HELL Smash Fest VI

It was a long two days in Gisborne at my first HELL Smash Fest and I was not entirely sure what to expect - more so from the venue and weather than any of the scheduled bands, but the gods looked down favourably upon us and The Heavens did not break ( at least, not during the day when it really mattered, beyond some minor sprinkles here and there ) and the acts performed admirably. It's a shame that Opium Eater had to pull out at the last moment, but the show goes on - and on it did.

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HELL Smash Fest VI - The Battle at Midway

Jan 14, 2018

In what I'm dubbing The Battle at Midway due to HELL Smash Fest VI's campground being next to Midway Beach ), between both Friday and Saturday night's bands - fighters from several New Zealand medieval / combat groups battled it out.

Jan 14, 2018

Jan 13, 2018

Gisborne based Kyuss cover band Gloria Lewis kick started the musical endeavors of HELL Smash Fest - low key and chilled....just the way it should be.

Jan 13, 2018

Jan 12, 2018

Providing a fun romp down memory lane Gisborne's NoFix are a NoFX covers band and provided an enjoyable Friday afternoon set as campers arrived and started setting up tents before Saturday's main HELL Smash Fest VI event..

Jan 12, 2018

HELL Smash Fest VI - Horrendous Disfigurement

Jan 12, 2018

Closing out HELL Smash Fest VI's Friday Night campstage were Hawke's Bay death metal stalwarts Horrendous Disfigurement.

Jan 12, 2018

Jan 11, 2018

Not to be outdone by all of the killer bands playing at HELL Smash Fest VI - it's the audience and crew that make up the sheer fun of the day.

Jan 11, 2018

Jan 11, 2018

Gisborne based UNI-FI opened up HELL Smash Fest VI on Saturday with some solid hard rock riffs.

Jan 11, 2018

Jan 11, 2018

Gisborne based Diekaiju - Gojira tribute band. A djentle way to start HELL Smash Fest VI!

Jan 11, 2018

Jan 11, 2018

Flying high on the back of December 2017's release Riding A Tiger On Fire / Fighting A Bear At Same Time - Auckland based Remote showed just how they fight animals.

Jan 11, 2018

Jan 11, 2018

Ungracefully stolen from their Facebook page - from the flames of MetalTower and the embers of Nullifier comes New Zealand's' newest melodic black/death metal band Sciolism!

Jan 11, 2018

Jan 11, 2018

Local Gisborne lads MetalTower never cease to impress - whilst they may lack in on stage antics, the banter and music is there in spades

Jan 11, 2018

Jan 10, 2018

I'd heard many a good word of Hamilton founded, Melbourne based Logic Defies Logic but never found myself with a moment to check them out, so knowing they were slotted in for HELL Smash Fest VI this was one act I was highly looking forward to seeing - opting to not check them out until the fest I was blown away - an awesome mix of groove, funk, and progressive metal that ticked all my favourite boxes.

Jan 10, 2018

Jan 10, 2018

Carnal - an apt and fitting name for the cacophonous dirge of brutal death metal on offer here.

Jan 10, 2018

Jan 9, 2018

Coming in as my second favorite set of HELL Smash Fest VI was Auckland based Stormforge - melodic power metal that's IMHO on par, if not better than a lot of international acts of a similar vein. This was by far the best I've heard the 'forge play - and it was somewhat fitting that the first small showers from the heavens opened up as they played - a Storm in the Forge as it were.

Jan 9, 2018

Jan 9, 2018

Wellington based Bulletbelt conducted their first live performance with new recruits Josh Obrien (guitars) and Scott Spatcher-Harrison (vocals) and did not disappoint.

Jan 9, 2018

Jan 9, 2018

Following a well received outing at Napier's The Cabana one night earlier, His Master's Voice - The Devil Blues closed out HELL SmashFest VI.

Jan 9, 2018

Still to come.... Armoured Combat Fighting photos, and Friday Night Camp Stage photos.

gig, photosetMark DerricuttJanuary 11, 2018Smash PalaceSmash Palace, SmashFest, Festival, GisborneComment