Monolith Festival at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion offered an exceptional night of progressive rock and metal, with performances from leading international acts like Coheed and Cambria, Periphery, and Leprous. Coheed and Cambria headlined the event with their iconic album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One, bringing powerful renditions of fan favourites like ‘Welcome Home’. Their dynamic stage presence and Claudio Sanchez’s captivating vocals delivered a nostalgic and energetic experience for long-time fans.

The supporting acts showcased the diversity of progressive metal. Periphery stirred up the crowd with their signature djent sound, heavy riffs, and popular tracks like ‘Blood Eagle’. Norway’s Leprous offered a darker, atmospheric set, driven by haunting melodies and vocalist Einar Solberg’s evocative performance. The instrumental expertise of Intervals added a technical, intricate layer, contrasting with the intensity of other acts and proving accessible even for those less familiar with progressive metal.

With performance, drum and guitar workshops including solid Q&A panels, and various festival extras, Monolith created a space where fans could connect deeply with the artists and the genre. The event’s well-organized lineup and immersive festival experience highlighted the unique allure of progressive music. We look forward to a return of this wicked metal-fused event in 2025.

Thankyou to Destroy All Lines, Beehive PR & the Hordern Pavilion for having MFA along.

Photos by @yourmusicpix for @musicfestivalsaustralia

Review by Jasmine Blanch