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I See Stars – Max Watts
After fourteen years away, Detroit electronicore pioneers I See Stars made a thunderous return to Australian shores, transforming one of Melbourne’s favourite venues, Max Watts, into a kaleidoscope of lights, sweat, and cathartic chaos. Supported by Aussie heavyweights Tapestry and US up-and-comer elijah, the night delivered everything from introspective emotion to pure, unfiltered energy.
Opening the night, Darwin’s Tapestry wasted no time reminding everyone why they’re one of Australia’s most exciting post-hardcore acts. Their set balanced raw emotion and technical precision, highlighted by the blistering Violent Pictures and the gut-punch of I Don’t Belong Here from their EP The Pain You Desire, The Love You Deserve. Each song bled vulnerability, and their on stage presence made for an instantly commanding performance that set the tone for what was to come.
Next up, elijah brought a chaotic yet captivating blend of electronic aggression and metalcore edge. Performing tracks such as SKIN, Virus, and victim, Elijah’s sound felt both futuristic and feral – a mirror of I See Stars’ digital-era. Towards the end of his set he asks the audience ‘Do you have health insurance? Prove it!’ – a challenge to all those watching to get up and get ready for the night ahead. With new album lowest out now, Elijah proved himself one to watch.
When the lights dimmed and the opening effects of Spin It filled the room, the crowd erupted – and I See Stars wasted no time diving headfirst into THE WHEEL. What followed was an electric, career-spanning set that felt both nostalgic and forward-looking.
The early singalong of Running With Scissors connected everyone in the room, while Drift and Break turned Max Watt’s pit into a sea of motion. By Ten Thousand Feet and New Demons, the pit had doubled in size, with every breakdown met by deafening screams. Fan faves Yellow King and White Lies from their incredible album Treehouse were up next, which frontman Devin Oliver paused to ask the audience ‘Are you alive tonight?’
Highlights from their latest album THE WHEEL included D4MAGE DONE and Eliminator, which was a clear live standout that showcased the band’s evolution – heavier, more polished, yet just as emotionally charged. The classic Filth Friends Unite and newer track are we 3ven? sent the room into a frenzy, before Devin invited crowd surfers to take flight during SPLIT. ‘Where are all my crowd surfers at tonight? Get your asses up here!’ he shouted, and the room happily obliged – before soon leading into a wall of death, of course.
One of the set’s most poignant moments came with Carry On For You. Devin shared that the song was written during one of his darkest periods – ‘The truth is, this life doesn’t always feel so beautiful.’ As the audience sang along with the band, the room glowed with phone lights swaying in the air. Pausing to reflect, Devin takes a moment to tell the crowd ‘We’ve been a band since I was 11 years old…We do it cos of you guys…Tonight, we’re playing the longest set of our career.’
Dedicating their mammoth track Murder Mitten to every single person in the audience, I See Stars turned out a massive performance, before following up with their equally huge track Calm Snow. Asking the audience ‘are you alive?’ one last time, they finished on a high with powerhouse single Anomaly – with the crowds hanging on every last second.
I See Stars’ Melbourne show was more than a performance – it was a homecoming and rebirth; a reminder of why they’ve remained one of the subgenre’s loudest voices. Between the emotional vulnerability and the pure energy, this was a concert that hit every frequency – literally and metaphorically. After fourteen years away, I See Stars proved they’re not just back – they’re better than ever.