GalleryDitch This MagazineJune 14, 2026gallery, live, Gallery, Sydney, James Gough, Architects, House of Protection

POISON THE WELL + HAYWIRE (USA) + IRON MIND + PHANTOMS @ Metro Theatre Sydney 12-06-26

GalleryDitch This MagazineJune 14, 2026gallery, live, Gallery, Sydney, James Gough, Architects, House of Protection

photos: James Gough
@byjamesgough

For the second time this week, I found myself stuck in Sydney peak-hour traffic wondering why I was doing this instead of playing Dungeons & Dragons five minutes from home. The answer, as it turned out, was simple: Poison the Well.

Between recent reunions and anniversary tours, 2026 has already delivered more than a few opportunities to indulge a millennial dose of nostalgia. Comeback Kid reminded everyone why they remain one of hardcore's most reliable live bands earlier this year, but Poison the Well occupy a different space entirely. Alongside bands like Converge and Misery Signals, they helped shape a generation of heavy music fans and musicians. Their influence on how I approached drumming was enormous, and Chris Hornbrook's playing was something I shamelessly tried to emulate for years.

With The Opposite of December set to be performed in full, a packed Metro crowd gathered to relive one of hardcore's most influential records.

Kicking things off were Phantoms. Legacy Sydney hardcore played by a bunch of legend dads who’ve been around almost as long as 80% of the crowd. A fitting opening set for anyone who won’t need to book a physio appointment tomorrow. It’s never a bad thing seeing good blokes still doing their thing after all these years.

Next up were Iron Mind — Australia’s best hardcore band. I was fortunate enough to see and shoot them last year at the Iron Gate Tattoo Festival, and they remain one of the most consistent bands in the country. With their new split out now, they ripped through tracks from the release alongside plenty of old favourites.

Then came Haywire. Pure Boston fucking hardcore.

Another band I’d only recently discovered, but they embody everything that’s great about Northeast punk and hardcore. Opening with a cover of The Angels’ Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?, their set was pissed off, energetic and somehow fun as hell all at once. No song overstayed its welcome, with most clocking in under two minutes — which is also great news when you're trying to get photos in the first three songs. Hands down my highlight of the night.

How nobody checked the scheduling and tried lining up a tour with Dropkick Murphys — who Haywire recently released a split with — is beyond me. Then again, maybe we’ll get some Dropkick Murphys/Haywire sideshows somewhere down the line.

Poison the Well were tonight’s main event, performing The Opposite of December in full. While I was a little disappointed that meant only hearing a handful of songs from You Come Before You and Tear From the Red — two records that shaped my youth and still hold up against just about anything released today — it’s hard to complain when the opening notes of Botchla hit and the entire Metro starts singing along.

Hearing songs like Slice Paper Wrists and Artist's Rendering of Me instantly transported me back to the mid-2000s. The band sound tighter than ever and, while Jeff Moreira’s voice may have lost a little power over the years, the crowd more than made up for it.

Thankfully, it wasn’t just a one-album set. The extra songs sprinkled throughout the night were a welcome addition, reminding everyone just how deep Poison the Well’s catalogue really is.

Finishing with Nerdy felt special. I covered that song in one of my earliest bands and it remains one of the best tracks they’ve ever written. It was made for a live setting. Not a single punter in the room had a voice left by the end.

While I would’ve loved to hear 'For a bandaged Iris', 'Lazzaro' and 'Crystal Lake, I’m just glad Poison the Well are back. Hopefully this isn’t a one-off because they’ve clearly still got plenty left to give the scene they helped shape.