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

Review: Acid King (USA) - 2016 Doomsday Festival

Acid King (USA), Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) with Seedy Jeezus, Los Hombres Del Diablo - 2016 Doomsday Festival

Newtown Social Club

Friday 30 September 2016

Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) with Seedy Jeezus, and Los Hombres Del Diablo had gone down well with the punters by all reports – details are coming so stay tuned.

The band room was comfortably full and the crowd was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Acid King… As soon as the hit they stage, the crowd was in tune and swaying with their music. Like a Jodorowsky movie, Acid King are a stoned experience you can have while straight. Their music takes you away to a new world, an experience. The aural world Acid King create envelopes you like Alice in Wonderland, or the Matrix. Take the blue pill, or red one (perhaps both??) and you’ll be transported. Each tune was nearly ten minutes so you had time to experience their world.

The backdrop of the images and film footage of outer space, burning buildings, blurred landscapes, and burning planets further takes the sub bass sounds deeper into your psyche to fuck you up.

These scene veterans were fresh off a bunch of US gigs and the three day Psycho Las Vegas before coming to Australia, you could see and feel that the their tunes are well honed and crafted, played and lived in. Singer Lori’s vocal is a wailful call, like a gently mournful but ominous sounding wind which you might hear coming through the trees in the wilderness. She simultaneously makes her guitar gently mournfully weep, and espouse other evocative sounds. Bassist Mark Lamb looks like he’s seeking redemption, or enlightenment, as he wrings his instrument, sweating and plays a sonic sound as though it’s a torture rack, one’s stretched out on, and the screws are tightened and wound tauter as their opus' progress. Joey Osbourne pounds his drum in a hypnotic measured heavy rhythm, beating them strategically, to create these aural dreams (or nightmares to some). Mind expansion was in full effect!

Amongst the five or six tracks they played tonight were 'Red River' off Middle of Nowhere… LP, and their encore was ‘Sunshine and Sorrow’ from III

I was new to the band, and upon witnessing their mostly instrumental faire proves a dose worthy taking, for the mind and body. The near tribal pounding, drawn out and thought out tunes giving one time to sup them up and savour them fully. It’s worth taking the trip.

*********

They are playing tonight, Saturday 1st October, in the Northcote Social Club and the last show of this tour in Australia is tomorrow night, Sunday 2nd October, in Melbourne at the Cherry Bar. Catch them if you

Acid King 'Red River'

Review: Hostile Objects "Negative Space"

Hostile Objects
Negative Space
Arrest Records
Release Date: 6 June 2016
Review by Derek J. Huckel

After three super tight EP’s under their belts and a split single with fellow Sydney siders The F*ck Outs (RIP), Hostile Objects have submitted a scorching opus by the name of Negative Space. The intensity and urgency of their live show has been accurately captured on this album. Vocalist, Rod Hunt’s raspy,Accused-like splatter vocals leave you battered and broken … but smiling.

Gloom, has a doomy Sabbath-type opening riff that soon halts and suddenly ratchets up several notches. It proceeds to wring you out like a roller coaster ride, piling you incessantly through highs and lows and has some cool driving breakdowns to top it off. The title track, Negative Space, pulls it back a gear, but loses none of the feverish pace. Hunt sings of the sad hostility that permeates society, your workplace, and the street, questioning why does it even exist?

This album is the culmination of the band pulling together their experience through past and existing bands, EP recordings and the multitude of live shows they’ve played. It nicely blends their influences of Poison Idea, Circle Jerks and beyond into their own aural nightmare.

Buzzcocks + HITS + White Dog - 11 March 2016

The Buzzcocks + HITS + White Dog

The Factory Theatre, Sydney

Friday 11 March 2016

Upon walking in we caught the second half of the set of Sydney's White Dog. Their tunes were like an amalgam  of early Black Flag and OFF. They were controlled chaos. I'd look forward to catching them again. The drummer and singer were the necessary unhinged components of this group whilst the buttoned shirted guitarist and bassist Stodden their stoic ground.

