Northlane - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 8th August @ Penrith Panthers, Syd NSW

Northlane
Penrith Panthers, Sydney NSW
August 8, 2025
Supports: Ocean Grove, Mirrors and Heists

Could there be any more of an out-of-place venue for a metalhead to be than Penrith Panthers during Friday night footy? 

Braving the cold in my shredded fishnets and hovering in my platform Docs over what seemed to be half of the members' population of the footy club, a sad and sorry case of fish-out-of-water-itis was rapidly engulfing me. Mind you, this wasn’t my first rodeo at this humble venue, but was perhaps my first when the Panthers were *actually* playing that night. As half an hour passed, the black shirts soon descended upon the doors; a hefty mix of the band’s bill represented, Northlane shirts spitting out the Alien image, and Ocean Grove shoes treading carefully among the shin-deep puddles. This was more like home. 

Despite an agonising attempt at a smooth entry into the venue, stepping into Penrith’s own gladiator-style amphitheatre is enough to disillusion anyone and prepare the nerves for what is set to be a night of high adrenaline and buzzing energy. If there is one thing Penrith is known for, it is showing up and showing out- from start to finish. Before Heists even took to the stage, the tiers of stairs were proving to be a scorching commodity, with bodies encroaching on the spaces hugging the poles and doing all they could to avoid the edges of the stairs (stairs that have seen their fair share of venue-wide circle pits). 

Heists kicked off the night in boisterous style. Already, the band boasted an army within the crowd as fists flew upwards and words radiated back to them in an aggressive and passionate fashion. It was this same aggression that seeped from the stage- particularly from frontman Chris Zagas, whose overbearing stage presence made half the audience scurry into action at his beck and call. Armed with intense stage lighting flashing between them as their multiple guitars were sent on pilgrimages over the stage, Heist's heavy riffage became all-consuming, with violent and thunderous chugs now the heartbeat of the venue. Loud and bold, they made themselves known in the most beautifully intrusive way. 

Mirrors followed suit but came on with a different energy. Vocalist Patty Goodman raised his concerns, admitting his week was filled with sickness and a mild glimmer of hope at being able to get through these shows. It may seem trivial to say, but I think this admission was the turning point of his recovery, with the crowd nursing him wholeheartedly and warmly. There was an emphasis on crowd involvement. Friends wrapped around friends, and at times, friends became foes- but what travelled through the whole set was a whole lot of heart, and it was a feeling that was universal between band, fan, and cycled between. Bassist Jake Mackin quickly became a beacon of hypnotisation, his hair not just swirling, but creating a cyclone around him as it brutally, yet gracefully, flung to each heavy beat of the tracks. Together with delicate lights, Mirror’s set became emotionally captivating, fostering a palpable feeling of unity in the room. It was truly a delight to see. 

Next on the bill was Ocean Grove. The Melbourne boys are no strangers to my live scene radar and are also frequenters of this very theatre. To say my excitement was spilling is an intense understatement, and this sentiment appeared to be shared by many others in the room. There is always a different kind of energy that ignites the space before OG takes the stage. Whether it omits from longtime fans anticipating the spectacle ahead of them, a calibre of performance that has been honed and crafted show after show, or the beaming faces of first time watchers wondering just how their crazy records could be translated to a live setting, these feelings spill from body to body and begin to flood the air - a contagious and entrancing groupthink begins. As the new and apt opener of ‘OG FOREVER’ thunderously beats through the air, there is a reminder that no matter who takes the OG stage or who watches from below, there is a community present, and a home created within the environment they now own for the next short while. In his signature SPEED fingerless gloves that now appear glued to his hand, vocalist Dale Tanner, strangled the microphone as his serenading brand of quirky vocals thwacked those in the front row like a bullet from close range. 

Ironically, it was from ‘CELL DIVISION’ onward that the bodies in the room began to undertake fusion. The entire ten-song set was met with a restless and rowdy pit, not so much in the form of pushing and shoving, but with legs jumping in time, up and down, the whole time. My calves have never ached so much from such a short-stinted leg day. The night proved to be a flawless opportunity for OG to show off elements of their long-spanning career, with an extra special dose of attention paid to their latest release, ODDWORLD - a record that has unified the band and thus poured an inextricable feeling of connectivity and the value of individualism within their community. 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, ‘RAINDROP’ is one of the best songs to have been released within recent years, and the band’s exceptional performance energy breathes such a special life into the track, even more so than before. Seeing this song live is nothing short of three minutes of pure deliverance. It’s a moment to forget about the troubles that may have crawled with you through the door and immerse yourself in the beautiful melancholy of the track. With Twiggy at the helm, extending his arms outward, you can almost see the electricity that passes from crowd to stage. With a trifecta of hits leading the band off stage, I began seeing fuzzy during ‘JUNKIE$’. This was the mark of a band that had left everything they had on the stage, sparing no expense for their regional fans. 

