Halcyon Reign were up first with their own brand of heavy metal. Their sound was tight with their shredding guitar solos and powerful vocals standing out.

Elke and The Jandel were up next and had the biggest following of the night by far. These indie rockers put on a high energy show with killer harmonies and catchy tunes. The crowd loved every second of it.

Tropical Wax brought the surf-rock vibes and showed their versatility with both the drummer and lead vocalist singing. They were well rehearsed and had obviously been working hard since we saw them in the heats.

Lowgazer had a huge impact and were a great finish to the night with heavy guitar riffs combined with melodic vocals and screaming. They had a big following and will no doubt be a powerful force in the hardcore music scene in the years to come.

All four bands played their hearts out and in the end Halcyon Reign took out first place and will now represent Wollongong at the next stage of the competition. Congratulations to all the bands who took part.

Haworth's Music Centres, Shellharbour, Fairy Meadow. www.haworthguitars.com.au