HITS from BrisVegas (Brisbane) were the filthy dose of rock the night needed. It upped the ante with swagger, and some filthy attitude - in a good way of course.  The five piece have been around for a few years but this is only my second encounter and I was excited for it. They're kind of like an 80's scuzzy rock. The singer is a great frontman, a good dude who'll offer you a kiss if in range, while chat about Bunnings. The two women well n truly kick out the jams, and the drummer and guitarist give what for too. Bitter and Twisted, and Take yer Pills were amongst HITS tunes tonight

The tension was building rapidly for the Buzzcocks. Due on in 15 minutes, they took 40 minutes. Later it was found out they had equipment difficulties. Not rockstar-itis as some at the time Boredom kicked off their set tonight. All their pop punk hits were here for this sold out crowd on the bands 40th Anniversary tour - Autonomy, How Could You Ever, Noise Annoys, Ever Fallen In Love... And of course Orgasm Addict!! The band were 'tight as'  tonight! ...Apart from Steve Diggle's - resplendent (sic) in coloured jeans and pastel top - amp malfunctioning about four tunes from the end. He was loving the crowd, 'surfing' his guitar, and doing Pete Townshend windmills whenever he could, and Pete Shelleys laconic wit was as dry as ever per his songs.  On What Do I Get, ironically, you could hear him in his northern dry wit and Manc accent mumble 'not a bloody amp for sure'.

It was a great night. All bands fitted the bill well together and were on their A-game. The crowd left the Factory happily buzzing tonight. 

Iggy Pop and band launch of the new TV series Ash Vs The Evil Dead

Iggy Pop and band (not the Stooges) are playing live in LA at Manns Chinese Theatre for the launch of the new TV series Ash Vs The Evil Dead

https://www.facebook.com/MatHectorDrummer/posts/1046615102038074

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4189022/

Doomsday Festival, Sydney - Windhand + Beastwars + more, Friday 3rd October

Doomsday Festival – Windhand + Beastwars + Summonus + Witchskull

3 October 2014

Hermann’s Bar, Sydney
Review by Derek J. Huckel

Originally on the SF Media website...

With bands such as CHURCH OF MISERY and THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX being some of the past headliners of the Doomsday Festival, I was looking forward immensely to tonights leg of this annual tour.

WITCHSKULL, a Canberran three piece, opened the proceedings tonight and a mind blowing opener they were indeed. They were as if KADAVAR, MONSTER MAGNET and BLACK SABBATH had been blended together, then baked with a pinch or two of doom and feedback. These guys were only playing their second gig! Hailing from bands such as ARMOURED ANGEL and LOOKING GLASS and their time in them explains some of their agility on these chords and constructing such awesome tunes heard tonight. They closed with ‘The Vast Electric Dark’.

SUMMONUS kicked off with three killer new epic tracks, one called ‘The Journey’ clocked in at six minutes and lost no vitality throughout. Their gig hiatus hasn’t made them slouches at all, as evidenced on the Hermann’s Bar stage tonight.

Another newie was tried out tonight, four in total, and it was really good! These guys seem to have a stoner groove recipe they rework or build around which is always a winner. The mighty SUMMONUS, the only Sydney band playing tonight, played a few oldies too including a favourite called ‘Black Sun Dying’. They announced they are recording a new album and that they have a few shows before years end.

One of the two headliners BEASTWARS kicked off a little while later and the response from the sizeable throng now present was instant. The New Zealand bands near hypnotic sound along with the bearded Messianic-like singer Matt Hyde had the crowd in a whirling dervish state, nodding and swaying, for their entire set. Their brand of heavy stoner rock grooves just held you and wouldn’t let go, but you wanted to be in its grip. Some described them once as a marriage of KYUSS and THE CULT but I think they are much more than that now. Check out their album ‘Blood Becomes Fire’, in my top 2013 albums, which several slabs came from tonight. I think that if tonight was a battle, these guys might’ve won.

