NASTY RUMOURS - Powerpop punk rock in Petersham!

NASTY RUMOURS
Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Petersham, Sydney
Monday 20 October 2016
Review by Derek J. Huckel

Live
NASTY RUMOURS were great to witness on a Monday night in downtown Petersham, Sydney.

This four piece powerpop-influenced punk rock from Switzerland gave their all to this sadly teeny crowd, consisting of the two support bands and a few friends  - so it seemed (well it was a Monday night) - and fed the energy they had to the crowd who in turn were starting to give some back. Some bands feed off the crowd for energy for their gig but NASTY RUMOURS were one of those wunder kind that are the other way round, natural oerformers.

These Bernians, that's Bern, Switzerland, not Mel-bern (sic) played in the vein of the BUZZCOCKS, RAMONES, THE VAPORS, and SWINGIN' UTTERS and did it very well indeed, making it seamlessly their own and not looking like a bad rip-off of the style.

Among the tunes in their set were, All Alone, Because Of You, a great cover of THE VICTIMS Television Addict, Girl Dressed In Black, and the clap-along I Need You!

Sadly I missed the support bands DIRTBAG and SALTY TENDERS but they need a mention for supporting this great band, and on a Monday night too.

Merch
I bought their split 7" single EP with the NUMBSKULLS from Adelaide, Australia, and both sides - four songs in total - totally rip!! 

The 'Nasty  side' belongs to Nasty Rumours which contains buzz saw sugar pop tale of love no more in Because Of You and the addictive Under Your Spell. And on the flip side - the 'Numb side' - the Numbskulls play Brain Freeze, and the total ear worm Car Park Pot, its dark and you might even think it smells good. 

You'll have this platter on constant rotation for a while (or the downloaded version on repeat), and in your head for some time!

Check them out... 
To learn more about them and check out their tunes fer yerself (sic)... 

- Check out the more about them on the Nasty Rumours Facebook page

- Check out their music on the Nasty Rumours bandcamp page.

NASTY RUMOURS - WANNA BE ON TOP live at N.B.N.N. Festival

Review of Roundtable, Hawkmoth, Summonus, DAWN, & Netherhell - Sydney, 29 October 2016

Roundtable, Hawkmoth, Summonus, DAWN, Netherhell

The Factory Floor, @Marrickville, Sydney

Saturday, 29^th October 2016

Review by Derek J. Huckel

Photos By Rod Hunt

Roundtable were hitting Sydney for the first time, on their second date up from Melbourne. They were planning to get Medieval on our asses, literally, with their Medieval brand of stoner doom. Their concept album Dread Marches Under Bloodied Regalia, reviewed is said to be visceral in its use of mythology. They caught my interest only a weeks back and I was looking forward to seeing what they were like live as I like similar bands like Boltthrower, who create worlds, fact or fictional, landscapes and emotion.

First up were Netherhell. This was two guys, drummer and guitarist, dooming out. They sounded great and if more people were here, I’m sure a pit might have started to go off. Plenty of the present people here loved it, dutifully nodding heads.

DAWN

DAWN were great as a support act, they seemed to have some sound technicality problems but creating a hypnotic wall of sound was their aim and were doing well. The space sound effect background in the first song was super cool. The Halloween theatrics were very good and welcomed, with the corpse bride guitarist, candy striped drummer, and other gothic gals. In their genesis, with some more volume, I'm sure DAWN will rule more.

The Game kicked off the Summonus set. The Journey was third with its brooding slow burn intro, its sludgy bass and guitars. They kick in with the opposite of a breakdown, the tight riffs building up with the stage prowling vocalists’ menacing growl vocals, and drums, all building – until a grind madness ensues! A killer rendition of Burning Times closed their set ‘Strike a match, burn it down, burn it downnn...’ Sublime.

Hawkmoth were up next - a band I'd been wanting to see as I’d seen their name on gigs happenning in Melbourne for some time. They took those present on a ride, from periods of ambience to big heavy riffs that were effect-laden. There was lots of craft here, but I was left not engaged while many loved their tunes. 

Meaty and visceral is Roundtable. The drumming initially wasn’t heavy, folk-like but it provides atmosphere, an earth for the guitars & bass to build and layer, to create the kingdom of olde on. Corpulent Warlord did harken back, the modern take was made to sound well and tales of Arthurian time regaling. The bands were running late so sadly Roundtable’s time was to be cut severely, only having time for three tales. But they played on. Their last two tunes, including Abarath Pass, were more meaty and heavy. Vocalist Rhys Walmsley’s voice is suited for their tunes, sounding like a throaty bearded knight but isn’t, not in person

The encore Encircling Demons was mesmerising, unusual for a closing number but it was a winner!

Roundtable manage to take several styles and merge them into stoner/doom, folk and prog rock, just in the right portions and make it sound brutally honest and somehow proper.

DAWN

DAWN

DAWN

DAWN

Summonus

DAWN

Hawkmoth

Hawkmoth

    

Hawkmoth

 Hawkmoth

Roundtable

Roundtable

Roundtable

 

Roundtable

Their music and profile:

Roundtable

Hawkmoth

Summonus

DAWN

Netherhell