Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineJune 23, 2025gallery, live, melbourne, Odin Imaging, Nathan Goldsworthy, odin imaging, God Is An Astronaut, Solkyri, Treebeard, Max Watts

Testament + Hidden Intent @ Northcote Theatre 21-06-25

Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineJune 23, 2025gallery, live, melbourne, Odin Imaging, Nathan Goldsworthy, odin imaging, God Is An Astronaut, Solkyri, Treebeard, Max Watts

photos: Nathan Goldsworthy @odin.imaging

If you’ve spent any time in Melbourne’s metal scene, you know anticipation can hang in the air like feedback before the first riff. Tonight, the Northcote Theatre thrummed with that very energy—hundreds of black-clad fans packing the floor, all eyes on the stage as the undisputed titans of thrash, Testament, prepared to unleash their first headline set on Australian soil since 2010.

First up, Adelaide’s own Hidden Intent wasted no time in setting the tone. Their brand of razor-sharp thrash was all grit and sweat, the trio tearing through a set that left no neck un-whipped. The crowd, already primed and rowdy, responded with circle pits and raised fists. Hidden Intent’s set was a reminder that Aussie thrash is alive and well—tight, relentless, and delivered with a wink and a snarl.

But this was Testament’s night. As the house lights dimmed and the opening strains of “Practice What You Preach” blasted through the PA, the place erupted. There’s a certain magic when a band with this much history steps on stage—Chuck Billy’s roar instantly commanding, Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick’s guitars slicing through the mix with surgical precision. It was pure thrash metal theatre: no frills, just riff after iconic riff, each one greeted like an old friend by the rabid crowd.

Testament’s setlist was a masterclass in metal history. “Practice What You Preach,” “The New Order,” “Into the Pit”—each song a reminder why these Bay Area legends are spoken of in the same breath as Metallica and Slayer. The pit was a maelstrom, but there were just as many fans singing along, arms around each other, basking in the nostalgia and sheer power of it all.

The sound was punishing but crystal clear, every drum fill and guitar solo ringing out across the packed theatre. Testament’s decades of experience showed; they played with the hunger of a band half their age, but the confidence of seasoned veterans. Highlights included a thunderous “Brotherhood of the Snake” and a crowd-pleasing “Low,” with Skolnick’s solos earning roars of approval.

By the time Testament closed with “Into the Pit,” sweat dripped from the ceiling and the crowd was spent but grinning. This wasn’t just a gig—it was a celebration of everything that makes thrash metal endure: speed, aggression, and the unbreakable bond between band and fans.

Tonight, Testament proved why they remain one of the genre’s most vital forces. Melbourne’s metal faithful left the Northcote Theatre with ringing ears, sore necks, and the sense that they’d witnessed something truly special—a night for the ages, and a reminder that thrash, when done right, never gets old.