Photo: Jade Lake

Kicking off their Australian tour here in the “far, far south” of Brisbane, all the way from the regular south of the U.S.A., or as vocalist Chad Gray described it, “Dallas ‘God damn’ Texas”, is the southern metal supergroup HellYeah, who are touring the world in support of their first (and highly regarded) self titled album. The anticipation of the arrival of ex-Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinny Paul has generated an electric atmosphere; he hasn’t visited Australia since his brother, Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, was slain onstage in 2004. The chant for HellYeah begins soon after the local support act leaves the stage.

Local boys This Collision have snared what must be a coveted opening spot for this touring supergroup and they waste no time taking advantage. Sitting amongst the familiar, almost routine tracks heard on their The Catacomb Suit EP are sneak previews of their new material that will likely be released on their new album, currently under construction in the studio. While showing a progressive edge with their new tracks, it’s the oldies that gain the most response from the crowd; Idle Insignia finishes the set to a decent reception.

Photo: Jade Lake

They open with the title track Hell Yeah and crowd is suitably rowdy, and follow that up with the headbanging groove of It’s Just a Matter of Time. The band member’s pedigree shines through in the wall of sound that is very reminiscent of Mudvayne, a fact that isn’t surprising given Mudvayne’s guitarist Greg Tribbett and singer Chad Gray lead Hellyeah from the front.

The night belongs to Vinny Paul however, as the crowd roars at what seems like his every mannerism. There are vicious battles for the few drumsticks he throws out, and one of the moments of the night comes as he leads the audience in a “Dime-bag” chant that raises the hair on the back of my neck.

The full-on metal of Goddamn and the speedy cover of Stone Cold Wasted cover their metal duties while they also venture into some sentimental rock-ballad territory in tracks Star and Alcohaulin’ Ass, bringing me back to the nineties when it was ‘ok’ to use acoustic guitars in metal.

Full of stage diving, beer swilling and heady cries of “Hell Yeah”, the group formed from Mudvayne, Pantera, Damageplan and Nothingface have created a credible side project that amplifies and celebrates the spirit of the anti-hero metal-good-guy ‘Dimebag’ Darrel Abbott, and the crowd respond to the show with all the enthusiasm of a memorial service in a dive bar. The show, even without an encore, is a fitting showcase of southern rock and redneck rebellion, transcending the venue and the band, as an outlet for a dying breed of 90’s metalhead.

JAMES STAFFORD

Comments (4)

4. Written by Lilly, on 19-07-2009 20:50   Missed it. Come back.

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