Melbourne Town Hall
Thursday August 1, 2013 :
It was with much anticipation that I embarked on my southern sojourn to capture Australian sonic juggernaut Karnivool for their much touted 2 day conquest of Melbourne’s Town Hall. Boasting the largest pipe organ in the southern hemisphere I was dutifully informed by the refreshingly pleasant (read intelligible) security staff. Apparently both the Royal organist and his Vatican counterpart have both made the journey from the Eurozone to tinkle Australia’s grandest ivories.
Braving the brisk Melbourne clime I found the stunning old building in the CBD without too much trouble and the mood was buoyant as I surveyed an ever enthused swathe of Victorian fans of quality rock n roll.
Much had already been said of the profoundly artistic direction of the newly released Assymetry album that despite dozens of listens, I had yet to settle in with completely. As was the case with sophomore offering, the epic opus Sound Awake, the impact of Assymetry, whilst immediate, it yet requires (for this reviewer anyway) numerous listens to fully appreciate the plethora of sonic layers, not to mention the infinite complexity of the lyrical content and its entendre’.
Show openers and somewhat mismatched tour comrades Northlane of Sydney commenced proceedings with a masterful display of thinking man’s hardcore metal, Frontman Adrian was most cordial in his expressions of delight and appreciation at being a part of such an event. There were brutal tirades clearly lending themselves to the darker side of human perception and in doing so, shining a paradoxical light for all with ears to hear.
Little wonder pundits suggest Northlane are the next evolutionary step for Australian ultra heavy music. With intelligent infectious musicianship combined with similarly qualitative lyrical content, a marriage exists that is as yet unequalled by any other viscerally styled act in the land.
Enter the men of the moment. As the lights dim, we are met with the ever beaming face of bassist ‘Jono’ Stockman, guitar maestros Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking whilst drumming virtuoso Steve Judd slides into his engine room. The crowd erupts at their entrance, reaching a crescendo with the appearance of the ever enigmatic Ian Kenny gyrating to the perplexing sounds of the album tour’s title track. Our auditory sensibilities are seared by a volume yet to be enjoyed as a state of the art PA fills the grandiose architecture in a manner I’m later assured is an absolute rarity (“I cant rememeber the last time we had a proper big rock band at Town Hall“.)
Baptising the crowd with punchy anthem ‘AM War’, the band waste no time in delving into one of Assymetry‘s more relentless offerings, driving drums, screeching guitar and a wailing Mr Kenny lurching from its sneering opening to contemplative murmurs of observation thence unto forceful instruction “gotta get out of the way“. This was an exquisite opening to what should be remembered as a watershed couple of days for Alternative Australian music.
An emphatic set ensued with an infectious smattering of old and new laden with greatness from all three long players released to date. The Vooligans were near faultless in what was well over 100 minutes of superbly executed live performance. Each song met with a roar of appreciation, many relishing the old favourites while dedicated barrier riders were visibly well versed in the new tracks, mouthing the lyrics enthusiastically and gleefully acknowledging the first few notes of any track from the West’s best latest drop.
As ever tracks such as ‘Themata’ and ‘New Day’ blew the roof off the house as the crowd screamed alongside their heroes. Yet it was the aplomb with which the fresh cuts were delivered and moreover their reception that was of particular note. ‘The Refusal’, ‘Nachash’ and ‘We Are’ all finding their mark beautifully in the live arena.
Yet it was finales ‘Aeons’ and ‘Alpha Omega’ that struck deeper chords in the reviewer, visibly I was not alone with many clearly affected by the potency of the aforementioned. There was an emotional response ethereally tangible as a connect occurred between the more ardent fans and the band who seemed to produce something special for the genius contained within the songs more transcendent moments.
Karnivool are arguably Australias most courageous source of musical innovation and have delivered an artistic manifesto seldom equalled at an International level let alone locally, and thus deserve any and all accolades afforded them.
Buy the CD and get to a show, this is uncommon and exquisite music we all deserve to experience.
Reviewer and Photographer: Quenched
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