Written By Tom Wilke
Our Lagerstein Too Long Between Drinks Brisbane Review begins at a packed Crowbar, where the hometown pirate metallers returned for a sold-out celebration backed by an all-local lineup that showcased the strength of Brisbane’s heavy music scene.
The night kicked off with one of the most gloriously ridiculous bands you’ll ever see.
Lagerstein Too Long Between Drinks Brisbane Review
Nuclearsaurus Rex aren’t content with simply playing old-school thrash metal. Their entire identity revolves around dinosaurs, complete with an inflatable Tyrannosaurus Rex roaming the stage while the band tears through frantic riffs and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
Vocalist banter leaned into the absurdity, joking that they were “full-grown adults who sing about dinosaurs,” while songs like Triceratoxic, Velociradioactive, and the unforgettable Sneezing Fits Can Go and Get Fucked kept the crowd laughing as much as headbanging.
It was impossible not to get swept up in the fun.
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
Buckled followed with a complete change of pace. Stripping away the theatrics, the Brisbane punk outfit delivered a straightforward set built on classic punk attitude and Black Flag-inspired energy.
Their performance didn’t rely on costumes or comedy, instead letting sharp riffs, relentless momentum, and raw stage presence do the work. Although the larger-than-life personalities of the surrounding bands inevitably drew more attention, Buckled proved more than capable of holding their own.
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
By the time Lagerstein finally took the stage, the atmosphere had shifted from anticipation to outright celebration.
The Brisbane pirate metallers have built a devoted local following over the years, and their return felt less like a concert than a reunion between the band and their loyal “Lagercrew.”
From the opening moments, Crowbar transformed into a sea of raised tankards, pirate chants, singalongs, and nonstop movement.
The band’s signature blend of soaring power metal, folk melodies, and unapologetic party anthems kept the room in constant motion as songs like Drink the Rum, Raise Your Steins, The Shoey Song, and Land of Bundy turned the venue into something closer to a pirate tavern than a traditional concert hall.
Shoeys, flying pirate hats, and endless audience participation only added to the atmosphere.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Australian tradition known as a shoey, count yourself lucky. It involves pouring beer into a shoe someone has just been wearing and drinking it, a practice that’s equal parts celebration, questionable life choice, and stomach-turning spectacle. Judging by the reaction inside Crowbar, however, the Lagercrew wouldn’t have it any other way.
More importantly, Lagerstein never lost sight of what makes them so entertaining. Their performances balance theatrical comedy with musicianship, delivering polished performances without sacrificing the carefree spirit that’s become their trademark.
The sold-out show also served as a reminder of the strength of Brisbane’s local metal community. An entire bill featuring hometown bands packed one of the city’s premier heavy music venues, with every act bringing something distinct to the night, from dinosaur-fuelled thrash and old-school punk to pirate metal mayhem.
Lagerstein’s Too Long Between Drinks Brisbane show delivered both, proving once again why the hometown pirate metallers remain one of Australia’s most entertaining live acts.
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
Video: Tom Wilke / Metal Lair
More Than Just Another Venue
Crowbar Brisbane isn’t just another stop on the touring circuit. It’s one of Australia’s most important homes for heavy music.
Originally founded in Fortitude Valley in 2012 by former The Amity Affliction keyboardist Trad Nathan and Tyla Dombroski, Crowbar quickly became a sanctuary for metal, punk, hardcore, and alternative music in Queensland.
When the pandemic forced the original Brisbane venue to close in 2020, it left a hole in the local scene that many feared would never be filled.
That changed in 2024. After Brisbane’s iconic The Zoo closed its doors following more than three decades of live music, the Crowbar team stepped in to take over the venue, restoring a vital space instead of watching another piece of the city’s musical heritage disappear. Rather than simply reopening a bar, they gave Brisbane’s heavy community a home once again.
Today, Crowbar operates in both Brisbane and Sydney, continuing to champion grassroots artists alongside international touring acts. Its survival, expansion, and return stand as a reminder that Australia’s heavy music scene is built by passionate people who refuse to let it disappear.
Some venues host concerts. Crowbar helped preserve a community. Long may the riffs ring through its walls.
About The Author
Tom Wilke is a music journalist, casual rhythm guitarist and Metal Lair ambassador based in Brisbane, Australia. He was once a member of the ‘All Things Metal’ inner circle, a once great metal journalism group that was slain by Zucc, eater of worlds, and rose from the ashes to become Metal Lair.
Tom’s been involved in the Brisbane metal scene since 2012 doing occasional roadie work, helping friends with song writing and getting rowdy in the moshpit. After taking a break from music to focus on other things, Tom joined the Metal Lair team in 2023 and now you can find him interviewing bands for us on zoom, writing reviews for gigs and festivals, networking and doing a little photography on the side.
Tom’s top 5 bands:
Cattle Decapitation
Gojira
Revocation
Skeletonwitch
The Acacia Strain
Read More From This Author:
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Metal Lair Interviews Travis Everett of Witchgrinder
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