Slam Dunk North, Temple Newsam 2026: The Review

Origami Angel

By the time Origami Angel took over Scott’s Key Club Stage, the tent was already packed out. For a band made up of just two members, the amount of noise they managed to produce was ridiculous, filling the stage with razor-sharp riffs, huge melodies and enough energy to rival bands twice their size. Whilst other stages leaned heavily into breakdowns and spectacle, Origami Angel carved out their own lane with a set that felt refreshingly different. ‘Self-Destruct’ quickly turned into one of those festival moments where it felt like everybody knew the words, with the crowd singing every word to the chorus. ‘HM07 Waterfall’ wasn’t far behind either, delivering one of the most memorable riffs of the afternoon and a reminder of just how good the band’s musicianship really is. – ED.

Stand Atlantic

Stand Atlantic’s set felt like pure festival fun from start to finish. Between newer cuts like ‘KILL[H]ER’ and older favourites such as ‘Lavender Bones’, the band struck a balance between where they’ve come from and where they’re heading next. ‘Lavender Bones’ in particular was met with a huge reaction, proving some songs never really lose their place in a setlist no matter how much a band evolves. Elsewhere, ‘GIRL$’ saw pockets of girl pits emerge across the field, whilst the band’s ambitious attempt to create the longest rowboat Slam Dunk has ever seen was met with varying levels of success and enthusiasm. New single ‘Velcro’ slotted seamlessly into the set, sounding every bit as confident live as it does on record. At a festival packed with heavier moments and bigger spectacles, Stand Atlantic reminded everyone that sometimes the most memorable sets are simply the ones having the most fun. – ED.

Tonight Alive

It feels unbelievably good to see the return of treasured Sydney stalwarts, Tonight Alive, a band that has lived in the hearts of many for decades, their influence and continued impact on the scene sometimes understated. Jenna McDougall continues to exude the same infectious, fizzy energy that is absolutely captivating in a live setting, tearing across the stage with all the energy of a lit fuse. Tearing through a set of beloved classics, the band are performing at the top of their game, with maximum velocity, personified by Jenna launching herself into the pit during ‘Little Lion Man’. Teaming up with Bonnie from Stand Atlantic for ‘Disappear’, their genuine connection adds to the live impact of the track, and their infectious kinetic fusion is impossible to not move your feet to. – ES.

Bury Tomorrow

Few bands can make pyro, pig squeals and relentless breakdowns feel completely at home in the middle of a sunny afternoon, but Bury Tomorrow managed it with ease. Opening with ‘Choke’, the band wasted no time turning the field into a sea of movement, with circle pits opening up across the crowd almost as quickly as the breakdowns arrived. From start to finish, the set carried a relentless energy that never really let up. Tracks including ‘Villain Arc’, ‘What If I Burn’, ‘Boltcutter’ and ‘Yokai’ kept the intensity firmly pinned in the red, whilst frontman Dan commanded the stream of circle pits and gave crowdsurfers high fives. By the time ;DEATH (Ever Colder); brought the set to a close, Bury Tomorrow delivered exactly what the heavy stage at Slam Dunk promised: big riffs, breakdowns and carnage. – ED.

State Champs

As the sun began to set over Slam Dunk, State Champs delivered exactly the sort of set the Monster Energy Stage was crying out for. From the moment they stepped onstage, crowd surfers appeared in a near-constant stream, with fans squeezing every last bit of energy out of the weekend. ‘Light Blue’ proved a particular highlight, with Derek DiScanio taking a moment to appreciate just how loudly the crowd were singing every word back at him. It felt less like a festival set and more like a massive gathering of long-time fans. By the time ‘Secrets’ rolled around, there was absolutely zero order with endless crowdsurfing. Closing with ‘Everybody But You’, State Champs turned the final moments of the day into one huge celebration, providing the perfect soundtrack to a Slam Dunk sunset. – ED.

Malevolence

Malevolence continue to bring an unmatched level of presence to their sets, unrelenting whether it be a local show, festival set, or large-scale headline tour, weaving in a bit of tongue-in-cheek lightness to their demeanour that has made the band beloved by many. Blasting straight into the newer track, ‘Trenches’, the energy did not let up once as Slam Dunk North were treated to a masterclass in the form of Northern metallic heaviness. The circle pits just keep getting bigger, and during ‘Self Supremacy’ we saw ‘the biggest in Slam Dunk history’, Alex states, grinning ear to ear. Harking back to the collaborative roots in the scene, playing across Steel City’s intimate ‘core venues, we were treated to a feast of collaborations from the likes of Alex Neu (Comeback Kid), Bryan Garris (Knocked Loose), and Jay Valentine (Guilt Trip). Whatever arbitrary limit is set for Malev, they seem to break through it with ease every single time. The sky truly is the limit for this band, and it’s exciting to see where they’ll take things next. – ES.

Photo Credit:

Eddy Maynard

Knocked Loose

Your favourite heavy band’s favourite band, Knocked Loose, made history with their explosive, petrol-bomb of a headline set, setting the benchmark for heavy Slam Dunk sets to follow. Their discography is built up of songs that are made to be screamed back word for word with huge choruses and earworm riffs weaved into the band’s DNA, meaning that building a setlist of this level feels like quite an easy feat for the band, which is impressive for a catalogue of tracks that lean this heavy.

The stage was built up with large stacks of amps, performing against a backdrop of a huge cross illuminated in a ghostly yellow light. The scale and stage design of the set serve as a reminder of how far this band has come a momentous achievement for a band within the scene. Ripping through a setlist of heavy hitters Knocked Loose treat us to a quadruple threat of UK features, including the likes of Loathe, Malevolence, Static Dress and Heriot that feels like a love letter to the UK Crossover scene, a true pivotal moment in UK festival history. The crowd did both Knocked Loose and Slam Dunk proud with this one, moving as one writhing mass from start to finish, huge circle pits morphing into a mass of spin kicks and crowd surfers alike. From huge headline appearances to touring with Metallica, Knocked Loose are unbreakable, and their live trajectory proves unmatched. – ES.