Killer metal music show returns to Hamilton

Deathnir performing at Nivara Lounge in Hamilton. Photo / Facebook

Blasting drum beats, screaming guitar solos and roaring vocals that will make you question the limits of human capability.

These are just some of the features that will be showcased at this year's Killfest, a 13-hour live music event on 30 June from 2pm until 3am the next morning. This event only
happens once a year at the The Local Tavern in Te Rapa, Hamilton.

This year the event will feature a long list of NZ heavy metal bands including If He Dies He Dies, Deathnir, Us, Godzilla Takes New York, Arc Of Ascent, Sadius Fiend, Destructatron,
Seas Of Conflict, Team Kill, Depraved, Silent Torture, Aura Of Chaos and Leave The Dead.

The price for this spectacular congregation of bands is $30 on the door, cheaper if you purchase online at Eventfinda. The show starts at 2pm opened by If He Dies He Dies and
followed by Deathnir at 3pm.

There will be plenty of merchandise for sale at the show for anyone wanting to support Kiwi music.

Bands will be selling CDs, T-shirts, patches, posters, the works," said a member of Hamilton thrash metal band Deathnir, Andrew Carter.

"We have just released a new album and will be selling physical copies of it at the show.

There will also be merchandise give-aways on the night and special deals for the first couple hours. For example, the first 20 people through the door will get a free autographed poster from Deathnir, and stuff like that."

Hamilton is often regarded as the "bogan capital" of New Zealand and Killfest is one of the events that helps it claim this title.

"It solidifies the Bogan capital slogan, obviously being a massive heavy metal show it's a chance for all the metalheads around here to come together and represent the heavier
side of Hamilton music," Carter said.

"The reason we called it Killfest was to kill all the s**t in the metal scene," organiser Chuck Williams said. "It's not literally about killing but just putting all the crap on social media and in day-to-day life to rest by enjoying some good live metal," Williams said.

"When you go to gigs in other towns you notice that each town has its own sound. Like, if you go to Palmy — they call Palmy 'the swamp' — the music itself is more doomy, more sludgy and a bit slower pace. How Killfest represents Hamilton metal is that it's ferocious! It's fast, everything's crisp and has a tightness about it."

"This is a full-on, professional event in a really great venue with some of Hamilton's and New Zealand's best musicians and bands performing. There's nothing else like it in Hamilton."