Roundtable,
Hawkmoth, Summonus,
DAWN, Netherhell
The Factory Floor, @Marrickville,
Sydney
Saturday, 29th
October 2016
Review by Derek J. Huckel
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.
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| 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
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.
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| DAWN |
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| DAWN |
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| DAWN |
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| DAWN |
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| Summonus |
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| DAWN |
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| Hawkmoth |
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| Hawkmoth |
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| Hawkmoth |
Hawkmoth
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| Roundtable |
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| Roundtable |
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| Roundtable |
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| Roundtable |
Their music and profile:
Netherhell
