Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse transformed into a haven for metalheads as Knotfest Australia 2025 roared into town, bringing a lineup of heavyweights from across the globe.

From the second I entered the grounds of Centennial Park, a smile emerged on my face and I can tell you it still hasn’t left. The vibes were immaculate. I hadn’t seen anything like this since Soundwave 2012. An endless sea of tattoos, hair in every colour and cut imaginable, custom denim jackets covered in band patches from every era of metal and nothing but eager anticipation for each act; I was in my happy place.