GalleryDitch This MagazineFebruary 23, 2024gallery, live, melbourne, Louie Mosscrop, Atreyu, Bad Love, Chasing Lana, Max Watts

Atreyu + Bad Love + Chasing Lana @Max Watts 21-02-24

GalleryDitch This MagazineFebruary 23, 2024gallery, live, melbourne, Louie Mosscrop, Atreyu, Bad Love, Chasing Lana, Max Watts

photos: Louie Mosscrop @louiemosscropphotography

Melbourne's Max Watts vibrated with a restless energy, anticipation buzzing like a live wire through the packed crowd. Then, the lights plunged, and a collective roar erupted as the shadows are seen walking on stage. Guitars surged like a tidal wave, Brandon Saller now leading the charge on vocals, soaring like a battle cry, and Porter McKnight's bass laid down a foundation that shook the very walls.

The mosh pit, a tapestry of sweat-soaked bodies moving in brutal yet beautiful unison. Voices, hoarse from years of belting out Lead Sails Paper Anchor and The Curse, blended into a single, defiant roar. Atreyu fed off the energy, each riff igniting a fire, each lyric a punch to the gut that resonated with the shared struggles and triumphs of a generation. Whether it was the melancholic beauty of "Right Side of the Bed" or the aggressive bite of "Bleeding Mascara" every song resonated with an honesty that carved its way into hearts.

As the set unfolded, it wasn't just nostalgia that fueled the passion. New tracks like "Drowning" and "(i)" proved Atreyu hadn't lost their fire, each one a shot of adrenaline that sent the crowd surging anew. By the time the opening chords of "Blow" rang out, Max Watts transformed into a cathartic sing-along, a testament to the enduring power of their music.