DARK FUNERAL / IMMOLATION – Brisbane, Australia 5th September 2019
Before I even enter The Triffid for tonight’s gig, I know it’s going to be an interesting one, as we are being treated to a diverse roster of extreme metal. Ostensibly, Swedish black metal giantsDark Funeral are the headliners, but the drawcard for many folks is seminal New York death metal outfit Immolation. Whether it’s the frost-bitten abrasiveness of second wave Scandinavian black metal or the beefy, guttural attack of US death metal that floats your boat, this night has something for you.
Did I mention hardcore? No I didn’t, but lucky us, there’s a bit of that too in the form of local grinders Descent who open the night with an impressive set. Vocalist Anthony Oliver stalks up and down the stage, spewing lyrical and aural bile while the twin guitar attack of Brendan Auld and Josh Kane is both set free and grounded by the rhythm section of bassist Jim Dandy and drummer Kingsly Sugden. Ably assisted by a superb sound mix (Sudgen’s drums sound super crispy!), it’s a pretty bloody decent way to start the evening.
Next up, Adelaide ferals Christ Dismembered take to the stage in corpse paint, as relentlessly red lighting complements their good ol’ fashioned Messiah-baiting black metal. There are tinges of both the first and second wave in their tunes, with sections of both triumphant Bathory-esque riffs and pummelling Darkthrone blast beats.
It’s now time for old school death metal from one of the genre’s finest practitioners Immolation. Ever since emerging from Yonkers, NY in the 1980’s, the band have made some of the most enduring death metal ever – technical and ambitious, yet never hampered by era-specific production which has dated many other records. Tonight, they are in impressive form with a fantastic line-up where even the newest member has impressive pedigree – “new guy” guitarist Alex Bouks is a veteran of Goreaphobia and, most notably, Immolation’s similarly-seminal contemporaries Incantation.
Singer/bassist Ross Dolan enquires if we’re ready for some “fucking death metal”, and naturally we answer in the affirmative. We’re treated to Dolan’s guttural roars and drumming from Steve Shalaty which is almost unbelievably good. The real drawcard, though, is guitarist and founding member Robert Vigna whose blistering leads are performed with an expressive sense of showmanship. With material drawn from their outstanding most recent album, 2017’s Atonement to the groundbreaking debut Dawn Of Possession from 1991, the band performs a set that proves why they are leaders of extreme metal.
Finally, it’s time for some true theatricality from Dark Funeral. The corpse-painted Swedes stalk onto the stage in matching leather armour and proceed to entertain the hell out of everyone present. Their blasphemous black metal anthems are performed with power and charisma by the unholy quintet, led by founding member and lead guitarist Lord Ahriman.
On vocals is the extra-sinister Heljarmadr, whose piercing shriek echoes dramatically throughout the room. He’s also a great showman, moving and posing theatrically (at one point brandishing a whip and an upside down Jesus-on-the-cross). The songs themselves are catchier and riffier than much black metal while at the same time practically defining the genre.
The audience is air punching and shouting along as Heljarmadr incites us to join in on their sacrilegious singalongs. All the hallmarks of classic black metal are there – the blast beats, the tremolo picking and unholy shrieks – but it’s rare you’ll get to see it performed with such class.
Reviewer: Matt Thrower
Photographer: Davey Rintala @fastlanephoto
