CONCERT REVIEW: Ides Of March (Venue: Underground @ The Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley, New South Wales, Australia, 15 March 2014) by Collin Brophy

Venue: Underground @ The Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley, New South Wales Australia

Guest include: October Rage. Rise of Avernus. Troldhaugen. Toehider. Caught Out. Pagans Realm. Apparitions of Null.

I arrived around 15 minutes before the first band played. Wasn’t sure how many people would turn up due to a massive thunder storm around 1.5 hours before the doors opened.  The rain pounded down on my way up to the venue. Quite a few people had arrived before I did which was really good.  A good crowd had turned out by the time Null started playing, and the crowd continued to come in all night.

Apparitions of Null. (Sydney NSW Australia)  

Genre: Progressive/Melodic/Technical Metal

Band Members:

Dale Robinson - all vocals.
Sam Maher - Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitar.
Chris Rosiak - Rhythm, Acoustic and Classical Guitar.
Jamie Harrison Brown - Drums and Percussion.
Dwayne Murray - Bass.

Set list is:

1. Kaleidoscopes.

These guys are brilliant.  If Pink Floyd was a metal band, then this is what they would sound like. The vocalist’s vocal range just amazes me, from harsh death to very soft tones.  The bassist and guitarist are just amazing to watch live, and the drummer well you have to see him live to believe it yourself.  Even though they only played one song which went for around 30 minutes, the crowd that was there loved it and with plenty of loud applause once they finished.  I spoke with the vocalist after their set and he said that they are hoping to have an EP out by June or July. I can’t wait for the EP launch as I would definitely be there for that. Theses guys are for anyone who likes all genres of metal.

Pagans Realm. (Warnervale, Central Coast, NSW, Australia)

Genre: Viking/Pagan Metal

Band Members:

Randall Black - Guitar, Vocals.
Brendan Frame – Vocals.
James Mudd - Bass, Vocals.
Scott Greentree – Drums.

Set list is:

1. The March of the Wolf's Head Bannerman; 2. Battle Star; 3. An Ale to a Winters Sun; 4. Lay My Flesh to the Fire; 5. Tell Your God to Ready for Blood.

Holy crap these guys are bloody awesome! Both the bassist and guitarist were insane as was the drummer.  The vocals from both bassist and guitarist were a perfect fit for the genre of music they play.  The crowd lapped up every song, and the vocalist from Lycanthrope and Pitchfork also lend their talents to a couple of songs with high approval from the crowd and band.  The bassist / vocalist was dressed as a bad ass Viking which looked really cool.  They had a couple of very minor issues during the set, which meant that there was time for some jokes presented by the band and the vocalist from Pitchfork. I spoke with the vocalist after their set and he said that they are hoping to have an EP later this year, and to have EP launch for when it comes out, which I am definitely be going to. If you like Amon Amarth (Sweden) and Turisas (Finland) then give Pagans Realm a listen.  You won’t be disappointed.

Caught Out. (Singleton, Newcastle, NSW, Australia)

Genre: Metalcore

Band Members:

Joshua “Stu” Stewart – Vocals.
Joshua “JC” Childs – Guitar/Vocals.
Anthony "Billy" Mitchell – Guitar.
Buddy “Bud-Lite” Edwards – Drums.

Joshua “BigBird” Sampson – Bass.

Set list is:

1. I'll give you 5; 2. Glassheart; 3. Inception; 4. A shot in the dark (a day to remember cover); 5. Survive; 6. Transform; 7. Worthless.

Usually not a big fan of metalcore, but these guys restored some respect that I lost with this genre, due to the repetitiveness of the whole metalcore genre.  These guys are just plain out and out crazy, jumping all over the place, off the stage and they even got the crowd moving.  The energy these guys displayed was unreal and it was very obvious that the stage wasn’t big enough for all them. I had never heard of these guys before and I had decided to keep an open mind before watching them, and now I am a new fan of these guys. I would recommend these guys to anyone who likes A Day To Remember (USA), Buried In Verona (Aust) and The Ghost Inside (USA).

Toehider. (Melbourne, Vic, Australia)

Genre: Rock

Band Members:

Mike Mills - Guitar and Vocals.
Amy Campbell - Bass and Vocals.
Lachlan Barclay - Guitar and Vocals.
Ricky Evensand – Drums.

Set list iTs:

1. Lie Still; 2. Old Old Old; 3. The most popular girl in school; 4. Ducksuite (Count Duckula, Quaq Quo, Darkwing Duck, Ducktales); 5. Whatever makes you feel superior; 6. Whoa!; 7. Lay Down Mara.

