[LIVE REVIEW] MENTAL CAVITY + SUMMONUS + LORD SWORD + BURDEN MAN

at Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney, Sunday, 15^th October 2017

Review by Derek J. Huckel
Photos by Rod Hunt Photography, and Restricted Photography

Frankie’s is a great live venue though unusual but maybe that gives it that certain something, its ‘jena se quois’ - appealing quality. You have the serious gig goers – there to see the music, then the blow in tourists staying nearby at a hotel, or in the city for the day. The mix of people makes it fun but odd. And ya’ gotta love velvet curtain that is opened and closed at the start and end of each band on the small stage.

Burden Man describe themselves as ‘existential doom folk’ and that nails them quite well. I unfortunately missed some of their set but what I saw was quite riveting.The three-piece played ‘Shadows of the Dying’, ‘Trenches’, and ‘Burden Man’. Their tunes are like a dream state, very thoughtful slow doom, each note seems well thought out and precise. Vocalist and guitarist Justin has a voice that is quite sonorous with a most striking timbre. The bands imploded into wall of feedback, just as guitar strings were breaking, so it ended on a pretty good note (no pun intended).

Lord Sword are heavy duty riffage! If you’d like your face grinded and smoked, then these are your band! It’s a heady mix of heavy stoner rock that grooves a cool sludgy jam.

Lord Sword - www.rodhunt.com.au

Lord Sword - www.rodhunt.com.au

Jimmy Fatal wields the monster guitar, Mr Stooks stool was taken tonight by Andres (from Sumeru) on drums, and Luke is their master on bass, and vocalist Cory has a throat that growls somewhere between Ian Astbury, Danzig, and Chris Cornell to loosely coin a few popular bods for an idea of his sound. Their set comprised of ‘Wings of the Devil’ ‘Earth OD’, ‘Destroy Mankind’, ‘Tombstones’ and ‘Blood Moon Tide’. ‘Blood Moon Tide’ is a slower number but most atmospheric while still heavy as! ‘Dopethrower’ was the penultimate tune but ‘Rats’ closed the show, epic in its span of stoner groove within this tune.

One heckler (tourist? It’s that kinda place) yells ‘play some Sabbath’ and was flatly told with a wry smile by Cory ‘no covers’ before diving into their last tune. They play no covers – and took no prisoners.

Lord Sword - Restricted Photography

Mental Cavity were to headline tonight but due to a drive back to hometown Canberra for some band members, they got Summonus to headline. It didn’t matter, they still did what was needed, blow the punters minds, and left. ‘Suffer’ off the new album was the opener and is a mad serve of thrash metal in yer’ face with a double serve of vocals it was! (thankfully very unlike post hardcore vocals). Three of the four Cavity members were from I Exist.

Mental Cavity - www.rodhunt.com.au

Their mix of sludge and doom sounds stirred with some crust and hardcore is quite unreal, monstrous! This reviewer is a big fan of I Exist and this new morphed band of theirs didn’t disappoint!!

The set was a mix of material from their self-titled album (‘Subservient’, ‘Frailty Incarnate’, ‘Deconstruct Fools’, and ‘Abuse’), released in January this year, and others from the new album Aneurysm out later this month, such as ‘Closing In’, and ‘I Am Death’.

‘Bleak Outlook’ was particularly a mammoth sounding tune that was totally crushing! Like someone said in a promo – Mental Cavity are as heavy as fuck!

Mental Cavity - www.rodhunt.com.au

Summonus were up next and a great end to the night that’s been on show. Once the curtain was rolled back they dived into 'Burning Times'. The fuzzed-out tone and riff was unmistakable. Tonight, both tunes from their album Zeichen Der Hexe, and some new ones being road tested were on show. Mostly were the latter, newbies, and they didn’t disappoint! They carried their stoner sludge signature sound but sounded fresh simultaneously. The gratuitous throaty growls of Rod’s lyrics over the bands thick pummeling sound that envelopes one in soundscapes.

Summonus - by Restricted Photography

Summonus - by Restricted Photography

Summonus - by Restricted Photography

The new tracks included ‘The Game’, ‘Deep Red’, and ‘Before The Fall’. The large audience were lapping them up. The title tune from ‘Zechen Der Hexe’ closed the intense set, and a great night!

  

Summonus - by Restricted Photography

Bands Music and Websites:
MENTAL CAVITY - music & merch at their bandcamp site, and here for gigs'n'stuff 

Mental Cavity 'Bleak Outlook'

SUMMONUS - music & merch at their bandcamp site, and here for gigs'n'stuff

LORD SWORD - music & merch at their bandcamp site, and here for gigs'n'stuff

BURDEN MAN - music at their Soundcloud and here for gigs'n'stuff

Burden Man 'Shadows of the Dying'

Thanks to:

• Both Rod Hunt of www.rodhunt.com.au & Mel Meek of Restricted Photography for use of their great photos.
• The bands for their music, and setlists!

[LIVE REVIEW] DARK HORSE album launch of 'Bomb Thrower' + HOSTILE OBJECTS + MICHAEL CRAFTER + BLACK RHENO

at BLACKWIRE RECORDS, SYDNEY, 31 March 2017

Review by Derek J. Huckel
Photos by ZK Photo, and Restricted Photography. 

