Manning Bar, Sydney
Saturday November 2, 2013 :
Black metal is an undeniably ambiguous form of extreme music, taking many shapes and styles from a broad aspect of influences including thrash, punk and classical music. In essence, the black metal movement which started in the mid 80’s in England, Norway and Sweden is a movement of free thinking, irrepressible and somewhat misanthropic musicians.
Fast forward 25+ years to a dusty sun scorched country like Australia to see the likes of Germ smashing out Melodic mid 90’s inspired metal, ala Paradise Lost/Katatonia with progressive black metal undertones. The band are aesthetically pleasing with long, draped black cloaks and face masks that are reminiscent of Ghost. Vocalist Tim Yatras is a bit of a legend within the Australian scene, having been in bands like Naxzul and Woods of Desolation, his vocals are somewhat off-putting but somehow relevant as they fall somewhere between a black metal shriek and a hyena. Some bewildered punters don’t know what to make of the musical ongoings, the vocalist doesn’t look impressed to be performing but it seems to work well with the performance.
Next up are local heroes Rise of Avernus. What can I say? This band is absolutely phenomenal, featuring ex members of Katabasis, Lycanthia and Nevertherym, and boasting one of the most cracking live sounds and presence I’ve heard or seen from a local band in recent memory.
Having finished their debut album La’appel du vide with Producer Ryan Huthnance (The Seer, Grim Demise, Chambers of insanity) at Emissary Studios in Newcastle, the band are poised to blow up in the local scene and abroad, expect big things.
Next up are Enslaved.
Much to the dismay of the trve or kult black metal fans, the past 10 to 15 years has seen the mainstream media take notice of some black metal bands such as Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Burzum, some attention due to musical accessibility and some due to their unabashed disregard for laws and Christian beliefs.
Enslaved have been at the cusp of tipping into the more mainstream pocket of extreme metal for a few years now, mention their name to the average beer soaked, pizza crusted metal punter and they’d say “yeah dude, Enslaved rips” and this simply comes down to consistency. Enslaved have been delivering perfectly structured grandiose, progressive black metal for just over 10 years now, starting as a straight forward black metal band.
The band pummel through an elegant set of fan favourites and golden oldies spanning their impressive back catalogue. The band are charismatic between songs, with a warm welcome banter to the crowd.
Personal standout tracks: ‘Ruun’, ‘Roots of the Mountain’ and ‘Thoughts Like Hammers’.
Set list:
The Sleeping Gods
RIITIIR
Ruun
The Watcher
Thoughts Like Hammers
Ethica Odini
Roots of the Mountain
Convoys to Nothingness
As Fire Swept Clean the Earth
Encore:
Drum Solo
Allfaðr Oðinn
Isa
Reviewer: Luke Cowan
Photographer: Lilen Pautasso
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