Straight up kick arse rock band.  Usually not into this genre of music but these guys have changed my mind.  The drummer was brilliant, the bassist was as well, whom, by the way is probably the best looking bassist I have seen, and the guitarist was amazing.  They played some sick riffs and guitar solo’s which the crowd loved and the vocalist / guitarist was just incredible. He reminded me a lot of Jack Black with his stage presence, attitude and his whole persona which was truly unique. The crowd gave them a very loud applause at the end of their set. If you love straight up crazy rock, then you will love these guys.

Troldhaugen. (Wollongong, NSW, Australia)

Genre: Wacky Folk (?) Metal

Band Members:

Reventüsk.
Meldengar.
Grädenøk.
Svarog.

Set list is:

1. Troll Gristle Promo spiel; 2. Untitled (new song); 3. Slaughterhouse Swing; 4. Trollbrawl; 5. Untitled (new song); 6.The Final Curtain; 7. Beast Wagon; 8. Swampstomper (+ "Wannabe" - Spice Girls); 9. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Troll After Midnight); 10. The Circus of Misery.

What can I say about Troldhaugen … except to say that they were totally mind blowing.  They had the crowd eating out of their hands. The vocalist is just brilliant with a huge amount of energy.  He is a very charismatic front man. It felt like being part of a carnival instead of a gig.  The bassist, guitarist, drummer and keyboard player were all down and out remarkable. I saw these guys support Korpiklaani in Sydney last year (2013) and they blew everyone away that night as well. I am so glad I had the chance to see Troldhaugen again. If you are a fan of Korpiklaani (Finland) and Trollgasm (Aust) then you will love these guys.

Rise of Avernus.  (Melbourne, Vic, Australia)

Unfortunately ROA bassist’s Daniel Warrington injured his back which has left him immobilized and unable to perform. We at BUSUK WEBZINE wish Daniel all the best a very speedy recovery.

October Rage. (Central Coast, NSW, Australia)
Genre: Rock

Band Members:
Nick Roberts - Vocals, Guitar.

William Roberts – Bass.
Kai Chambers – Drums.
John Mcmullen – Guitars.

Set list is:
1. Wayside; 2. Two-sided Blade; 3. White Walkers; 4. In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins Cover); 5. Valkyrie; 6. Black Knight / Jam (Deep Purple Cover); 7. Silver Line; 8. Reign Of Fire; 9. Set You Free (Encore).

I had never heard or seen these guys before tonight’s show, but by the end of their set, not only was I a new fan, but the people in the crowd were new fans too. October Rage were unbelievable live, with an incredible amount of energy, the stage was definitely not big enough for these guys. You have to see these guys live to see and feel how powerful their stage presence is. The four guys all complete each other in every way, from insane drumming to sick riffs from both guitarist, and the bassist went completely nuts. The band was into the music just as much as the crowd. You can’t help but to bang your head to their music.  They even did a couple of covers which got everyone pumping.  The riffs from both guitarists had to be seen to be believed.  The crowd wanted more so the band came back and played one more song to finish of what was truly an awesome night of Aussie metal. I am going to catch them again at the end of this month, and it is on a bigger stage which I can’t wait for. If you are a fan of heavy rock, stadium rock anthems and majestic ballads, Audioslave (USA) and The Angels (Aust), then get yourself to their next gig to enjoy the show.

By the time October Rage finished it was around 1230am, and no-one wanted to leave because they were all enjoying themselves and having so much fun, but due to the venue closing we had to leave. Over all, it was a great night, with some truly awesome local bands and some really cool people.  I always enjoy seeing new bands and having a listen to new genres and even genres I wouldn’t normally listen to.  Tonight I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of talent coming up through the ranks and look forward to seeing them again and getting my hands on their music.

Published by Collin Brophy 

CONCERT REVIEW: Norse - "Plaguewhore" 7" Vinyl Launch (Venue: The Bald Faced Stag, Sydney, 7 Feb 2014) by Collin Brophy

Special guests Eternal Rest (QLD), Mephistopheles (TAS), The Seer & Apparitions of Null (NSW)

Venue:  The Bald Faced Stag, Sydney New South Wales Australia.
Date:  Friday February 7, 2014

Apparitions Of Null, (Sydney, New South Wales Australia)

Genre Progressive/Melodic/Technical Metal

Band Members:

Dale Robinson- all vocals
Sam Maher- lead, rhythm and acoustic guitar
Chris Rosiak- rhythm, acoustic and classical guitar
Jamie Harrison Brown- drums and percussion
Dwayne Murray- bass

Set list:  

Neurofragmentation

The crowd was a little thin when these guys were playing but everyone was pumped to hear them.  I have never seen or heard these guys before, but I’m open to hearing new metal and happy to encourage up and coming bands. The vocalist fronted the crowd and confidently said that this is their first and last song for the night. This had the crowd a bit confused. The band started and played like they’d never played before.  It wasn’t long before I realised that their “first and last song” was a continuous set.  Roughly 30 minutes went by, which was brutal, heavy and melodic all in one. The vocals were deathly harsh and soft at the same time. The band had the crowd in the palm of their hands. By the end of their set they had many more new friends and fans. If you get the chance to see them, do yourself a favour and give them a go … you won’t be disappointed.

