Club Phoenix - Saturday Jan 6

Fittingly, tonight’s Club Phoenix opening was both an ending and a beginning. In this, their last show together, local stalwarts Malaclypse performed with a fury rarely seen from local bands, erupting forth with their driving, stoner-infused groove metal. The singularly pristine sound of Club Phoenix, singer Doug’s trademark abusive asides, drummer James’ centipedal percussion and a general all round killer performance conspired to make this gig a memorable one from the very beginning.

Razorhurst are up next, with some upbeat, polished, punky modern hardcore. Unfortunately, it’s all rather inoffensive and not overly moving, just like the Neil Diamond tune they use for their intro. Next band Severed Link’s stop-start metalcore is similarly underwhelming, with as many clichés (though, admittedly, also as much sheen and technical know how) as a Jerry Bruckheimer film.

Hotel 44 are the real surprise for this reviewer, with the sort of gritty, kick arse rock tunes I haven’t seen done well in Brisbane for a while and a vocalist who manages to simultaneously channel Jim Morrison and Layne Staley, to great effect. Big things to come? Possibly.

Doomy death lords The Dead follow with possibly the catchiest set of quality classic death metal I have ever seen. How such monolithically brutal sounds and such toe tapping hooks can co-exist is beyond me. The Daylight Curse’s Maiden-esque metalcore is dependably entertaining as always, while Victorians The Day Everything Became Nothing impress with their meaty mingling of mid-paced death and crushing grind and melodeathsters Empyrean round things out with some agreeable (though, of course, hardly ground breaking) melodic sounds. The DJ, pool and air hockey room was perhaps the biggest hit of all, with jaw-droppingly diverse and killer song choices from DJ Hoops, with everything from Motley Crue, Maiden and Manowar to Nine Inch Nails, Carcass and Turbonegro greeted with Dionysian rejoice (and persistently raucous singalongs) by the milling, capacity crowd. How else can I say it? Best. Venue. Ever.

SHAUN NANCARROW

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