REVIEW: Motionless In White - Margaret Court Arena - Melbourne
Written by: Rhys Carman
A sold-out Margaret Court Arena on a Wednesday night is no easy feat, but Motionless In White’s Afraid of the Dark Tour proved exactly why heavy music is thriving in Australia. With Currents opening proceedings at 7pm, it was a mad dash from the corporate office straight into metal mode. Missing Currents was never an option, and judging by the crowd already flooding through the doors, plenty of Melbourne agreed.
Every band brought the energy and every set had a pit to match, but Make Them Suffer probably edged out the competition when it came to pit of the night and outright won the stage presence battle. It’s always great to see an Australian band holding their own alongside major international acts, and judging by the crowd response, they were one of the biggest drawcards on the bill.
Musically, there were plenty of highlights. Currents delivered two of my personal favourites, Remember Me and Kill the Ache, while Make Them Suffer hit hard with Erase Me and Ghost of You, both sounding massive in a packed arena. As for Motionless In White, I’d be remiss not to mention the tour’s namesake track Afraid of the Dark. It was the standout of their set for me and one of those songs that just hits differently live.
Ironically, most of the night’s highlights live permanently on my running playlists, so it was a nice change hearing them blasted through a huge PA instead of through headphones while pounding the pavement around The Tan.
The crowd was a mixed bag in the best possible way. Elder emos, metalhead dads, girly pops with their partners, and younger fans discovering these bands through their parents all came together for a night of organised chaos. The floor was packed, the atmosphere was electric, and although a larger venue would not have gone astray, there is something special about seeing a room that full and that invested from the first note to the last.
Loud, sweaty, packed to the rafters and an absolute blast from start to finish. Another reminder that Australia’s metal scene is in a seriously healthy place. If this tour is heading to your city over the weekend, do yourself a favour and get along. You’ll struggle to find a bigger or better heavy show this year.
Motionless In White Australian Headline Tour 2026
With Make Them Suffer + Currents
Wed 24 Jun 2026 - Margaret Court Arena - Melbourne, VIC
Fri 26 Jun 2026 - Hordern Pavilion - Sydney, NSW
Sun 28 Jun 2026 - Riverstage - Brisbane, QLD
