15 May 2026 – The Triffid, Brisbane – words by Lucas Bell – pictures by Bec Harbour
After the surprise news of the band’s reunion shows at Christmas time last year, it was finally time for Hellions to do their first tour in seven years around the country. But this wasn’t just a greatest hits tour. 2026 saw the 10 year anniversary of the bands fan favourite record, Opera Oblivia. And bolstered by some insane supports from The Beautiful Monument, and RinRin across the whole tour, this was looking to be a potential show of the year contender.
Out first was the locals in Pilot Crisis. Straight out of the gate, this band ripped. They had a quick, tight set to open the show, and set the mood for what was a very female focused undercard, that showcased the talents of women in Australian rock and metal to utter perfection. The band played a couple of new songs, one called ‘Dreams in Disguise’, which is out with a music video and was pretty good, and a new one coming that I could only hear the word Saint when it was being mentioned. But the lead vocalist ripping out an electric cello during ‘No Vacancy’ was not something I expected. While the set didn’t start with a full floor, the crowds started dipping in towards the end, and I’m sure Pilot Crisis made a bunch of new fans tonight. Myself included.
Pilot Crisis – The Triffid – photos by Bec Harbour
RinRin was next up, and I only recently became aware of RinRin after she was announced for her headline tour back in March. I didn’t go to that show, but after tonight I wish I had. Blending a ferocious mix of metalcore and pop, RinRin smashed through a super fun, high energy set, that is doubly impressive when you find out she was battling a pretty insane case of Bronchitis. Because of this, the chat was light, and RinRin smashed through her set pretty quickly, with songs like ‘WASHED’, ‘ChainsawGirl’, and ‘CORNDOG!’. She gave a shoutout saying Hellions comeback is “the return of the king”, before closing off with ‘Gunmetal Black’. RinRin will be a force to watch over the next 12 months. If this set was Rin battling a respiratory virus, I cannot fathom how good she will be at 100%.
RinRin – The Triffid – photos by Bec Harbour
Following on from RinRin, was Melbourne four piece, The Beautiful Monument. This is a band I have enjoyed for a few years, and due to the very sporadic touring the band has done over the last few years, I have never had the chance to catch them live. Again, another band with another injury, as vocalist Lizi Blanco announced that Amy would not be playing tonight after pulling a ligament in her shoulder. Fingers crossed she gets better soon. But with Blanco returning home for her first TBM show in Brisbane in two years, this was lined up to be something special. The setlist was pretty good as well, with tracks like ‘Hellbound’, ‘Deceiver’ and ‘Cry About It’, all songs that were designed to make the crowd move and sweat. They played the new song that just dropped a few days ago, with ‘Euphoric Thriller’, and closed off with ‘Dancing With the Buried’ and ‘Misery’ with a final goodnight to Brisbane. I’m super excited for the new record, which will be the band’s first new music in seven years, and cannot wait for August.
The Beautiful Monument – The Triffid – photos by Bec Harbour
As soon as 10:20pm hit, the lights dimmed inside The Triffid, as Brisbane was getting more restless for Hellions to take the stage after The Beautiful Monument left. Celebrating 10 years of Opera Oblivia, this tour took the band’s most beloved record, and reunited the four-piece for their first full tour of Australia in seven years. But before we could get to the celebration of Opera, there were other songs we were treated to first. As an intro track played, drummer Anthony Caruso took to the stage first to get into position, as guitarist Matthew Gravolin and Josh Campiao came out next. Then, over the speakers, we heard the line “Gas it up, get it moving” as vocalist Dre Faivre ran out on stage to that solid opening riff to the track. Faivre pumped the crowd up and got everyone hyped through the track, which got a sick reception live.
The trip down memory lane continued, with the song ‘Hellions’ being dedicated to the oldheads, and RinRin even came out and pulled vocal duties on the track with Faivre before the breakdown hit. Her mic wasn’t working at first, but it came good in the end. Faivre did a quick check in with the crowd to make sure Brisbane was feeling good, as ‘X (Mwah)’ was up next. As was to be expected, this one had a colossally huge sing along on the chorus. It was at this point too, that I had never realised how much Caruso contributed to the vocal mixes of the songs. With Gravolin and Faivre being so front-facing, especially in music videos and such, it was a cool surprise for me as a fan.
Hellions – The Triffid – photos by Bec Harbour
With the three songs done, it was now time for the start of the Opera Oblivia songs. Faivre shouted Brisbane out for showing up for the show tonight, and with a simple “We are Hellions. Thanks for being here”, the album’s opening track ’24’ began. With the record having been such a beloved album, it’s no surprise that every song being performed was sung as loud by the crowd as Faivre through a mic and speakers, ‘Quality of Life’ was dedicated to the moshers, and ‘Thresher’ was skipped, instead going straight to ‘The Lotus Eater’, which is one of my favourite song from this record. Faivre shouted out Pilot Crisis, and said the next song was ‘Wonderwall Sucks’, before making sure Brisbane knew that “you know those guys hate each other right?” as we got ‘He Without Sin i) Halation’. Faivre walked off stage during ‘He Without Sin ii) Hells of the Hands’, with a simple introduction of “The Boys” as he signaled Gravolin and Campiao ripping an extended solo on the track.
Hellions – The Triffid – photos by Bec Harbour
We got the spicy ‘Bad Way’ next, which encouraged a dance party, before Campiao made some jokes about wanting circle pits for ‘Nightliner Rhapsody’. You never joke about a circle pit in Brisbane though, because Brisbane will always deliver. Faivre encouraged Brisbane to take a moment to breathe, as ‘Nuestra Culpa’ played over the speakers, as the album playthrough concluded with ’25’. With the celebration of Opera Oblivia almost over, we got a glimpse into what the future for Hellions looks like, with another new song, ‘Don’t Forget About Me’, that almost feels like a blend of the Opera and Rue eras of sound. I’m mega excited for this one to get out there. Faivre got the crowd singing loud for ‘Smile’, and the aforementioned ‘Thresher’ was naturally the song to close out the evening, as Brisbane screamed the “Fuck you for not being strong enough” line every time it came up, louder than each time before it.
Hellions – The Triffid – photos by Bec Harbour
The future for Hellions is brighter than it has ever been. If the Crowbar shows from last year were a test to see if there was a want for Hellions back, tonight was the final exam. And it was an A+ Grade that Hellions is a band that has been sorely missed.
