Concert Review - Devilskin - Auckland - 27th June 2025

Presented By The Rock & Jack Daniels

Devilskin in Auckland Photo Credit Ginny Cocks

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL DEVILSKIN GALLERY BY GINNY COCKS

Review By: Faith Hamblyn

Artist/Band: Devilskin ft Special guests Villainy & Midwave Breaks

Venue/City: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Event: Friday 27th June 2025

Heading to the front row of the Powerstation, Soundgarden’s ‘The Day I Tried To Live’ was playing, which was appropriate, as Midwave Breaks’ Bruce Conlon has a voice straight out of classic grunge. They are a guitarist/vocalist and a drummer, but their sound is big, thanks in no small part to Conlon’s grunge-screamer ability. They kicked off with ‘Away We Go’, which had a bright, ringing guitar sound.

They launched into Stonewall, which has more of a desert rock sound. It makes sense, given Conlon’s look these days, with his bedraggled wizard beard and hair, he could have just returned from an ayahuasca pilgrimage. Next was ‘No Way To Decide’, originally recorded and released as their previous band, Eight. It reminded me of Deftones – now, that’s my cup of alt-metal tea.

Their cover of Shapeshifter’s ‘In Colour’ was soulful, but my nostalgia was rendered just cobwebs with the next song, ‘Moment’s Gone.’ Also by Eight, it’s a song I seriously dug back in 2002, although at the time, I never caught who it was by!

Next, Wham’s ‘Careless Whisper’ played over the sound system – surely a nod to Villainy’s Club Tropicana video they did for ‘Dreams’. Having seen Thom Watts at his other job producing ‘7 Days’, I knew they have energy and creativity. But is Neill Fraser, sunning in a Speedo in the Wham video homage, just a pretty boy?

Opening track ‘Safe Passage’ is representative of Villainy’s sound – pop punk, with a swirl of prog metal. It tied in with Midwave Breaks’ projected backdrop – now we’ve got a party. So far, so post-hardcore, and the crowd were fired up.

‘Beggar’, was more nu-metal. I guess sometimes skinny white dudes just have giant voices. I was nearly surrounded by ecstatic punters in Villainy T-shirts.

‘Tiny Little Island’ was clearly a fan favourite. A sea-shanty version of Weezer’s ‘Buddy Holly’, the band sang it with the help of the audience. There’s always room for a little indie rock.

Deftones cover ‘Rocket Skates’ was impressive – Neill can scream, which is surprising; he’s clearly not from the same upside-down hellscape that Chino Moreno calls home. ‘Miles Away’ sounded like angry emo, which is always a rich, cool vein.

Alt-metal headliners Devilskin ripped into ‘Red’, a new song off upcoming RE-EVOLUTION, growly and heavy. Jennie Skulander, in sparkly Doc Martens-booted burlesque-style between matching bald, goateed guitarists, looked as though a kick-ass diva had accidentally joined a thrash metal band in hell.

Devilskin are not easy to define. They are more than simply a metal band, but their metal credentials are impeccable – and now Aotearoa Music Award nominated. They thanked the crowd for their devotion and celebrated performing at stomping ground Powerstation, where they recorded in 2014.

‘Start A Revolution’ and ‘Pray’ had a punchy rap rhythm – more evidence of their musical versatility. They’re tight, super-heavy, and Jennie has a voice to behold, particularly in their more melodic moments – which makes it a surprise every time she switches effortlessly to a guttural death-metal growl and back.

By ‘Corrode’, the crowd were in full voice, and new single ‘Half-Life of Dreams’ had the tables rattling. They can embody the symphonic sweep typical of female-fronted alt-metal, but with a genuine double-kick thrash power. ‘Burn Slow’ showed a new depth to Skulander’s vocals. ‘Do You See Birds’ evoked ‘Shout At The Devil,’ if the devil was on lead vocals.

Their cover of Heart’s ‘Barracuda’ showed Jennie can match Wilson’s vocals, with added growl. New track ‘Ghosts In The Mud’ blew that out of the water with an insane classic rock scream. The gig was ostensibly over, but the crowd shouted for more.

With no sign of flagging energy, Skulander was throwing kicks so high, she could take someone’s head off. ‘Little Pills’, to close, started with her lying seductively on a riser, soon growling. With the loud, dense music fading, there was rapturous applause and goats thrown defiantly.

Keyboard played us out, like the coda of Faith No More’s ‘Epic’, but more grim. With all three acts, you got the sense that they were nearing the end of a successful tour, but the intensity was still dialled up to 11. It probably helped that they were playing one of the country’s most beloved rock venues, with an avid crowd that could not have been more receptive.

SETLISTS

Midwave Breaks
Away We Go
Stonewall
No Way To Decide (Eight)
Standing Inside Out
Phoenix
In Colour (Shapeshifter cover)
Lemonade Hand Grenade
Moment's Gone (Eight)
Souvenirs

Villainy
Safe Passage
The Launch
Beggar
Tiny Little Island
CUT (with a digression into the chorus of Creed’s One Last Breath)
Raised in the Dark
Dreams
Rocket Skates (Deftones cover)
Alligator Skin
Another Time
Miles Away
IFXS

Devilskin
Red (from the new album, RE-EVOLUTION)
Start a Revolution
Pray
Swelter
Endo
Corrode
Half-Life of Dreams
Fade
All Fall Down
Burn Slow
Do You See Birds?
Barracuda (Heart cover)
Ghosts in the Mud
Never See the Light

Encore
Unborn
Elvis Presley Circle Pit
Desiderium
Little Pills

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Check out the remaining Dates on the Devilskin Tour:

Saturday 28 June - Stadium Lounge - Mt Maunganui

Saturday 05 July - Meow Nui - ++Wellington

From @EVENTFINDA;  *Invercargill@FLICKET;  **Christchurch@TICKETMASTER;+Auckland @AAA TICKETING;  ++Wellington @TICKETEK devilskin.co.nz

Devilskin Re-Eveloution Tour PR 2025

Note of Review Amendment 2:40pm 28/06/2025 - Editor Megan Moss

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