On a muggy Saturday evening, Damage Inc (the Australian Metallica tribute band with the blessing of the original metallers) is touring in celebration of the classic albums 'Kill 'Em All' (1983) and 'Ride The Lightning' (1984).
You know, the records that we metal mob were feasting on well before the rest of the world caught up, especially after the release of the Black album.Joining Damage Inc in their Ride 'Em All tour at Brisbane's Mansfield Tavern (13 January) are speed thrashers, Panik: Mitchel Gruevski (bass, vocals), Danny Ritz (guitar, vocals) and Corey Schwarze (drums).
Panik has some fans in the crowd, I for one. After seeing them live for the first time supporting Stryper last year, I can't wait for my second helping.
Panik kick it off with 'Burn' (a 2022 single release) as it blasts punters to life with its dense sound and fast timing. The trio are playing with an immense energy. I am in awe of Ritz and not just his guitar chops, but his whole stage vibe.
In his white Frankie's singlet and white jeans – that just have to be super stretch – he is jumping, high kicking and leg spread-stancing his way through the set. Those leg kicks are not only done from the floor but also mid-jump while playing guitar. The height and stretch he reaches are incredible.
Panik - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Gruevski delivers raw and rough vocals and with Schwarze, they keep the groove tight and have almost just as much dynamism as Ritz on stage. Aussie thrash at its finest!
With not much more than a 30-minute taste of their originals including 'Deadbeats', new song 'Belly Of The Beast' and 'Show No Mercy', Panik also gave a little bit of fun with a Beastie Boys cover, 'Fight For Your Right', before ending with the massive banger 'Heart Racer'.
'Heart Racer', released in 2022, gets punters' hearts doing just that and seals the deal fostering a bunch of new Panik fans in the audience.
The crowd of Metallica fans has grown substantially in this last half hour. Punters ranging from about 18 to 60-plus years of age amassing to cop an earful of Metallica tunes.
I mean let's face it, Metallica hasn't graced our shores since 2013, and from the look of their tour schedule, they are not likely to be giving us any upfront and personal love, any time soon. What better way to experience their music live, than with a tribute band and an Aussie one at that?
As the anticipation for Damage Inc heightened, the atmosphere shifted with AC/DC's 'Long Way To The Top' and just like Metallica – Ennio Morricone's 'The Ecstasy Of Gold'. Opening with 'The Call of Ktulu', an instrumental from 'Ride The Lightning', Damage Inc drew die-hard fans closer with a barrier-free stage setup.
The revelation that two-thirds of Panik comprises half of Damage Inc is adding an unexpected twist for virgin Panik punters. Damage Inc being Mitchel Gruevski (bass), Danny Ritz (guitar), Brad Thomas (drums) and Clint Lovering (vocals, guitar).
The band points this out also, and I am reminded of Panik's impressive cover of Metallica's 'The Four Horsemen' that helped to win me over during their support slot for Stryper.
Damage Inc - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Cheers and hands go up at the start of 'Creeping Death' followed by 'Ride The Lightning', increasing the momentum as punters are reintroduced to the Metallica music live with a high level of adept musicianship.
Damage Inc seemingly focus on the old-school appearance aspect of Metallica as much as they do on the delivery of the music. Lovering has dressed himself to resemble James Hetfield with black sweatbands on each wrist, which serve to keep his fingers dry as he also plays the guitar – no doubt they are helping him to wipe the sweat from his brow too. He also mimics the way Hetfield rages into the mic with his nose butted up against it.
The crowd get wild for the first to be played from the 'Kill Em All' album, 'Motorbreath' and 'No Remorse'. More punters gather on the stage floor by the time 'Trapped Under Ice' is played, while 'Phantom Lord' and 'The Four Horsemen' get those punters in a state of mosh frenzy.
One punter tried to incite a circle pit. He quickly realised he had no hope of taking the punters' attention away from the artists before he continued doing solo zoomies around the floor, all while deftly carrying and drinking his beers. Skills. Ha!
