» Thrown in Sydney – photos and review Something You Said

Thrown in Sydney – photos and review

February 17, 2025

It’s a Thursday night at Crowbar in Sydney, and the sign at the ticket stand reads “Sold Out.” In the current state of play for live music, this is a rare sight, but what makes this even more remarkable is that the band we’ve all gathered to see tonight, Sweden’s THROWN, has a combined discography that totals a mere 32 minutes. Having only visited our shores once before, supporting Australia’s Alpha Wolf in 2024, their return has generated significant anticipation. And tonight, the hype proves to be absolutely justified.

Christening the stage tonight was Radeladians OUTSIDER. As punters began filling the room, the four-piece tore into ‘Let it Consume You,’ quickly demonstrating why their modern metalcore sound was a perfect fit for the opening slot. Despite being confined to a small section of the stage in front of THROWN’s backline, lead vocalist Tom Drizners didn’t let the limited space hinder his high-energy performance, fully commanding the stage with every move as the band ripped through their set. Despite receiving a lukewarm response when asking, “Who has heard of Outsider?” there’s little doubt that by the end of the set, they’d won over fistfuls of new fans.

There has been a significant groundswell of interest surrounding Queensland’s DIESECT, fuelled by their recent signing to the prestigious Australian label GREYSCALE and the growing praise for their latest single, ‘Too Many Scars,’ which was evident as the room began to fill in anticipation of the second set. However, despite the buzz, the performance failed to live up to the hype. Vocalist Damien Bigara took to the stage, declaring, “We are not here to play f****** games,” yet the subsequent set felt like a missed opportunity. The band plodded through their discography of beatdown-heavy tracks, with their recorded material failing to translate into anything compelling live. Instead of energy, they appeared disengaged and, at times, downright bored, leaving the crowd unenthused.

While DIESECT’s live performance may not have lived up to the recent buzz, it’s clear they’ve got a dedicated fan base and the potential to grow. Hopefully, future shows will see them harness more of the energy and conviction that their recorded material promises.

With Crowbar now at capacity, it wouldn’t have been hard to mistake the room for a sauna. The air was thick with humidity as Germany’s HALF ME unleashed their blend of Metalcore, Hardcore, and Thrash. Guitarists Julius Jansen and Christopher Hesse carving out some absolute monster riffs, while vocalist Christopher Zühlke’s sound was strikingly similar to Australian metalcore hero Adrian Fitipaldes, ensuring they were well received. The real star of their set, though, was bassist Tobias Max Sajon, who’s playing was on point, and had stage presence that would put a smile on even the most cynical, crossed-arm hardcore bros.

The five-piece blasted through a set featuring heavy hitters like ‘Fatalist,’ ‘Quitter Talk,’ and ‘Concrete Ceiling.’ Anyone unfamiliar with the Germans definitely took note.

Sweden has long been a powerhouse in the metal scene, with legendary bands like In Flames, Arch Enemy, At the Gates, and Soilwork leading the charge in shaping the melodic death metal sound that would go on to influence the new wave of American heavy metal. These bands didn’t just define a genre—they redefined what heavy music could be. Now, with Sweden’s THROWN emerging on the scene, it’s clear that history may be repeating itself.

The anticipation was fervent as the crowd pushed toward the stage, and with the intro to ‘Backfire,’ THROWN were off. The band commanded every inch of the stage, delivering an aggresive, tightly executed setlist that essentially covered their entire discography. While the symbiosis between the band and crowd lasted throughout the entire set, crowd favourites like ‘Parasite,’ ‘Guilt,’ and ‘On the Verge’ sent the energy into the stratosphere.

Vocalist Marcus Lundqvist was a man of few words, choosing to reserve his energy between songs to fully channel it into his vocal performance, which was spectacular. His raw power, combined with his high-energy stage presence, ensured the audience was hooked from start to finish. Drummer Buster Odeholm, also known for his work with tech metal titans Humanity’s Last Breath, was a powerhouse behind the kit, grounding the band’s chaotic sound with precision and intensity. His impeccable timing kept the band tight during the most frenzied moments, his relentless drumming unleashing a brutal energy that elevated the entire set.

The final song of the night, ‘Grayout,’ played out quickly, and despite the audience’s chants of ‘one more song,’ the set was over as fast as it had begun. A THROWN set is like a mid-80s Mike Tyson match—brief, unforgiving, and absolutely brutal.

If you’re not on the THROWN train yet, you’re about to get left behind.

Review by James Dean. Photos by Lexi Markovic.