The Seer, (Newcastle, New South Wales Australia). 

Genre Symphonic Death Metal

Band Members:

Ryan Huthnance - Vocals and Guitar
Daniel McInnes - Guitar
Allan Swaffield - Bass
Tom Taylor - Drums 

Set list:

1. Thanatos, 2. Timeless, 3. Extinction, 4. The Fall, 5. Eternal Cataclysm, 6. Pariah, 7. Wasteland.

These Novocastrians played a very tight and fast, straight up set of death metal. They played a couple of news songs which were brutal and heavy.  The music was so heavy and brutal it felt like being punched in the face.  I saw these guys last year and tonight’s gig was even better then the last. There were quite a few people who had never heard of these guys, but by the end of their set, they were all new fans. It’s very clear that these guys are getting better and better as time passes.  I’m looking forward to the release of their new album due out later this year. From what they played tonight, their new songs will be just as brutal and heavy as their previous.  If you get the chance to see “The Seer” live at your loval “watering hole” then do it, they put on a great show.

Mephistopheles, (Hobart, Tasmania Australia). 

Genre Technical Blackened Death Metal

Band Members:

Matthew "Chalky" Chalk - Vocals
Ben "Ben" Lawless - Guitars + Occasional Vocals
James "Blower" Excell - Bass
Sam "Creamer" Dowson

I didn’t know what to expect from these guys, as I’d never heard of them before … probably because I couldn’t pronounce the name of the band. When these guys got started they had the crowd by the balls and had them pumped.  They had everyone “head-banging”, laughing and generally having a great time.  They were a lot of fun but in a brutal way.  It was like being hit by a bus. These guys are straight up heavy and crazy, in a nice way, with lost of laughs. This band to me is a mix between King Parrot and Cattle Decapitation, and from my part, you can’t go wrong there. The lead vocalist was a real crowd pleaser.  His vocal range was amazing and between songs his humorous attitude was hilarious.  The band had the crowd eating out of their hands. I definitely want to see these guys again and I recommend that if you get the chance, then you should see them too. 

Eternal Rest, (Brisbane Queensland Australia). 

Genre Death Metal

Band Members:

Josh Robinson - Vocals

Mick Hunter - Drums
Jake Kaiser - Guitars
Chris Clark - Guitars
Jannico Kelk - Bass

Set list:

1. Preaching the Decimation of Spheres,  2. Onset Of Destruction, 3. Acts Of The Unspoken (New Song), 4. Prophetic, 5. Remnants, 6. Manifestation, 7. Last Gate.

Another first time for me.  This was the first time I’ve been able these guys.  Previously, every time I’ve tried to see them, something came up … but not tonight. This gig is apparently the vocalist’s last ever live gig with this band.  I’m not sure why, as they didn’t go into it. So the rest of the guys in the band sent him out with a huge bang, as did the crowd. Many of the crowd members “booed” because he was leaving, but were pumped for a brutal set.  These guys were tight, heavy and exactly what I was expecting, just in your face death metal.  The music was fast, loud, furious and the lyrics were presented by a very talented vocalist.  It’s a shame that this was my first and only gig with this vocalist before he left. I can’t wait until they start again with their new vocalist. I will definitely be there for that.

Norse, (Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia). 

  

Genre Extreme Metal

Band Members:

A. Ryan - Vocals / bass
Forge - Drums /guitars
Shayne Querruel - Session/Live Rhythm Guitars
S. Maher - Session/Live Rhythm Guitars
Marcus "Wes" Bastiaanse - Session/Live Bass Guitars

Set list:

1. Neglect, 2. Worn and Grey, 3. Towards the shining sky, 4. Silently awake, 5. Concrete wastes, 6. Gravel, 7. Plaguewhore.

I was really looking forward to this Norse gig, as it was the first time with their new line up.  I have only seen Norse with the old line up, so I wasn’t to sure what to expect with this new line up.  All I knew was that they wouldn’t disappoint. I can honestly say that they didn’t disappoint either.  Norse played a brutal set with uncompromising technical style and gruelling vocals.  Considering it was their first gig, they put on a great show.  Give them a few more gigs under their belt and the look out. They played nearly all of All is Mist and Fog, plus a couple of others, which the crowd ate up.  Judging by the crowd, they loved every bit of this set. Norse were brilliant tonight and didn’t miss a beat.  I can’t wait to see them after a couple more gigs with the new line up. These guys are only going to get better and I wish them all the best with the new line up.

Overall the night was fantastic.  I got to enjoy a few cold beers with good friends while listening to some great new metal, from bands that have a big future.  I look forward to their CD's being released soon.

Published by Collin Brophy