Sh.t is getting intense, even with those of us watching from the mosh perimeter. Blistering 'Blitzkrieg' is followed by 'Am I Evil?', which has fans singing at the top of their lungs, elevating the energy in the room.
Damage Inc - image © Clea-marie Thorne
However, it is the thrashing throes of 'Whiplash' that levels things up and there is much head-banging and shouting to this one. Goosebumps rise on my arms during the Hemmingway-inspired 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', in particular when Ritz kicks in with that unmistakable lick – can I just have that on repeat?
Damage Inc's mastery of Metallica's material is amazing as I revel in their passionate celebration of Metallica music. More musical euphoria comes from their performance of the ballad 'Fade To Black', then 'Fight Fire With Fire' and 'Hit The Lights'. At this point, I spy some local musos in the crowd enjoying the show. Perhaps one of those is from another tribute band, I also had the pleasure of seeing last year. . . perhaps.
With more drinks downed and nostalgia well and truly activated by the set so far, Damage Inc has given birth to their own tribute choir who are now singing along to 'Seek And Destroy, grooving to its most catchy riff. It is party time in full flight.
Punters now cover the floor in front of the stage and those die-hard fans in old-school Metallica band tees remain steady up front with beers in hand and heads banging. Ritz's blistering guitar solos have been note-for-note to the original recording albeit with his axe's own tone. Gruevski is adept at keeping the rhythm section in a tight groove and his nimble pummelling that achieves that thunderous bass in all the right spots shows off his skills and is keeping the bottom end where it should be.
From the latest Metallica album, '72 Seasons', 'Lux Æterna' is being thrown into tonight's mix and is well received by the fans. I reckon this is more than just a taste of how Metallica may play it live, it just might be exactly how they would play it. The sound is on-point!
'Fuel' from the album 'Reload' is next and has everyone rocking out. While it took a while for this album to grow on me, the live version always got my blood pumping and tonight is no different.
Lovering is a pipes powerhouse with enough vocal versatility to cover everything on the set convincingly and back up with a staunch stage presence that mirrors Hetfield's. In contrast, Ritz runs the length of the stage and throws himself and his guitar about without so much as missing or dropping a pick.
The band are having so much fun with 'Enter Sandman' from the Black album that is next in the set and synchronised jumps from the band adds to the energetic spectacle. I winced waiting for a guitar neck to hit someone, but it was executed by all three as smooth as silk.
Damage Inc - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'One' from one of my favourite albums, 'And Justice For', really hits the old-school fans hard. I doubt I am the only one in the room who had this album on high rotation on the deck or CD player back in the day. Damage Inc nailed it and Lovering is boosting the crowd interaction. He even has the barflies singing along to this beloved classic!
If I thought the big guns had come out with 'Seek And Destroy' and 'One', a bazooka emerged and aimed at my ears with a brutal closeout, an all-time favourite, 'Master Of Puppets'.
Every crushing riff, every pounding drumbeat made us sing louder and louder: "Where's the dreams that I've been after? Master, master! You promised only lies. Laughter, laughter! All I hear or see is laughter. Laughter, laughter! Laughing at my cries," before the squealing guitar solo is piercing the air and making my hair stand on end.
Not only did we enjoy the totally stacked set from two of the first Metallica albums but Damage Inc peppered those old bangers with a couple of extras from 'Reload' and '72 Seasons' that also went down a treat.
Their attention to instrumental detail needs mentioning as I interpret this to be a reflection of a shared passion for Metallica's music that fans will find hard to fault.
All in all, a sonic onslaught was promised and Damage Inc delivered it to a crowd of nodding heads, flailing arms, hair, fists and devil horns left satiated from the sounds of Metallica delivered with precision and passion.
I closed my eyes and listened and I swear I could have been at an early Metallica concert – it was just that damn good. Goldilocks would be more than freaking happy with this Metallica tribute set.
When players of exceptional calibre come together with their talent and are immensely enjoying performing, the crowd cannot help but feed off the contagious energy and send it back to the band. You shouldn't second guess investing in a future show with exemplary musicians and entertainers and of course, you are going to know ALL of the songs to sing and mosh to!
More photos from the show.