Live Dark Horse, and Hostile Objects footage by Jayradikal Productions

Black Rheno kick off the album launch for Dark Horse with their second album ‘Bomb Thrower’, and they really kick it out! There's no messing with Black Rheno! They bring it from the start with their groove metal that has a sludgy stoner blend. The singer is prowling the floor (no stage here – the band is mixing with us plebs) like some sick tiger. This band is nuts for a three piece, I mean their power is intensity personified. They’ve more grunt in them than some five pieces could even dream of! Dirt, Lock the Gate were some tunes played, and two newies were road tested. They ended their set with the single No Time for Numb Nuts. A great start to one of the final nights of Blackwire.

Black Rheno bringin' the stoner groove!

Blackwire Records, 31/3/2017 - ZK Photo

It's a shame Blackwire Records is closing. I've seen only top notch shows here - I can't think of a bad one of perhaps the ten plus times I’ve been here. Bands I've seen here have included I Exist, Clowns and Chinese Burns Unit, Hostile Objects, Hygiene, Nunchukka Superfly, Damage Zone, Vigilante, and Shackles. Overseas acts too, like American Sharks, Lecherous Gaze have graced this venue, I wish I'd seen Canada's Burning Hearts here, sadly missed D.R.I here recently, and even people like John Dyer Baizley of Baroness have performed and shown his art at Blackwire. Council laws in NSW, and persistent complaining new neighbour/s – not a good mix sadly. In other states this law has been changed apparently, in favour of the long-term businesses, like pubs, instead of the new disgruntled neighbours. Bittersweet is a word to pin point this, and pissed off might be another…

Michael Crafter were up next. They seemed to be faves of many of the near capacity crowd here. The singer, who started the set dressed in his best TLC t-shirt, joked a lot and the crowd bounced off him. The rapport seemed well rehearsed, good fans I’d say. Not having seen them before this reviewer enjoyed them a lot. Michael Crafter are like, you might say, Napalm Death but with more silly themed tunes, but some poignant ones too. Quick short, crusty and thrashy grind blasts. One song, it was announced, was about puppies, which got roars of laughter. Other ditties tonight were called Crew Poo, Bong Breaker, Vegan Bake Sale, and a more serious tune Fear and Doubt.

Micheal Crafter - not like TLC

Blackwire Records, 31/3/2017 - ZK Photo

The Meanies were a great interim sonic entertainment prior to Hostile Objects hitting the 'stage'.

Hostile Objects began with Weed, hit Money (aka. Eat Your Money) and went straight to Turkish Knives, Sounds like a recipe for a great night eh. Well the Hostiles easily helped that happen with their brand of thrash. If you don’t know them, think Poison Idea and The Accused mixed with a dose of Black Flag. Waiting to Drown ratcheted up, and up by singer Hunt and his troupe, then sprung loose in a fury. Hoax went off! Young Gods was mammoth, and brought punters in the first few rows to a crazy mosh. Their last song Wrong ended in a wall of feedback - which was a perfect close for their last set here at this fine establishment. The songs' irony wasn’t lost on many here tonight, the fury conveyed in this tune was also a great metaphor for the anger of the loss.

Rod Hunt gives it back! Hostile Objects, 

Blackwire Records, 31/03/2017 - Restricted Photography

Jimmy Fatal feedsback, Hostile Objects

Blackwire 31/03/17 - Restricted Photography

Dark Horse feed the frenzy

Blackwire Records, 31/03/17 - ZK Photo

Dark Horse opened their set by bass-player Kieran paying respects to the traditional owners of the land first, thanking the guys running the shop here for all they’d done having bands here in their time, supporting them and the scene, as well as to the other bands who played. Pulling Teeth was the choice cut to kick off their set showcasing the bone crunching new album 'Bomb Thrower' here tonight. It sent the place right off! The band, like a savage mix of Discharge, Exploited, and Bolt Thrower, have such an intensity and are on fire with the occasion of the launch, they kicked total ass and took no prisoners!! One guy was hoisted up and crowd surfed to the front of shop then nearly perfectly back to his position at the front. The present scene in front of me brings a tear and huge smile to this reviewer’s face. Sad that it's the third last night here at Blackwire Records before it closes, and that people here are loving what’s been presented to them here tonight, and three quarters of the joint just rocking the fuck out in near 'perfect harmony'.

Dark Horse deliver! Blackwire Records, 31/03/17 - ZK Photo

The ominous intro of Bomb Thrower and its ratcheting d-beat thrash was a sight to see the band play, and hear of course. The singer had the crowd in his palm, all the stance commanded the music, and it him. The band all poured their guts into this show, sweating, slamming – it was a sight to behold.

It was a great group of bands to give a send off in their own styles to a fine establishment. Thanks guys, you've done us proud. And no thanks to it perpetrators.

DARKHORSE website - get 'Bomb Thrower'

DARK HORSE - Live at Blackwire Records
‘Bomb Thrower’



DARK HORSE 'Bomb Thrower' off their new album

Hostile Objects website and Bandcamp

Hostile Objects - Live at Blackwire Records

'The Hoax'

Hostile Objects - Live at Blackwire Records

'Young God' and 'Ruins'




Hostile Objects - Live at Blackwire Records
'Wrong'

Michael Crafter band website

Michael Crafter - 'Bong Water', 'My Name Is', 'Mosh Dawg'

Black Rheno website 

Black Rheno - 'No Time For Numb Nuts'

***Thanks to Blackwire Record - Salute! - the bands, ZK Photo, Restricted Photography, Jayradikal Productions and Rod Hunt for helping pull this review together. for it to be a part reminder of this night, last of a few at this memorable and essential venue Blackwire Records***

Tasty feediack, - Jimmy Fatal Hostile Objects

Blackwire 31/03/17 - Restricted Photography

Jimmy Fatal Hostile Objects
Blackwire 31/03/17 - Restricted Photography

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