[Review] HED PE @ Crowbar Sydney, 8/02/2025
Two years since their last visit, nu-metal fans across the country were well and truly ready for the return of HED PE. Joining them as main support on all Australian dates are Adelaide’s Heartline with local legends The Weight of Silence making a return tonight. Longtime driving force in the rock and metal scene, HED PE. is known for its unique fusion of rock, punk, reggae, gangsta rap, and soul—often called “G-Punk.” Tonight’s show takes place in the same venue they visited in February of 2023 and we are ready for whatever they throw at us.
The Weight of Silence supported HED PE on their last visit, and I have been a fan ever since. Their energy was just what you want from a local band in order to warm up the night. You are already excited for the headliners, but adding a killer local just heightens the night, and I’m so stoked to be able to see them again. Live and loud since 2016, Sydney nu-metal three-piece, The Weight Of Silence (TWOS) has been bringing their own brand of brutal metalcore, trap, and hip-hop to the country that defies genre constraint, bringing together trap metal with EDM. They treated us to some Unreleased material that is going to crush. Unfortunately, the crowd weren’t quite as energetic as what was given from the stage, but that didn’t dim any of their efforts as the crowd grew in size during each song. The front man, J Figure, is a hell of a character, great at what he does.
He’s so good that the last time I saw them, he was up on stage with Bring Me the Horizon at the Sydney show! Surely you would be able to find material very easily of this night (head to @twos.catalog on Instagram and see the pinned post).
See You On The Other Side, really stood out as J rapped then transitioned into heavy Attila style screaming seamlessly, this song seemed natural to the band and a sound that works so well for them. TWOS wrapped things up with Gucci & Gold with some of the most Aussie lyrics you’ve ever heard, “I got all these f*cks to give but I ain’t got one for you. Yeah. Nah!” I really look forward to where they will go; hopefully, their craft just gets tighter, and the music keeps coming.
Heartline supported on the whole run and had a pretty healthy sized crowd when they hit the stage. The Adelaide metalcore unit launched out of the gate with an insane amount of energy. The natural crowd-pleaser that is front man Luke Taylor donning a sheer shirt looking like Lestat from Queen of the Damned, swaggers around the stage with ease, some people are just born for the stage. Heartline have been touring tirelessly including supporting reggae legends 311 when they were here on Good Things, and so the union with HED PE felt pretty seamless. Heartline make me pretty excited about the future of lives bands, hats off October Presents! You did very well.
The curtain was strewn to hide the headliners arrival, as beats slow ascended through the speakers. HED PE kicked off the set with two newer tracks No Way Out and Rat Race. I’ve seen them start shows in many different styles, but this is killer, high energy from the get go. It didn’t stop going into absolute old school classics such as Peer Pressure, Killing Time and Black Out. We all danced together during Let’s Ride as Jahred beamed ear to ear with the raucous crowd screaming the lyrics back so loud he had to put his microphone down, taking a moment to catch his breath and swig a beer, because it was Saturday night in Sydney after all. Before Dedicating the next song to his neighbour who is always telling him to keep it down, Raise Hell.
A highlight of any HED PE set is their massive hit Bartender. Kurt Blankenship brought the groove with a bass only rendition of the aforementioned track as Jahred danced beside him. Nathan Javier launched into a Guitar solo before unleashing the pit igniter CBC. The Meadow is always a big singalong for HED in Australia, I haven’t seen it in past sets perhaps they were just having such a good time they decided to add it in! A fella beside me starting yelling “Suffa!” and I swung my head around so quickly I thoight I heard a crack. That is my favourite HED PE song, so I too joined in heckling them to play it. We think our prayers are answered as they begin the intro, but it’s sadly its quickly squashed.
Renegade wrapped up yet another incredible set by the masters of nu metal groove and energy.
They didn’t let up on us once during the night and we all sweatily pour out of the venue. The band announce they will be at the merch booth after the show and so with cups of water in hand the masses return to Crowbars band room to shake the hands of the fellas who gave us an unforgettable evening. Jahred announced on stage ‘see you next year’, I’m not sure what they’re cooking up but I wouldn’t miss a HED PE show come hell or high water.
