a a chorus, then you are in good hands with Dead Air and what the band jokingly describes as their “Rock & Rock” genre.
They proved a perfect bridge to the headliner, with “Fast Food World” being a particular delight. In “Black Flag,” they have material coming from their next release which takes aim at global overconsumption and throwaway culture. Its biting lyrics and high-tempo energy kept the crowd sustained and perfectly warmed up for the main event. It also proves the band have plenty to say and judging by the reception, a willing audience.
Battlesnake
There are bands you go to see, and then there are bands you must survive. Hailing from Sydney, the seven-piece metal phenomenon Battlesnake has been carving out a legend built on sweat, showmanship, and riffs heavy enough to forge a new world. Their reputation preceded them to the Underworld, and they did not disappoint.
The first clue that this wasn’t a typical metal show was the walk-on music: “Pie Jesu” from Monty Python. It was a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek masterstroke that set the stage for a night of sacred absurdity. Dressed in all-white, the band looked like escapees from a high-fantasy cult, with frontman Sam Frank as their charismatic, wild-eyed leader.
They launched into “Dawn of the Exultants,” and the room erupted. This is Battlesnake’s core magic: they craft a mythology so grand and knowingly over-the-top—part Excalibur, part D&D campaign—that you have no choice but to be swept along. The onslaught continued with “I am the Vomit,” a track whose soaring vocals and relentless drive ignited the floor. The Underworld became a tempest of circle pits and crowd-surfers, more alive than it has been in years.
This isn’t just noise; it’s pure theatre. “Motorsteeple” was a masterclass in relentless energy, while “Beezlebug II” became a massive, hypnotic singalong. The band feeds off this chaos. When a fan scrambled on stage for a quick dive, it wasn’t a security breach; it felt like part of the show. It’s this raw, unfiltered connection that has cemented their status as a must-see live act. (except according to the many posters dotted around the venue it was a security breach, but hey, how is that rock’n’roll’ eh?)
By the time they tore through the and blistering epic fable of “Nightmare King,” and closed with AC/DC’s “Let There Be Rock”, they had conquered every soul in the building. Battlesnake possesses the rare combination of musical tightness, a fully realised aesthetic, and a frontman who can command a stadium. Their rise isn’t just a possibility; it’s an inevitability. Witnessing them in a club setting felt like catching Led Zeppelin at the Marquee Club—a moment you know won’t come again. Expect to see their name in lights at festivals and arenas very, very soon.
SETLIST:
Pie Jesu (from Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
Dawn of the Exultants
I Am the Vomit
Motorsteeple
The Fathers of Iron Flesh
Beelzebug II
Aurorus Automatic
Nazarene Extreme
Moto Exordium
Murder Machine
Sanctum Robotos
The Rotten Priest
Pangea Breaker
The Battlesnake
The Key of Solomon
Shepherd Hunter
Nightmare King
Let There Be Rock (AC/DC cover)
About Author
