Review: OCEAN GROVE - Live in Brisbane

24 May

Odd Behaviour

Friday 23rd May 2025

Written by Jake Folmer
Photographed by: Rashid AlKamraikhi

It's a sold-out show, with a decidedly younger crowd. It’s loud, sweaty, and we’re absolutely ready to throw down to the three genre-bending, high-octane Aussie acts that will tear up The Valley Loft tonight on one hell of a sonic journey.

Fun Fact: DREGG once released a single on International Women’s Day called “Internet of People,” with proceeds going to feminist and LGBTQIA+ causes.

Charging in at full speed around 7:30 PM, DREGG wasted no time igniting the room. The second track had the pit open and swinging with guttural vocals that pierced through like octave dropped sirens. Their guitarist's backup growls added extra weight to the dirge. By the third song it was full crowd engagement mode, and their electronic breakdowns over industrial bass loops gave them a glitchy post-apocalyptic flair. A haunting voice sample led into the finale, a heavy-hitter with a slow-chug breakdown that left bodies bouncing. The crowd exploded for their closer, “Dog Cunts” - pure chaos, sing-alongs, and that weirdly addictive groove. Not bad for a band that pulls you into a mosh pit with philosophy and breakdowns.

Fun Fact: DIAMOND CONSTRUCT Guitarist Braden is also a qualified audio engineer and mixes much of the band’s material himself.

They opened by calling out Brisbane to form pits immediately, building tension before launching into synth-heavy breakdowns. With a mix of nu metal bounce and EDM-inspired drops, their set kept shape-shifting between headbangs and rave-like interludes. The vocalist demanded "Hell Yeahs" before dropping the next wave of sonic mayhem, with faster tempos, chunky riffs, and escalating pit energy. Every track seemed to go up a notch, from fast ‘n’ dirty hardcore to moments of melodic breathing room. DIAMOND CONSTRUCT closed by thanking Ocean Grove for the tour spot, and finished strong with their signature hybrid breakdown style: huge slabs of nu-metalcore that left everyone breathless.

Fun Fact: OCEAN GROVE originally coined their genre as “Odd World Music”—and honestly, it fits.

Finally, the crowd was getting what they’d been waiting for. OCEAN GROVE emerged under the Odd World banner with high-energy nu-metal rap-infused rock, that gets the whole venue moving instantly. Their intro track slammed, followed by bouncy, singable anthems that had the room shaking (literally). Dale’s vocals brought raw power and emotion, while the band’s synchronised stage presence and infectious energy proved why they've lasted 15+ years. A brief emotional interlude saw phones light up during Dale’s vivid, heartfelt vocals, evoking genuine catharsis. Then it was right back into the madness: crowd chants, pit eruptions, fog, strobe chaos, and unstoppable rhythm. ‘Fly Away’ had the floorboards bouncing as the crowd hit peak unity. A drum solo segued into their iconic ‘Ask for the Anthem’, a personal favourite that converted me into a fan 6 years ago, and it still hits me just as hard today.

I was blown away by the sheer energy of this younger crowd, and the bands feeding off it. DREGG brought the chaos, DIAMOND CONSTRUCT brought the bounce, and OCEAN GROVE delivered a masterclass in modern Aussie alt-heavy music.

These are bands not just to watch, but to survive.