Concert Review - Suicidal Tendencies - Auckland - 18th November 2025
Presented by Cycostralia
Click here to see the full Suicidal Tendencies gallery by Ginny Cocks
Review By: Sarah Kidd
Artist/Band: Suicidal Tendencies with special guests Big Noter
Venue/City: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Tuesday 18th November 2025
Despite the torrential rain trying its hardest to dampen spirits, the Powerstation was heaving with hundreds of fans who were amped and ready to see the legendary Suicidal Tendencies playing their own headline show ahead of their support slot for Metallica on Wednesday night.
To kick the night off, though, Big Noter, an Australian act led by none other than First Nations artist Senator (Adam) Briggs. Known as a hip-hop pioneer, having supported the likes of Ice Cube and Ghostface Killah, his latest project speaks more to his actual roots of hardcore punk and metal.
A proud member of the Yorta Yorta/Wurundjeri/Wemba-Wemba people, Briggs brought a vitality to the stage that was deeply rooted in his truth and ancestry, which tracks such as the recently released Identity clearly illustrated. Engineered by none other than Nick Didia, the track speaks of taking back one’s identity, embracing it, and showing strength in the face of adversity – something Briggs, an accomplished author, actor and artist, knows more than a thing or two about.
‘The most dangerous thing you can be is yourself.’ Imparting this simple phrase, Briggs looked out into the audience and let his words fall. More than a few heads around the room nodded solemnly. It is this realness that Briggs has always had about him that often makes people stop and listen.
Accompanied by a three-piece band – Steve Smith on drums, Leigh Davies on guitar and Craig Strain on bass – Big Noter delivered an energetic set which kept many of the younger punks in attendance bouncing around in the mosh pit.
With Briggs only unveiling the new project in April of this year, Big Noter’s fan base will be guaranteed to continue to grow quicky. Their sound is raw, with definitive elements of Briggs’ punk and metal roots woven throughout, his lyricism politically charged and pulling no punches.
By now, the Powerstation was buzzing, attendees with a living history of the last 40 years of music displayed across dozens of T-shirts, jostling for the best position along the mezzanine balcony or as close to the front barriers as they could get.
The clock ticked by, and people started to get restless, small pockets starting to chant ‘ST’ in hopes that it would prompt the band to come out faster. But as the lights dipped, the members slowly appeared. Something of a supergroup now – long-standing member guitarist Dean Pleasants receiving a roar of approval as he stepped forward; by his side, none other than Ben Weiman from The Dillinger Escape Plan, who joined ST in 1996.
Many would be forgiven for wondering who the young man was that seemed to have found himself behind a bass surrounded by a who’s-who of music royalty. But once he began to effortlessly pluck those heavy bass lines, it was pretty easy to see that Tye Trujillo is following in the footsteps of his father of none other than Metallica fame. Robert Trujillo himself played during the more funk-orientated era of ST from 1989-1995, while also collaborating with Mike Muir’s other supergroup, Infectious Grooves.
On drums was another man with an impressive CV, Jay Weinberg, who was with Slipknot for nine years and whose father (Max Weinberg) is the long-time drummer of Bruce Springsteen. And of course, the one, the only, Mike ‘Cyco Miko’ Muir, vocalist, and sole continuous member of Suicidal Tendencies. With all members in place, it was as though someone pulled the pin on a grenade. You Can’t Bring Me Down sent both the band and crowd into a frenzy. Weinberg remained in place but hammered the skins like he was exacting a particular punishment. Muir was everywhere all at once, hands animated as he excitedly almost drew the notes from Pleasants’ guitar.
Ensuring that everyone stayed at the peak of hype that Cyco Mike found satisfactory, the band would pause as if to move on to the next track, instead veering off into an even more intense version of the song.
Suicidal Tendencies are often referred to as one of the founding fathers of crossover thrash, along with the likes of D.R.I and Stormtroopers of Death. It seemed rather appropriate that Join the Army suddenly exploded across the Powerstation. This current line-up of ST definitely has game, each member feeding off each other, every track evolving whilst simultaneously embodying the essence that made it what it was in the first place.
The audience were a delightful mix of generations, undoubtedly more than a few family members attending together; proving that even after 45 years, Suicidal Tendencies and their core essence still speak to many.
Freedumb saw stomping feet and fists punch the air, Cyco Miko grinning from ear to ear as the crowd chanted back at him, before Send Me Your Money and War Inside my Head whipped them up even further.
At times it was hard to pick who to watch – Weinberg’s flaying arms and killer beats, offset by the staunch demeanour of Pleasants on guitar. Weinman was on fire the entire night, tossing his guitar around his body, climbing the side speaker stacks, and running around the mezzanine, or climbing out into the crowd as they instinctively braced his feet and calves with their hands so that he could deliver a killer solo. Trujillo, with his square jaw and unflinching gaze – except for the occasional gentle smile of gratitude that would sneak past his lips – continually impressed, as his fingers pulled at the strings with ease, while he strode from one side of the stage to the next like a seasoned veteran.
In between every few tracks, Cyco Miko would impart pearls of wisdom, referring to how important it is to stare naysayers in the eye, while raising your middle finger. ‘This isn’t about plans. This is about life!’ The sentiment of living each day to the fullest, pushing back against those who try to hold you down and of course being authentically yourself at all times, an important part of the ST ethos and one that is both felt and in many cases followed to the letter by their more die-hard fans.
I Saw Your Mommy added a shot of dark humour to the mix, as ‘Cyco Vision’ saw a wall of death not once but twice opened up in the middle of the room, both circle and mosh pits present down front the rest of the time. But like any good thrash show, those that fell were picked up, slapped on the back and thrown back in with an enthusiastic, ‘Wahey!’
Drenched in sweat, Weinman and Weinberg looked like they had run a marathon, but they were both grinning ear to ear. Muir’s vocals were starting to sound just ever so slightly raspy, but his tenacity levels were still in overdrive. Diving into a killer version of Pledge Your Allegiance, the Tāmaki Makaurau crowd gave it everything they had. The band thanked them as the house lights went up, with fist bumps, set lists, sticks and pics.
Interestingly enough, those same set lists happened to feature ‘that’ song – one of the most instantly recognizable ST tracks around. Institutionalized, from their 1983 self-tilted album has been notably missing from this current Australasian tour – some citing that the band is sick of playing it, others that Cyco Miko is no longer comfortable doing so due to the large number of line-up changes the band has had over the last couple of decades. But one thing that is true is that while it was certainly missed, its absence could not detract from the phenomenal performance that set the Powerstation alight.
Cyco Miko has no intention of slowing down any time soon, and neither do Suicidal Tendencies. The messages within their lyrics are in many ways more important now than ever.
Long live ST!
Big Noter setlist
Free Yourself
It’s All Good
Talk Straight
FMD
Munarra
Identity
What Ya Swingin At
Moves Like a Winner
What’s the Matter with Adam?
Suicidal Tendencies setlist
(*Note - all songs listed for Auckland show, but not all songs played)
You Can’t Bring Me Down
Join the Army
I Shot Reagan
Freedumb
Send Me Your Money
War Inside My Head
Subliminal
Lovely
Adrenaline Addict
I Saw Your Mommy
Possessed to Skate
Cyco Vision
I Want More
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
Pledge Your Allegiance
*Institutionalized
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