WOW, what a start! On 24 June in Adelaide, Australia, VindictA took to the stage and absolutely did not disappoint. Performing most of the songs associated with their previous band and culminating with their now infamous track, The Face of the Clown, which received a rapturous reception from the Australian fans, VindictA have truly arrived.

For those who missed the original Dogma lineup, seeing them perform together again was nothing short of amazing.

The band were full of energy, and the crowd responded in kind. You could see the emotion on their faces; the smiles could not be held back. This was their moment, doing it on their own terms. It felt authentic and completely natural.

There is a genuine connection between the two guitarists, Lamia (Amber Maldonado) and Rusalka (Patri Grief), that could only come from shared experiences and a close friendship. Their chemistry on stage was effortless and entirely natural, something that could never have been manufactured or forced.

Rusalka, renowned for her commanding stage presence and constant interaction with the crowd, was in fine form throughout. She leapt into the audience during Pleasure from Pain before casting aside her veil to unleash a furious headbang during the closing moments of The Face of the Clown.

Lamia, the shred queen herself, effortlessly shifted between moments of elegance and raw aggression, wearing every emotion openly on her face. It was a genuine highlight to see her once again take centre stage, crown in place, to perform the solo from Carnal Liberation. It was a reminder of just how captivating a guitarist she is, both technically and as a performer.

Grace Jane simply is Lilith. She is sultry and intimidating, yet she also seemed more relaxed than ever, and her interactions with the crowd were genuinely fun, even joining in with chants of “F**k the Pig”.

Vocally, she was hugely impressive, if anything even better than she was a year ago. Her screams were so powerful they had the hairs on everyone’s arms standing on end.

As for the new members, Medea (Wena Velasco) on bass and Kali (Gemma Sofia Salvatori) on drums, they definitely made their presence felt and fit perfectly with the band’s new style. They look to be inspired choices.

Kali, who is better known for her death metal blast beats, is a heavy-hitting powerhouse of a drummer. Grace even affectionately described her as a “monster” and a “machine”, which seems entirely fitting.

Medea, though diminutive in stature and almost dwarfed by her six-string bass, brought immense talent and a stage presence that belied her size. Her energy was relentless; she simply never stood still. And what could be more metal than headbanging and unleashing a full windmill in the middle of a performance?

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