Review: I Killed The Prom Queen at Metropolis Fremantle

I Killed The Prom Queen at Metropolis Fremantle
w/ Emmure, To The Grave, Threshold
Saturday, October 11, 2025.

It’s been 18 years since Michael Crafter fronted an I Killed The Prom Queen gig in Perth. In fact, in their on-and-off 25-year career, you can count their Western Australia shows on two hands. That’s not to say that Perth Prom Queen fans wouldn’t be grateful; instead, a potent buzz was in the air within the confines of Metropolis Fremantle, where a seething thousand or so fans were at the ready to make the most of what one of Australia’s most influential metal acts had to offer.

And that act, featuring an original lineup minus the late, founding bassist Sean Kennedy—honoured by former stand-in vocalist Jamie Hope—came and delivered.

But before launching into their three-album and three-EP discography, Threshold (Melb) opened things up with 20 minutes of tight and rhythmic hardcore.

To The Grave (Sydney) followed with their pig squeal and horror-laden deathcore, stirring the crowd into action with relentless pressure to circle pit. The Sydney veterans unleashed on the Freo Metro crowd in unrelenting fashion.  

US heavy hitters Emmure closed out the supports, landing a set of heavy blows in their breakdown-driven style that saw an already animated crowd build to a fever pitch—in part thanks to Emmure’s decision to play a set that was a collection of their best work from their eight-album catalogue. As anticipated, the well-travelled quartet delivered a tight-sounding set.

I Killed The Prom Queen had to turn it on after their three openers led strongly to introduce them, and with a back catalogue stacked with iconic tracks to choose from, they knew exactly where to land their blows. Launching into Intro from their seminal When Goodbye Means Forever set the scene for what was to come as Crafter, Weinhofen, Peters, Cameron, and Hope hit every high from their releases spanning 2000-2008—£666, Never Never Land, Your Shirt Would Look Better With A Columbian Necktie, and so on.

But it wasn’t just a reliance on familiarity for a band that has a tumultuous history. The energy was in step with their touring efforts at their peak. Playing sold-out shows off the back of a release is one thing, but the uncertainty of whether or not this is the last time is another. The crowd was with them every step of the way, knowing every move but also not quite sure what to expect. Peter’s drum fills were tight, piercing, and always timed perfectly, while Weinhofen looked like he hadn’t even set his guitar down since the 2015 Van’s Warped Tour, even though he’d stated publicly that “playing guitar in a band isn’t at the top of his priority list.” Could’ve fooled us.

Crafter still has the knack for working the crowd, not so much graceful but engaging nonetheless, and pulling off every pitch change with ease. He egged the crowd on and spoke earnestly about the band’s past and influence. At times things got sombre, the band having their own lived experience with suicide, with former member Sean Kennedy taking his own life in 2021. Crafter’s ‘SK FOREVER’ tactical vest is now a staple in his touring garb, and he spoke to the Metropolis Fremantle crowd about mental health before dedicating Roses, Postcards, and Machine Gun Kisses to Kennedy.

For 60 minutes, IKTPQ blasted a lively Metro Freo crowd with their version of a career best of, and in that time, they took many of us back to a heyday of metalcore. But perhaps more importantly, they gave many more their first and probably only showing of what is arguably one of the most influential heavy acts to come out of Australia.

Of course, there was an abrupt end to Prom Queen’s set. As they left us, it didn’t get past many that it would be highly unlikely the band would depart without playing two of their most important and most influential songs. And so, as the crowd clapped and chanted ‘encore’ and ‘one more song’ in unison, they returned to finish with a fitting Sharks In Your Mouth and Say Goodbye encore. Goodbye, I Killed The Prom Queen.

I killed The Prom Queen played one last, bonus all-ages show at Leederville Institute HQ to finish their Say Goodbye tour, paying tribute to the venue that helped them and many other heavy acts get a foot in the door. The sold-out show was supported by Daybreak, Shattered, and Furety.

JONO OUTRED

Adrian Thomson