LIVE REVIEW: ILL NIÑO + THESE FOUR WALLS + BEAST MACHINE @ THE TRIFFID 14/09/25
Photo Charlyn Cameron
Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi. Photos Charlyn CameronBack in 2001 when the Nu Metal movement was at its peak, Ill Niño were its kings. Their performance at The Triffid demonstrated why as they took to the stage with the kind of fire that dragged the crowd straight back there. The crowd went off when Ill Niño ripped into ‘Revolution Revolución’ classics that had the crowd going crazy - so loco.
The concert had an unexpected change when the original supports Adema had to cancel their journey to Australia. The Ill Niño and Adema Australian joint tour had to change due to a medical emergency. It was such a shame for Adema who had never been to Australia before, hopefully one day they will make it down here. The band have so many great songs in their back catalogue that I still love and would like to hear live. But two local bands, Northern NSW based Beast Machine and the fantastic Gold Coast based band, These Four Walls, stepped up and took their place instead.
Beast Machine, took to the stage, and delivered the opening set of the evening. It was screamcore all the way with breaks of songs and electronics between the set. Beast Machine consists of Josh Paish (drums) and Reg Barber (guitar). If you want to know what sort of noise two people can make with a guitar and drums – this duo can answer that question.
Beast Machine played tracks from their new EP ‘While It Burns’ including their new track ‘Bombs Away’. The drummer really goes hard, and the crowd really appreciated his work. When Nick (vocalist) joined the band on stage to bring a “Pantera sound”: the fuller sound and action was really engaging. Nick stated that he wanted his son, Jack, to see him perform, and it was a great 3 minutes. Beast Machine closed out their set as a duo.
There was a short stage re-arrange, and a quick sound check for These Four Walls. The crowd moved closer to the front as the Gold Coast based band got settled. These Four Walls, who have done some impressive supports in their time and know how to work a stage, kicked off with ‘Chaos’ and brought the melodic heavy which the crowd really loved. The band’s massive tuneful sound is fantastic, and they put on a live show that is above and beyond your average opener. In fact, These Four Walls have just come off their own headline tour.
Photo Charlyn Cameron
These Four Walls’ line-up is Steve Gibb (vocals and guitar), Gray Vickers (lead guitar), Brad Vickers (drums) and Elliot Burton (bass guitar) and they delivered a big heavy rock sound underscored with some luscious melodies and the crow really appreciated the skill and the sound. The vocalist, Steve Gibb, has a fantastic rock voice and its just lovely to listen to him sing.
These Four Walls knew that they did not have much time. The band played a dynamic, and short set, and concentrated on their newest and best songs like ‘Marigold’ and the terrific songs ‘White Lies’ and ‘Carousel’. Their music and delivery was so controlled, that the songs flowed like a melodic heavy rock river especially when they delivered the stunning new song ‘Into The Ocean’.
The guitar riffs and breaks from Gray Vickers were first class. It seemed like the set had just started when ‘Talons’ was played. Suddenly, the last song ‘Bravery’ was delivered, and it closed out the set with its lovely ethereal sounds with bass line and drum rhythms.
Then, The Triffid stage crew played tetris with the packing away of kit and instruments under the stage. And the stage was cleared, except for the extra percussion and drums going into the back of the stage. The lights went out and Ill Nino’s introduction music was played. It had been over 8 years since Ill Niño last set foot in Brisbane, and the anticipation inside The Triffid was buzzing as the crowd waited.
Photo Charlyn Cameron
The crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, ready to hear Ill Niño. And the reason for clearing that stage became evident, as Ill Niño stormed the stage with energy, spins and kicks. Front man, and new vocalist, Tommy Roulette (ex-Jynx) owned the space. He bounced across the stage with skill while nailing that unmistakable Ill Niño sound as he and the band launched into the first two songs: ‘Still Hate Me’ with its huge drum kicks and rhythms and then, ‘This Is War’ turned the dial higher with its thrashy punk metal energy that demanded headbanging from the barrier and the guitarists, and a great guitar solo courtesy of axeman Jes de Hoyos.
The drums and percussion were to be focus of Ill Niño’s sound and the gig. The band uses both a drummer (in band founding member Dave Chavarri) who drummed up a storm and a percussionist (Daniel Couto) who was in charge of the other drums that give this characteristic Latin American sonic vibe to their songs. The congas boomed their distinctive sound around the venue and the crowd loved it. It was really special when Dave Chavarri, Daniel Couto and Tommy Roulette drummed together in an explosion of tribal rhythms half-way through the set.
Photo Charlyn Cameron
The tracks ‘This Times Real, ‘Loco’ and the very popular ‘Te Amo, I Hate You’ were performed full of energy and fire. Tommy Roulette stalked around the stage like he was on fire, barking out commands to get the circle pit happening and encouraging the crowd to let go. His energy as he left the stage to dive into the crowd and sing from the top of the barrier was physical and powerful. The guitarists Sal Dominguez and Miguel Sanchez kept the melodies in the songs fresh. The bassist Lazaro Pina was totally charismatic onstage with his jumps, spins and his infectious Latin bass line pulses.
Ill Niño played hit after hit after hit, and the crowd got into sing-along mode. ‘What Comes Around’, ‘Cleansing’, the forceful ‘God Save Us’, one of the band’s heaviest songs worked perfectly and the crowd were going off. Then, suddenly, Dave Chavarri made a speech and acknowledged his local family ties and then he got up from behind the drum kit and the rest of the band followed him, the bassist tipping his hat, as they said goodnight and left the stage.
Photo Charlyn Cameron
The set had taken around 38 minutes. After a short break, the encore of the gig started. The terrific song ‘What You Deserve’ which the crowd loved was played. As the encore tipped into chaos Ill Niño weaved in snippets of KoRn’s ‘Blind’, Pantera’s ‘Walk’ and Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and it was fun. Then, the set was closed out with Ill Niño’s biggest hit ‘How Can I Live’, and it was a high energy way to end the gig and leave the crowd on a high: drenched in a halo of nostalgia and sweat.
As I left the venue, the crowd were happy and content. They chatted about how great it was to have seen Ill Niño back in Australia. And they were happy to have had the time with the band in a live setting. Tommy Roulette really made a lot of fans happy as he nailed it with the band’s songs.
Hopefully, Ill Niño will return quickly to Australia as the appetite was there in the crowd to see them play again. As one uber fan said to me as we walked down Stratton Street tired and happy from a week of some the best heavy metal bands in the world playing in Brisbane, and with Ill Niño putting the crown on that full week: “Best fun ever!”
Photo Charlyn Cameron
