LIVE REVIEW: LAMB OF GOD + TRIVIUM + BLEED FROM WITHIN @ RIVERSTAGE BRISBANE 11/10/26

Words and Photos Charlyn Cameron

How fucking good is it to have Trivium and Lamb of God on the same bill? I last saw them at Knotfest in 2023 and 2024 respectively, so getting both together at Riverstage, with Bleed From Within opening, was something I was keen for. Brisbane was the final stop of the Australian tour, and I was back to catch all three.

Glasgow’s Bleed From Within made their Australian debut in October 2025 supporting The Ghost Inside, but I missed that run. Tonight was finally my chance to see the Scottish band for myself.

Before they even appeared, Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ was playing over the speakers. A familiar bit of rock before things got considerably heavier.

Frontman Scott Kennedy wasted little time keeping things moving. “We got to keep it fast and moving,” he said after the opening song, leading straight into ‘The End of All We Know’. It was an early indication of how much the band intended to squeeze into their opening slot.

Alongside Kennedy were guitarist and clean vocalist Steven ‘Snev’ Jones, bassist Davie Provan, drummer Ali Richardson and fill-in guitarist Harrison Mills. Mills, from Pain Body, had stepped in for Craig ‘Goonzi’ Gowans, who had to leave the tour because of a family emergency. He’d learned the entire set in just a week, which deserves some serious credit.

Kennedy also shared his favourite thing about Australia: “my favourite thing about Australia is that I can use the word cunt as a term of endearment and Brisbane you guys are a bunch of fucken good cunts.”

‘A Hope in Hell’ got about as close to a ballad as this set was going to get. It was a change of pace, but they weren’t taking it easy on us.

By the fifth song, a wall of death was on the agenda. During ‘God Complex’, Kennedy had another instruction: get down and wait. He kept everyone down until he gave the signal to jump.

There was some interstate rivalry thrown in, too. Kennedy told Brisbane that Sydney had been the best crowd, earning boos before challenging us to top them. With this being the final night of the run, Brisbane had its chance to have the last say.

‘I Am Damnation’ got a local touch, with Kennedy slipping “Brisbane” into the lyric at the start. Then came the unmistakable sound of bagpipes ringing out over Riverstage during ‘In Place of Your Halo’, bringing a bit of Scotland to Brisbane.

And Bleed From Within, right back at you. You’re a bunch of fucking good cunts.

Next came Orlando, Florida’s Trivium, with Matt Heafy on vocals and guitar, Corey Beaulieu on guitar and backing vocals, Paolo Gregoletto on bass and backing vocals, and Alex Rüdinger behind the kit.

They powered through their set, with crowd surfers making their way towards the barrier throughout. Between watching the band and the bodies coming overhead, there was plenty to take in.

It’s easy to get caught up in the crowd, but there’s a lot to appreciate in the playing, too. Heafy has his hands full handling guitar duties while moving between singing and screaming. Alongside him, Beaulieu brings the lead guitar work, and the way their parts fit together is a big part of what I enjoy about Trivium.

The same goes for Gregoletto and Rüdinger. With so much happening on guitar, the bass and drums hold everything together through the faster passages and changes in pace. These songs have plenty going on, but there’s always a melody or chorus to pull you back in. You don’t have to know every little detail to get something out of them.

Before introducing new single ‘Dead Inside of Me’, Heafy encouraged everyone to look inside themselves and lose themselves together in the music. It gave us a taste of the band’s forthcoming eleventh album, and another song to get familiar with before its release.

I last saw Trivium at Knotfest in 2023, so getting a longer set this time was something I’d been looking forward to. There was more time to take it all in, from the heavier parts to the melodies that make their songs stick.

The crowd surfers continued right through to the end, with plenty coming over during the final stretch. Even with another band still to play, people were making the most of Trivium’s remaining time onstage.

Richmond, Virginia’s Lamb of God took the final slot, with Randy Blythe fronting the band alongside guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell and drummer Art Cruz. I last saw them at Knotfest in 2024, so it was good to have them back in Brisbane to finish the night.

There’s a lot to like about the way Lamb of God’s music fits together. Morton and Adler’s guitar parts have that familiar weight, with riffs that make you want to move your head along. Campbell’s bass adds to it, while Cruz’s drumming gives the songs their drive. Over the top of it all is Blythe’s voice, an unmistakable part of the band’s sound.

Where Trivium draw you in with melody and big choruses, Lamb of God get plenty out of a heavy groove. It’s something they’ve built their sound around for years, and a big part of why their songs are so recognisable. Sometimes it only takes the start of a riff to know exactly what’s coming.

The band paused briefly after each song before kicking straight into the next. After Trivium had powered through their set, those pauses were noticeable. They gave the performance a stop and start rhythm, with a brief chance to catch your breath before the next song kicked in.

At points, the sound came across as choppy from where I was listening. It was difficult to pinpoint why, but there were moments when it made the set harder to settle into.

Before launching into ‘Walk With Me in Hell’, Blythe gave Trivium and Bleed From Within a shoutout, dedicating the song to both bands on the final night of the tour. It was a nice way to acknowledge everyone who had shared the stage across the Australian run, and brought the focus back to just how good this lineup was.

How often do you get Trivium and Lamb of God together, with Bleed From Within opening? That lineup alone had me excited, and getting to see all three at Riverstage was well worth the wait. There was so much to enjoy across the night.

Seeing Trivium and Lamb of God again was something I’d been looking forward to, and finally catching Bleed From Within made the night even better. Bleed From Within gave me plenty to remember, Trivium delivered a set I could’ve happily watched more of, and Lamb of God brought the heavy finish. Three bands I’d happily turn up for again. Brisbane got a fucking good night of metal to close out this tour.