The Hi-Fi - Thu Feb 25

Before the bulk of the crowd arrives tonight, amplifier worshipping Die On Planes play to a small crowd. The band saturate the crowd in feedback. Cumbersome and plodding, the band’s set has heads nodding. Melbourne grindcore act Agents Of Abhorrence play next. With a solid back catalogue of burst grind, the band are a welcome dark horse to tonight’s bill. However, their thrashy riffs and furious blasts are hamstrung by the band’s bland onstage presence. Especially vocalist Grant, whose lack of animation is almost comical. “Thanks for coming out” Monarch! vocalist Emilie Bresson shyly murmurs in her gorgeous French accent. Evoking a collective “awww” from the crowd, the summer dress-clad singer and her four piece touring band launches into their set, molesting The Hi-Fi crowd with wave after wave of feedback. As open chords ring from Orange amps, the band’s short set takes on the form of a transcendental ritual. The buzzing of amplifiers become the soundtrack to the communion. The low end rumbles from Monarch! strike listeners tonight right in the solar plexus, their funeral doom sound is huge and intensely powerful. The unlikeliness of Wolves In The Throne Room ever actually touring Australia creates a buzz in room while the curtains are drawn. With candles ensconcing the drum riser and a smoke machine working on overdrive, the American black metal three-piece envelop The Hi-Fi in an eerie atmosphere for their criminally short set. For a band that have such a rich sound, tonight’s mix does not do Wolves justice. Nevertheless, the band’s sonic nihilism scorches through their amplifiers with an undeniable passion. Eschewing the dynamics of their records for power, tracks like Vastness And Sorrow become searing arrows of rage and torment. Fiery, unexpected and raw, Wolves In The Throne Room cap off what is one hell of an extreme metal show.

TOM HERSEY

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*