WINDHAND delivered their doom laden rock to an appreciative audience. The music’s intensity was crushing and the band a sight to witness! It was just head down hair out and the low tempo music was the prime objective with no banter. This Virginian (USA) five piece built layer upon layer of guitars and drums into this brick wall sound of rock/psychedelic/metal which became a sludge doom sound. Tunes here served up were largely off their 2013 LP ‘Soma’, they were ‘Orchard’, ‘Woodbine’, ‘Feral Bones’, ‘Forest Clouds’, ‘Winter Sun’, and ‘Cassock’ ended the great night.

Review: Shackles + Vigilante + Hostile Objects + Hygiene

Shackles + Vigilante + Hostile Objects + Hygiene

 

Blackwire Records, Sydney 

Thursday 17^th April, 2014

Review by Derek J. Huckel

*This wasn't published on a place I have several reviews so placing it here for your interest

 

The Blackwire Records store in Petersham, Sydney, is an intimate venue which intensifies any band you are there to see, more than most venues I know – other than maybe a gig on a boat - especially if it’s already music of intensity! And these bands tonight on the Thursday of Mysteries are four very prime examples for our pleasure

 

Up first were the Canberrans called HYGIENE who shredded in their genre they call fastcore. I saw them whip and grind their last few numbers and the crowd into frenzy. The night was running late which was to my benefit as I was late but meant some bands had to shorten their set. The four bands were supposed to be all played out in three hours, over by 9pm, due to noise restrictions in this area. It makes for an early night or a great start to a good night out. The power violence tunes of these clean guys soon disappeared in to the night ether. I'd seen these guys once before and was most happy to witness them again.

 

Next up were the shredding machine that is the HOSTILE OBJECTS! Sadly having to cut short their set but not lacking any grit or power of their thrash hardcore goodness, akin to THE ACCUSED and POISON IDEA. They dished out several off their EP such as title track 'Young God' and a few new numbers, like 'Fly in the Ointment' which went down well with the crowd. If you’ve not seen these guys... you are missing out.

 

VIGILANTE set up next and were soon lapped up by avid followers and new fans alike. Many were played off their recent opus 'Quality of Life', including 'One Warning', 'Fear of Change', and the cool title track, 'Quality of Life'. This five piece seasoned bunch really know how to deliver their '80s style of New York hardcore - like WARZONE and GORRILLA BISCUITS - in a way that gets this room jumping. Anyone up the front had to be quick to avoid the occasional mad skanker.

 

 

All were definitely here to see SHACKLES deliver the live version of their new LP, entitled 'Forced to Regress', and they didn't  disappoint. All packed into this relatively tiny venue, from the cold street and garden furniture out back, to witness this much talked about band. In the stylings of NAPALM DEATH, INFEST and DISCHARGE these guys delivered their bastard mix of grind/ hardcore/ power violence tunes like Vikings, slashing and burning with their relentless tunes blitzing all before them. They took no prisoners with the sharp, and often short, bursting music and growling vocals... inspiring many fans immediately in front of the band, whether they be metal heads or tracksuit terrorists, to writhe frantically whilst grinning madly, sometimes it seemed involuntarily. While VIGILANTE are about positivity, and HOSTILE's are views on society, SHACKLES lyrical themes are an outlet for negativity pent up inside like pessimism and nihilism and I'm sure they poured out all these off their new 23 minute release tonight, like 'Issues' 'Cringe', 'Always a Slave' and 'Demented Resolve' as well as a few off some earlier releases. SHACKLES, like they say in the 'classics, came, saw, and ripped this venue a new one!!

 

 

 

SHACKLES website

http://shackles-noise.blogspot.com.au/

 

SHACKLES 'Blood and Bone'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPryLejjDo

 

 

VIGILANTE website

http://www.vigilante-sydney.com/

 

HOSTILE OBJECTS website

www.hostileobjects.bandcamp.com/

 

HYGIENE website

hygiene-cbr.bandcamp.com/