Featuring No Way Out, HEAT, Judged By Twelve, and TIMEPEACE.

Hardcore was back in full force at The Tote as Frankston’s own Fever Shack tore through a blistering headline set, backed by a stacked lineup of Victoria’s best heavy acts—each bringing their own flavour of chaos to the legendary venue. With No Way Out celebrating 20 years of existence, Judged By Twelve bringing Geelong violence, and Time Peace making their live debut, the night had all the makings of a memorable hardcore show.

Kicking off the night, TIMEPEACE wasted no time making their presence known. Featuring Robyn Challands (of PBS 106.7 FM’s No Barriers) on vocals, the brand-new outfit came in swinging with a set full of raw, unrelenting energy. No recorded material? No problem. The band’s intensity was enough to win over the early crowd. Keep an eye out—if their debut set was anything to go by, Time Peace won’t be flying under the radar for long.

Judged By Twelve took the stage next, bringing a heavy dose of their Pivot City Violence LP to Melbourne. The band delivered each song with a punishing weight that had the floor moving. With their 2024 record setting a fresh standard, Judged By Twelve made sure everyone was ready for anything on this sweaty Saturday night at The Tote.

By the time HEAT hit the stage, the room was fully locked in. No gimmicks, no frills. The band room by this point was packed at this sold out show. If Time Peace and Judged By Twelve had warmed the crowd up, Heat had them boiling over. The set was a masterclass in how to build and sustain chaos in a room that thrives on it.

Celebrating two decades of mayhem, No Way Out delivered a set that was equal parts nostalgic and devastating. Pulling from their entire discography, including the fresh Better You Than Me LP, the band proved exactly why they’ve lasted this long. Tracks from their 2009 self-titled record sent OG fans into a frenzy, while newer material hit just as hard. Brothers Andrew and Jack Rieveley led the charge, and by the time they closed out their set, the entire room was a swirling mass of bodies and hardcore pride.

Finally, it was time for Fever Shack, and from the first note, it was clear they weren’t here to play nice. Coming off the back of 2023’s Raw Doggin’ Reality, the South East Melbourne outfit ripped through their set with the precision of a band that’s spent years perfecting their craft. Jacob “Grid” Millman commanded the stage with an intensity that turned the already chaotic floor into an all-out war zone, while Dozer and Larry Mack’s guitars cut through the air like weapons.

If anyone thought they might take their foot off the gas towards the end of the night, Fever Shack had other ideas. The crowd gave as good as they got, diving, screaming, and losing themselves in it all. By the time the final song rang out, The Tote felt like it had been through battle.