Catching Deafheaven live at Auckland’s Powerstation on 3 July was an incredible experience – and calling it incredible still feels like an understatement. Renowned for their transcendent live performances, the San Francisco blackgaze pioneers returned to New Zealand for the third time, leaving a devoted crowd hoping it won’t be their last.
Formed in 2010, Deafheaven have built a reputation for seamlessly blending black metal, shoegaze and post-rock into the genre now widely known as blackgaze. Touring in support of their 2025 album Lonely People With Power, the five-piece once again proved why they’re regarded as one of the most captivating live bands in heavy music.
Erase Everything
Opening the night were local band Erase Everything, a collective featuring members of several New Zealand bands, including Angelo Munro of Bleeders. Thanking the early arrivals, Munro joked, “We ain’t Nothing, but we’ll try our best.”
It took Erase Everything a few songs to settle into their stride, but they steadily found their groove in front of an attentive, yet quiet, audience. The band gave it their all throughout their relatively short set.
Deafheaven
From the opening seconds of Incidental I, Deafheaven unleashed a wall of sound that completely engulfed the room. I was lucky to be in front of the stage. The atmospheric introduction quickly gave way to George Clarke‘s unmistakable vocals, while the band’s soaring layers of shoegaze and post-rock washed over a spellbound audience.
Clarke was impossible to take your eyes off. His energy was relentless, bringing a dynamism I haven’t seen in a while. Sweat poured from his face as he delivered a performance that was both physically exhausting and completely magnetic.
By the end of the first song, I was hooked on a band I was seeing for the first time.
Magnolia starting with guitarist Shiv Mehra signalling in the air – just a motion or a call for a circle pit. Several people had told me beforehand that there wouldn’t be a mosh pit for Deafheaven. Boy, were they wrong.
Throughout the set, Clarke seemed to conduct the room with his gestures, beckoning and controlling the audience while dancing as the music moved through him.
Brought to the Water was another standout, solidifying Deafheaven as a new addition to my regular musical rotation.
Amethyst was simply breathtaking. The gradual progression of the song made it impossible not to be swept away.
Incidental II creating a beautiful break before the band heading into their final songs.
Revelator undoubtedly one of my highlights of the evening, with even more fans rushed towards the pit.
The mosh pit was in full flight for Dream House, complete with crowd surfers sailing overhead. Towards the end of the song, Clarke climbed down to the barrier, finishing the performance face-to-face with fans.
Closing with Winona, Clarke called for one last circle pit.
The sound mix captured every layer of Deafheaven’s intricate sound. Balancing chiming guitars, drums and Clarke’s vocals is no easy task, yet every part found its place.
Across twelve songs, Deafheaven demonstrated exactly why they have earned their reputation for transcendent live shows. This was an incredible gig, and I only wish I hadn’t waited this long to see them.
Sherry Naidoo
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Deafheaven
Erase Everything
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