Killswitch Engage Live at Forum Melbourne 2026

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Published November 10, 2026 by Alexander Hallag

Killswitch Engage returned to Melbourne’s Forum on Monday night, joined by Sylosis and Heists for an evening of heavy music, crowd interaction and messages of unity that carried through to the final moments.

Killswitch Engage returned to Melbourne’s Forum on Monday night, joined by Sylosis and Heists for an evening of heavy music, crowd interaction and messages of unity that carried through to the final moments.

Melbourne’s Heists opened proceedings, thanking those who arrived early and revealing plans to return in March. Their vocalist also recalled playing one of his first Melbourne shows upstairs at The Tote.

British metal outfit Sylosis followed, entering to KISS’s ‘Tonight’ before launching into a set featuring ‘Poison for the Lost’, ‘Lacerations’ and ‘All Glory, No Valour’. Introducing ‘Lacerations’, the vocalist expressed his appreciation for being back in Melbourne and invited those familiar with the song to sing along. He also motioned for a circle pit before closing with thanks to Killswitch Engage and the audience.

For Killswitch Engage, Jesse Leach’s connection with the audience was a defining feature. Making his way to the barrier at least four times, Leach repeatedly engaged with fans, bringing the performance beyond the stage.

Early in the set, ‘Aftermath’ was preceded by a dedication to Mother Earth. Later, Leach thanked the supporting bands and introduced a song about cutting toxic people from your life.

Calling for an old-school circle pit, Leach reminded everyone that if somebody fell, they should be picked straight back up. His message reflected the community spirit he continued to emphasise throughout the evening.

Before ‘This Fire Burns’, Leach thanked fans who had supported Killswitch Engage from the beginning and spoke about love and unity. Another personal moment came when he introduced ‘Daylight Dies’ as one of his favourite songs, acknowledging that he hadn’t written it himself.

The closing stretch brought ‘My Curse’ and ‘My Last Serenade’, rounding out an 18-song performance that balanced the band’s heavier material with its melodic foundations.

As the evening drew to a close, Leach acknowledged how difficult life can be and reminded the Melbourne audience that the greatest weapon against those struggles is love.

For all the aggression in Killswitch Engage’s music, it was the connection between band and audience that ultimately defined the night.