{"id":64203,"date":"2026-08-03T13:18:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/64203\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T13:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:18:13","slug":"live-gallery-wage-war-orthodox-and-heavensgate-took-over-melbournes-forum-theatre-2-08-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/64203\/","title":{"rendered":"Live Gallery: Wage War, Orthodox And Heavensgate Took Over Melbourne’s Forum Theatre 2.08.2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Forum Melbourne\u00a0became a meeting point for modern metalcore as\u00a0Wage War\u00a0arrived in the city on their\u00a0It Calls Me By Name\u00a0world tour, joined by American heavyweights\u00a0Orthodox\u00a0and Australia\u2019s own\u00a0Heavensgate. Across the evening, all three bands demonstrated why metalcore continues to evolve while retaining the intensity that has made it one of heavy music\u2019s most enduring genres.<\/p>\n

Opening the night,\u00a0Heavensgate\u00a0wasted little time making their presence felt. The Melbourne outfit\u2019s blend of crushing riffs, industrial textures and contemporary metalcore provided an ideal introduction, reaffirming why they have become one of Australia\u2019s fastest-rising heavy acts.<\/p>\n

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Kentucky\u2019s\u00a0Orthodox\u00a0followed with a performance rooted firmly in hardcore\u2019s uncompromising spirit. Their abrasive, groove-laden sound brought a different dynamic to the bill, balancing raw aggression with precision and ensuring the room was fully primed before the night\u2019s headliners emerged.<\/p>\n

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By the time\u00a0Wage War\u00a0took the stage, the Forum had become a sea of movement. Since emerging from Florida with\u00a0Blueprints\u00a0in 2015, the band have steadily expanded their sound beyond straightforward metalcore, weaving melodic hooks and emotionally charged songwriting into a catalogue that has connected with audiences worldwide. Albums such as\u00a0Stigma\u00a0and the recently released EP\u00a0It Calls Me By Name\u00a0have continued that evolution, while singles including the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart-topper\u00a0\u2018Magnetic\u2019\u00a0have demonstrated the band\u2019s ability to balance accessibility with undeniable heaviness.<\/p>\n

The Melbourne show also underlined the group\u2019s reputation as a formidable live act. Built through years of touring alongside\u00a0Slipknot,\u00a0Architects,\u00a0Parkway Drive,\u00a0Papa Roach,\u00a0A Day To Remember\u00a0and\u00a0Three Days Grace, Wage War\u2019s performances have developed into tightly executed showcases of controlled intensity. Returning to Australia after their appearance at\u00a0Knotfest 2024, they arrived with the confidence of a band continuing to refine both their sound and stagecraft.<\/p>\n

For fans inside the Forum, this night was a snapshot of where contemporary heavy music currently stands, with established international names and emerging Australian talent sharing the same stage while pushing the genre forward in their own ways.<\/p>\n

Check out our full gallery below for highlights from Wage War at Melbourne\u2019s Forum Theatre.<\/p>\n

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Images by Brad Kendell<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The tour moves to Brisbane and Sydney next, tickets HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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