Finally, it was time for the main event. A band that needs no introduction, but especially within Western Sydney, Northlane are local heroes, proving that anyone musically inclined in that room watching has the capacity to flourish just as much as they have. The bottom floor had now become the world’s largest sardine can with bodies squirming under the pressure of being far too close to each other, but not yet soundtracked with features to move. With the lights now one solid hue, an eerie ring began, almost like a call to arms. The crowd began to move, and patrons locked eyes with one another. From here, it became war. 

With style and grace, Northlane infiltrated the stage. None, however, were more captivating than Jonathon Deiley. Shrouded in a cloak, his performance was engulfed in darkness. Yet, when tracing up towards his face, two now orange and electrified pupils came to the surface. The sight was menacing and alluring, with my whole body now captivated by his mystical and haunting look. Now, this might eradicate all the cool points I have given him within the description, but he looked like Northlane’s very own Jawa from Star Wars. It was a visual spectacle like this that further aided the band’s intense industrial persona, which demands your attention within a live setting. Even moments of the past, usually shrouded in the confines of structured metalcore, became intoxicated with an invigorated moment of electronica and futuristic Northlane touch. The buzz in the air I spoke of previously was swiftly replaced by real currents, surging sparks that now define the erratic pulse of a band so cataclysmically redefining the scene. 

It was the performance of ‘Welcome To The Industry’ that really asserted something for me that night. That being the fact that this was the strongest I have ever seen Marcus Bridge perform. His conviction was led with assertive confidence. Throughout the night, he effortlessly tumbled and growled through his words. At times hellish, he appeared unfazed by the sheer atrocity and crudeness that he bellowed. The screams came naturally, as did the cleans, and it became a workshop in live vocals. Whether it be the comfort in local shows or the personal vindication sought from rising above the commentary, Marcus has swiftly adapted into a formidable force that left me in awe. 

As promised from our interview with Northlane, the night was a celebration of the band, from its earliest to its most recent. Many eras got a celebration, but the most important to me was Alien. This record has long been one of my favourite homegrown projects, and to see the sentiments of my fav tracks performed in a small space was nothing short of mesmerising. Churning through the likes of ‘Talking Heads’ and ‘4D’, there was a melancholia among the mutilation. As bodies speared into one another, we were somehow all connected. Wincings of pain turned into yearnings of the lyrics, with friends now hand in hand screaming the words of these tracks that are so deeply rooted in so many people’s journeys. With sweat, or maybe tears in my eyes, I took the time to take this all in whilst getting battered around the floor. This is the type of connection local shows are about- moments of elation and togetherness among the sweat and side punches. 

The room appeared to reach its peak during the intoxicating medley of ‘Ra’ / ‘Worldeater’ / ‘Dispossesion’ / ‘Jinn’, which threw fans through a time-travelling portal of the deeper and darker songs of the band’s catalogue. As Marcus lunged away from his cropped, tan suit jacket, the heat in the room intensified. Splatters of brain matter were left among the wooden floorboards as patrons used themselves as battering rams. If there was any energy left to spare, now was the time to use it. Yet, among all the commotion and the passion, my favourite part of the night was found a few songs earlier. And that was the performance of the hit track ‘Echo Chamber’ from their 2022 album, Obsidian. 

As the timeless intro rang through the room, the entire floor jumped in unison. ‘Echo Chamber’ is one of those songs you cannot help but move to, and the chorus itself is so anthematic it does not beg, but DEMANDS to be sung along to. Now, in thunderous choir style, the entire Panthers venue echoed the track's beautiful utterances - so much so, we began to drown out Northlane. Seeing men above their forties trying to climb upon their mates' backs to reach the heavens, or friends holding hands as they bashed into people, this song was pure catharsis. The energy it conjured almost outdid the one time I saw this song in the pouring rain… but it’s still just a little too special. 

As the night ended with ‘Citizen’, the fog machine was now replaced by the humid and thick air steaming from the crowd. Sweat dripped from shirts, new and old, now ripped and worn with battle stories to tell to generations ahead. Penrith had just witnessed another incredible gig, and was reminded of how lucky we are to foster such an incredible live music scene… and to have a Krispy Kreme so close next door for post-gig snacks! 

Northlane’s regional tour is a further amplification of the importance of live music, honing in on the brilliant craft of Australian acts, and allowing communities to flourish, connecting through shared values in ways that are truly special to the heavy music scene. Whilst some may think regional shows are a chance for bands to let their hair down and take a night off from the theatrics, Northlane proved anything but. In my humble opinion, this was the strongest I have ever seen this band, oozing with a confidence and assuredness that was palpable and infectious. From the moment they took the stage, they owned it, not only earning their flowers but taking the whole garden with them. Armed with a hefty lineup of our finest local talent, this tour was nothing short of a spectacle, and an essential reminder to remember what’s within, before we look outward. Covered in bruises and my heart now recharged, Northlane’s tour was a healing experience… It was catharsis. 

Review by Georgia Haskins @ghaskins2002

Photo Gallery by Jackson Saunders @jsaundersfilm. Please credit Wall Of Sound and Jackson Saunders if you repost photos.

Final tickets here