Review: Falling In Reverse @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 13/03/25
Credit must be given to Falling In Reverse and their enigmatic frontman, Ronnie Radke. This tour is nothing short of colossal, solidifying their reign as arena rock royalty.
Words and Images by Justin White
Falling In Reverse w/Black Veil Brides & Hollywood Undead @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 13/03/2025
A sea of black t-shirts flooded the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on this warm March evening. While black jeans might not be the most practical choice for this time of year, they were certainly the uniform of the night.
Once again, Adelaide proved itself a must-stop destination for any larger-than-life metal band. Fans arrived in droves, eager to catch the openers. In recent years, we’ve seen Slipknot, Parkway Drive, and Bring Me The Horizon pack out the AEC Arena – once reserved for mainstream pop acts. Credit must be given to Falling In Reverse and their enigmatic frontman, Ronnie Radke. This tour is nothing short of colossal, solidifying their reign as arena rock royalty.
Before Falling In Reverse unleashed their set, the crowd was already riding a high from a powerhouse double feature – Hollywood Undead and Black Veil Brides. With a lineup this stacked, the night felt less like a typical concert and more like we were on the way to a mini-festival.
Hollywood Undead kicked things off with a high-energy performance, seamlessly blending nu metal, punk, and hip hop into one chaotic yet tight package. Their anthemic opener, ‘California Dreaming’, set the tone, proving there was no time for half-measures. Each band member swapped vocal duties and instruments effortlessly, radiating an infectious energy. Highlights included ‘Everywhere I Go’, ‘Day of the Dead’, and an unexpected yet well-received cover of ‘Sweet Caroline’. They wrapped up their set with ‘Undead’, igniting the crowd and leaving many hoping for a headline tour of their own in the near future.
Next up was another headline-worthy act: Black Veil Brides. A group of suave, larger-than-life rock stars took the stage, exuding confidence and precision. Led by the ever-charismatic Andy Biersack, BVB delivered a set that spanned nearly their entire discography. They gave the spotlight to their 2024 release, ‘Bleeders’, alongside fan favourites like ‘Knives & Pens’ and ‘In The End’. The band was given a production setup worthy of a headliner, complete with stunning lighting and effects. Their set ended too soon, but perhaps that was a clever tactic – one that left fans yearning for their inevitable return.
READ MORE: Review: Slipknot @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 04/03/25
After a swift stage set change, the lights dimmed and the mood shifted. A massive screen flickered to life, displaying backstage footage of a dressing room door swinging open. The crowd erupted as Falling In Reverse, led by Radke, began their march to the stage. AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ blared through the arena as they strutted towards the spotlight, air-guitaring and singing along. It was a candid, almost cinematic moment, offering fans a glimpse behind the curtain. Unlike Spinal Tap, they made it to the stage perfectly in sync with the song’s climax. The lights dropped once more, and when they rose again, there stood Radke, alone in the spotlight. The haunting opener, ‘Prequel’ a hip hop-driven diary entry, set an intense yet intimate tone for the evening.
After a brief hiccup with the sound – during which Radke insisted on perfection, declaring that the music was the heart of the show and the fans deserved the best – they roared back to life with thunderous performances of ‘Zombified’ and ‘Vampire’. Flames erupted from the stage, engulfing the performance in a fiery spectacle. From the outset, Radke commanded every inch of the stage – intense, gritty, yet always in control. His ‘metal god’ persona wasn’t just for show; he was on a mission to prove this was Falling In Reverse’s house, and the audience was merely along for the ride.
Radke’s charisma shone through when he playfully hijacked the roaming camera, bouncing between himself and the crowd while performing ‘Just Like You’. As the song ended, he jokingly called the audience “ungrateful pieces of shit” before dramatically storming off – only to reappear backstage on the big screen, launching into ‘No Fear’. It was here that the true diversity of Radke and Falling In Reverse became apparent. His rap bars could hold their own on any major hip hop stage, yet this was undeniably a metal show, or rather, a Radke show.
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‘All My Life’ brought yet another twist as Radke donned a black cowboy hat, followed by the rest of the band. The crowd knew they were in for another transformation, showcasing Radke’s chameleon-like ability to blend genres seamlessly. By this point, if the front row hadn’t been scorched by the flames, they were about to be. The pyrotechnics intensified, shooting from new angles and in unexpected directions, adding to the sheer spectacle of the night.
Deciding which song to close with must have been no easy task. Any of the final four could have ended the show, a testament to Radke’s songwriting and grand ambition. ‘Popular Monster’ was just as powerful live as it is on record, followed by ‘Voices in My Head’. ‘Ronald’ started as a classic screamo track before shifting gears when Tech N9ne appeared on the screen for his verse.
As the rollercoaster of a show neared its end, there was time for one final ascent and descent. ‘Watch the World Burn’ was a fitting finale because by the end of the night, it felt like the Adelaide Entertainment Centre had been set ablaze. The production was second to none, but the true spectacle was Ronnie Radke himself. This show wasn’t just a concert; it was a theatrical masterpiece, with Radke playing every role.
That’s not to say the rest of the band wasn’t impressive – they were tight, professional, and flawless – but Radke was king tonight.
For anyone who claims rockstars no longer exist, they’ve clearly never seen Falling In Reverse live.
If you get the chance, don’t miss this tour. And if you were in Adelaide on Thursday night you’ve just joined the cult of Ronnie Radke.
Want more pics of the gig? Check out our full photo gallery here.
