Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men, Crystal Lake and Patient Sixty-Seven live at Magnet House, Perth | 05 May 2026

Of Mice and Men opened their Australian tour with a stop at Perth's Magnet House.  With Crystal Lake and Patient Sixty-Seven along for the ride, it was a night for the ages.

The room was already approaching capacity as Perth locals Patient Sixty-Seven kicked off the evening.  Blasting through a quick 6 song set, squeezing a new track Catch 22.  They have been steadily building a fan base over the past few years, as evidenced by the t-shirts dotted about the crowd. Undoubtedly adding new fans with this performance, as they more than held their own amongst the illustrious lineup.

After perhaps the most impressive sound check drum solo I have witnessed, Crystal Lake was up. From the moment they hit the stage, the Tokyo outfit unleash a barrage of crushing riffs, blast-beat drums and razor-tight breakdowns, blending metalcore, hardcore and deathcore into a sound that’s punishing yet melodic. Tracks shift seamlessly between atmospheric passages and neck breaking heaviness.  Founding member and guitarist YD’s philosophy “..to perform like I have no regrets, like I could die at any moment, and to always push past my limits” was on full display.

Their stage energy was interminable, with the audience mirroring their intensity. From the first note, the floor erupted into circle pits and surging bodies, with a steady stream of crowd surfers being lifted out of the chaos.

A standout element of this tour is the inclusion of PK (frontman from Japanese/Korean band Prompts) as guest vocalist. PK brings a ferocious edge, with his vocal delivery cutting through the mix with a sharp, almost desperate aggression. Rather than feeling like a substitute, his presence adds a fresh intensity, with his ability to command the crowd elevating key moments into genuine highlights. 

Crystal Lake’s live performance is an overwhelming sensory hit; tight, aggressive, emotionally charged and made even more memorable by PK’s commanding guest appearance and a crowd that gave back every ounce of energy it received.

The Californian metal-core titans Of Mice & Men delivered a tightly wound, high-impact live set that balanced aggression with melody. Their sound leaned heavily on downtuned riffs and punchy breakdowns, but what stood out was the clarity—each guitar line cut through the mix, while the rhythm section hit with precision rather than chaos. The vocals shifted seamlessly between harsh screams and clean, anthemic choruses, giving the performance a dynamic edge that kept it from feeling one-dimensional.

On stage, the band carried a confident, no-frills presence. They weren’t overly theatrical, but their energy was constant—tight movements, headbanging in sync, and an obvious chemistry built from years of playing together. The frontman commanded attention without needing to overplay it, engaging the crowd with just enough intensity to keep the focus on the music.

The audience responded in kind, creating a charged atmosphere from the first note. The pit was active but controlled, with waves of moshing and crowd-surfing breaking out during heavier sections, while fans sang along loudly during the melodic hooks. There was a sense of shared enthusiasm rather than chaos—an experienced crowd that knew exactly when to explode and when to pull back.

It was a performance that showcased both the technical strength and emotional range of the band; leaving the room feeling completely spent, yet still hungry for more.

Photography by Adrian Thomson

Of Mice and men

Crystal Lake

Patient Sixty-Seven