LIVE REVIEW: VINDICTA + TERROR PARADE @ CROWBAR 28/06/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Photos Steph Ure

Well, heavy metal music was having a big moment and night in Brisbane with multiple venues across the city featuring some big international hitters, and it was all about choice. I feel like I made the right decision to head to the Crowbar to see the first ever performance of VindictA in Brisbane. They brought Terror Parade along for the ride as the two bandsdelivered a night of intimate and authentic heavy music with added drama. The two bands walk the line between sacred and profane with sacrilegious grins. The theatrical delivery mixed beauty with creepy, intriguing with the absurd. It was a night where you couldn’t take your eyes off the stage as the crowd were drawn into the worlds the bands created.

The evening commenced with Brisbane-based heavy goth rock outfit Terror Parade performing their opening song ‘Deathwish’ with a bone rattling scream as the band kicked into a barrage of hard melodiccounterpoint that created a dense, layered texture of sound. The band known by their stage personas are Zichxyna (vocals), Madman (guitars/vocals), Terrorizer (drums)and a newbassist (Rachel Kate from Flamboyant Nightmare) who was an absolute gun. The band delivered a theatrical and unrelenting live performance defined by heavy, driving groove blues and punk rhythms with dynamic visuals.

The nine-song set continued with ‘Seven Sins’, the fan favourite ‘Hollywood Dead’ and then the funny ‘Guillotine’ with a severed head swinging around. Despite the visuals and props, TerrorParade was more about the high energy and full-on, in-your-face performance with added bop in the beat. This was really demonstrated with the delivery of ‘Queen Of Darkness’, the new single ‘The Exorcist’ where the lyricism draws a line between our inner demons and the actions we take in life.

Terror Parade’s performance peaked with ‘Freak’, ‘Revolution’ and its anarchist flag as the crowd pumped their fists in the air. The band closed out their set with the “the weak will die/the strong will live” declaration and the sing along chant of “now the cities gonna burn to the ground” in ‘Burn This City’ with Zichxyna’s gut-driven dark fry and clean vocals blasting out across the venue. It was a nice touch. Terror Parade’s set was big rock fun and won the crowd.

After the stage was stripped of a drum kit, an amazing setlist from Terror Parade was procured with bassist notation which was a fantastic insight into the music. Those of us that got to see that really thanked Rachel Kate for that education. And, we waited…

Suddenly, the venue went dark and ecclesiastical gothic church music started to play and it filled the Crowbar with an unusual sonic vibe. It set the tone for the performance to come. The band members – the high priestesses - of VindictA took their place on stage one by one.

The drummer Gemma Sofia Salvatori (Kali) settled into the drum kit. Then, the bassist Wena Velasco (Medea) stalked onto the stage. She was followed by the guitarists Amber Maldonado (Lamia with added snakes) and Patri Grief (Rusalka with rosary beads for a capo). Then, the vocalist Grace Jane Pasturini (Lilith) strode on stage to deliver the “fresh beginnings” and the “gospel” according to VindictA.

It is important to note here that VindictA as a band is only six months old. It was born from the wreckage of the surrounding chaos, drama, controversy and implosion of Dutch metallic metalcore band Dogma. However, these powerful female musicians declared their independence and delivered their looking forward and vision through the creation of VindictA

The band has started writing their own songs, and this was their first ever tour of Australia and Brisbane. VindictA’s performance was all about reconnecting with fans and presenting their authentic music, and selves, demonstrating how they play live music without any interference or “middle men”.

With the blessing and permission of the original songwriter from Dogma (Alvaro Rabaquino), VindictA started their 13-song set with ‘Forbidden Zone’, ‘Made Her Mine’ and ‘First Peak’. The crowd bounced and sang along from the first chord. The Crowbar crowd were passionate and were totally sucked into the creative world VindictA performed on the stage. It was so beautiful and wild. The band’s vision was about bringing their authentic selves to fans: in fact, the whole night was about demonstrating instrument control and music coherence. Playing and singing – it was as live as you could get – as the band delivered their vision with heart: music and lyricism interwoven into its core.

With a sacrilegious wink, VindictA performed ‘Carnal Liberation’ as each band member demonstrated fervently that they knew every lyric as they sang along as they played. ‘Make Us Proud’ they did!

Fans were so happy that the musicians in VindictA had, as the song stated, their ‘Free Yourself’ as the jazz flavoured rhythm section delivered those huge beats and hooks.

At mid-set, there was the Madonna cover ‘Like A Prayer’ that just set the crowd on fire and the gig just went off! It was a colossal moment and a fantastic performance. Then, each member of the band, had a solo focus through the delivery of the songs ‘Bare To The Bone’, the fabulous ‘Father, I have Sinned’ and ‘Dark Messiah’.

The drummer Kali put on a blistering and sharp solo “engine” pounding of the drums, then, Lamia delivered guitar work that was impressive with classic riff work that raised the musicality and melodic dynamics of the set. Rusalka cut loose on her solos and she shone. The chemistry between Lamia and Rusalka was impressive as they co-ordinated their movements around the stage. Medea took the bass to the people as she slapped and headbanged like there was no tomorrow. And, of course, Lilith was the vocal centre as she sang her heart out as she dealt with the heat by downing a mix of blue Powerade and water to help her through.

The excitement in the venue was palpable as VindictA finished their regulation set and left the stage. The crowd was starstruck and clapping. Then, over the PA came a voice chanting a call and response “aussie, aussie, aussie” followed by “oi, oi, oi” from the crowd. Then, “one more song” and the crowd called back. The band returned to the stage to perform their outstanding new song ‘The Face Of The Clown’ with added ‘Pleasure From Pain’. The new song is a step up lyrically and brought a level of sophistication to end the set. It was brilliant!

VindictA delivered an authentic and real performance to the crowd that blended heavy headbanging riffs with melodic atmospheric hooks and a rhythm section that did not quit. It was full of emotion as Lilith’s vocals floated over the top. The crowd at the Crowbar were indeed happy with their choice to back authentic heavy metal music delivered with style and class by VindictA.

The crowd will now send vibes to the band to hurry on those new songs, and album, that we know VindictA are crafting and hope the band returns soon to Brisbane and Australia. It was an awesome and joyful night!