Artists: YOB, Mountain Wizard Death Cult, ISUA
Venue: Max Watts, Melbourne, Australia (Woiwurrung country)
Date: 19th Feb 2026
Review by: Jess JRoc
Photos by: Ben Eldström
After a decade between dances underground at the mighty Max Watt’s, YOB is back on Australian shores, my face hurts, because I haven’t stopped smiling.
YOB returns, with the Sydney lads of Mountain Wizard Death Cult for a huge run of all the major stops, taking ISUA along for the hometown show of the tour.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, seeing ISUA take a stage this size is remarkable. They’ve worked so hard, and they fucking deserve it, their name spanning the length of the stage as Mikey gestures for us to come closer, “let’s get cozy”. The pit is full of familiar faces and sure enough, 3 minutes in, Poodle, front and centre, drinks loaded in both hands – this is a Thursday done right.
Dharma starts the hypnosis, it’s Departed, the hefty final track from 2023’s ABANDON, and what a way to begin this sacrifice. For those who have seen ISUA play a show before, you’ll notice a new yet familiar set of hands on bass, Campbell of Religious Observance, DIURETICS & more. It’s his first show with the band, not that it felt that way, the harmony whilst sonically annihilating a crowd is the ISUA performance we’ve always known.
They have no idea, but YOB’s Mike is perched behind the wall of Marshall amps just watching as they rip into their broad setlist. To have a band so influential to all of us in that room, and particularly to the bands on our side of the world producing such devastating doom, and especially, Dom, he was the most excited I’ve ever seen him. ISUA’s newest release was a departing gift to 2025, Tempest follows, the darkness takes and rejects you as the track grows, it’s an exceptional track and forges the path for future releases, that’ll be more painful than ever.
Closing this opening set with where it all began, since the moment it was released, their debut track Burden of Dreams, written many moons ago, is a hymn of pain, loss, ache, and holds you by the throat as you try to take a breath – they play it to close, which feels like their heaviest performance to date.
It has been what feels like lightyears since I’ve seen the wizards from Sydney. We had a quick yap with guitarist Chris before the show, surreal isn’t even a word anymore, this tour has been truly unbelievable. The timing of this show couldn’t sit more perfectly, with the release of their latest single Ash into Glass dropping that very afternoon, which they play early in the set.
It opens with a rhythmic vortex before new vocalist Elliot sets his lungs on fire, he screams the opening lyrics that lead to the question, “Am I destined to fail?”. This track will feature on a new record that we will see not so distant in the future. It seems this formation of MWDC is just as destroying as ever, it’s hauntingly heavy like it will follow you even when you’re alone.
Not that it was but it felt like a personal gift, I fucking love this track. Sifting through their earlier releases, they play Initiation. I remember when they toured this back in 2018, that artwork is burnt into memory for me. Chunky riffs take control, as the band comes together for the ritual demanding you repent. To close, the only appropriate choice is Orbital, the 8 minute masterpiece with sweeping guitar riffs and synchronicity between their drums and bass, as the more delicate moments give us a chance to gain consciousness, they give it their all, the screams act like a peeler to the skin, and your neck slams out of your control until you’re laid to rest.
Dead centre, just before the back steps out of the pit, my favourite spot, the optimal for viewing and capturing everything with your eyes, open or closed. The gates aren’t open anymore, they’re on the ground and we’ve broken the hinges. YOB begins with a personal favourite of everyone I’m sure, Prepare the Ground, and we seemingly did, with the crowd firmly taking up every square inch of the venue, and the mezzanine upstairs. We’re pummelled from the beginning as the trio erupt as they play from the faultless release Atma.
Surrounded by friends, foes and strangers, an unfamiliar hand offers a toke of a hand rolled party favour, it felt like 2015 again when they were last here in this very room. They play a track they’ve never played in Australia, Upon The Sight Of The Other Shore, boasting a richness influenced by the heaviest hitters in 70’s doom.
As the second half of Marrow breaches, the tears begin to roll down my face,I knew it would happen, it was only a matter of time. Mike’s delicate notes, and softness of his voice, “Yearning to know deep into the marrow” I needed it, we all did, there was such a heaviness that felt so freeing, it felt like the sky was opening up by the way the lights hit the room.
Like being held and set free at the same time, the album Clearing the Path to Ascent was released in 2014, but it could’ve existed in any place in time. It gives the same feeling it did back then, their performances live give you permission to lose it, to let the haze of the moment consume you. Let every limb, fear, woe, strand of yourself exit the chamber of life for a bit. Let Mike’s vocals serve as sermon, as you let yourself be free.
I didn’t want it to end, what a fucking night, let’s not make it another 10 years please.
YOB is love.
Gig Gallery:
