REVIEW: Deafheaven - Forum – Melbourne
Written by: Rhys Carman
Three years between Australian tours and Deafheaven proved they were well worth the wait.
Peace kicked things off before Spy wasted absolutely no time firing up the Forum with a chaotic hardcore set that had the pit moving from the first song. By the time Deafheaven took the stage, Melbourne was more than ready.
The San Francisco blackgaze outfit delivered a mesmerising performance that somehow balanced pure aggression with moments of beauty. To me, their songs almost feel like one giant breakdown, with the quieter, melodic passages acting as the release before the chaos crashes back in. It’s a strange mix of black metal, shoegaze and something almost sexy, but it works brilliantly.
The crowd was full of genuine music lovers, the kind of people with eclectic taste who are just as happy soaking up atmosphere as they are throwing down in the pit. Speaking of the pit, it was one of the better ones I’ve been in lately. Plenty of energy, plenty of two-stepping and just enough friendly bumps to keep things exciting without ever crossing the line.
Frontman George Clarke had the audience in the palm of his hand all night. Whether he was roaming the front of the stage, reaching into the crowd or feeding off the audience’s energy, it almost felt like a sermon at times. Add in a perfectly timed light show that matched every blast beat and soaring melody, and the whole performance became completely immersive.
The band even hinted that new music could be on the way before their next Australian tour, but judging by the reaction inside the Forum, fans are still loving every minute of the current catalogue.
If Deafheaven are heading your way, do yourself a favour. Get out, buy your tickets and merch, and get in the pit.
Deafheaven - Australian Tour 2026
With Nothing and SPY
Thu 2 Jul 2026 – San Fran – Wellington, NZ (without SPY)
Fri 3 Jul 2026 – Powerstation – Auckland, NZ (without SPY)
Sun 5 Jul 2026 – The Rechabite – Perth, WA
Wed 8 Jul 2026 – The Gov – Adelaide, SA
Thu 9 Jul 2026 – Forum – Melbourne, VIC
Fri 10 Jul 2026 – Liberty Hall – Sydney, NSW
Sat 11 Jul 2026 – Hamilton Station – Newcastle, NSW
Sun 12 Jul 2026 – Princess Theatre – Brisbane, QLD
