Brisbane's Fortitude Valley Mall is buzzing with Friday night revellers, as Northlane fans queue halfway around the block.
They are a patient lot, people watching as they wait to get into The Fortitude Music Hall where Northlane will be kicking off their Dante tour (9 February).Northlane are treating their fans to three supports. That's right, we're getting a hit of ERRA, LANDMVRKS and Banks Arcade ahead of Northlane. It's a hectic line-up and I'm super keen to get in early and not miss a single act.
Banks Arcade – Joshua O'Donnell (vocals, guitar), Harlan Allen-Jones (bass), James Feekes (drums), Benny Canham (guitar) – open with an abrupt intensity. It's a new song, 'Worship The Internet', from their latest EP 'Death 2'.
As some punters are still arriving and the merch stand is making mint, we are being assaulted with a heavy industrial vibe. At times, the air carries spine-chilling guitar notes that rise above the thick bottom end that is making my skin prickle.
Banks Arcade - image © Clea-marie Thorne
O'Donnell's vocals are as contrasting throughout the song as his lyrics, which are commanding a call to action and also introspection from the punters continuing to gather under the main arena chandelier.
With our full attention, Banks Arcade continue to dish out an energetic set from the dimly lit stage. I listen along and notice their third song is aptly named 'Change'. It's another track from the 'Death 2' EP and like its title, it has many tempo changes and in a sense is even giving off uncomfortable feels – the kind that often comes with life's curveballs.
Despite the altering ambience of this song compared to their other tracks, punters allow the layers the band are putting down to settle about their ears as it receives a great reaction.
Banks Arcade have definitely warmed up the crowd and give us another first 'Roulette' that concludes their set. It riffs off and hurtles into a powerful mix of drums and bass leaving O'Donnell's pipes nowhere to go except mic first, his lungs pelting full force, firing the lyrics like a bullet piercing its target – yes, our ears! This is the standout of their set for me.
If you've not had a chance to check out Banks Arcade or if you have and haven't seen them live, then you must let them open fire on your ears.
LANDMVRKS are in Australia for the first time and get busy showing us what live French metalcore is all about. This post-hardcore unit are kicking off with 'Lost In A Wave' (from the album 'Lost In The Waves') and the crowd drink in its killer breakdown and deathcore sequence. This is backed up by 'Rainfall' and the collective technical prowess of this band is shining through.
LANDMVRKS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
They have many fans in the venue tonight who are not backwards in letting the room know just how excited they are for this set. They're calling out in appreciation and singing along with Florent Salfati (vocals) loud and proud while Rudy Purkart (bass) holds fast with a thick groove.
Next, they drop 'Blistering' that starts slow and soft before bubbling into a lyrical and instrumental aggression that occasionally gives up a melodic and catchy slow-burning perfect chorus and then hammers us to the end.
'Say No Word' and 'Death' come before a live debut of 'Creature' – a new song that is sure to be a fan favourite from here on in. The moshers in the centre of the pit levelled up just from their bodily reactions to the crushing breakdowns!
Ending their seven song set list, LANDMVRKS save the best for last. 'Self-Made Black Hole' is getting a roaring reception as punters in the mosh get loose for it, leaving them in a state of near exhaustion. Une énergie intense! Please come back to Australia soon!
Thankfully, the break will give punters a chance to hydrate and catch their breath ahead of the highly anticipated ERRA, who are next up. In no time, J.T. Cavey (vocals) is giving living proof of why he's the frontman and vocalist from the get-go as they launch into a live debut of 'Cure'. This is followed by a classic favourite that has fans in the crowd amped, 'Scorpion Hymn'.
ERRA - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Jesse Cash (guitar) almost steals the set with his axe (guitar) wielding antics. If he is not spinning or backwards bending, he's on his knees or his back, and all the while not missing a single note.
Cavey incites the pit dwellers to get a circle pit going and punters watch on while lapping up 'Gungrave', 'Divisionary' and 'Pale Iris' – the drumming is insane. There is an immediate welcome for ERRA's Muse cover 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Bloody brilliant it is.
Another fan favourite that if it didn't make the set, may have a caused a riot – of course it's 'Skyline'. If we could get any more excited for this set, it's the choice of the band's parting gift, their song 'Snowblood'. It's so ridiculously good live.
A tight and thrilling set that ensures most of the audience will be clicking their mouse buttons to purchase tickets to a future show headlined or even supported by ERRA. There is no doubt about it!
The time is now and the crowd let loose wild roars as Marcus Bridges (vocals), Nic Pettersen (drums), Jon Deiley (guitar) and Josh Smith (guitar) come out. The stage is set with a second tier for the drum riser and huge digital drop behind it. Although there are additional light rigs, the stage is left pretty dark (for now).
Giving up their big banger and never-fail opener 'Carbonized' to start the tour celebrations with us, the brutal and melodic crusher has the room exploding in a metalcore bliss that is electrifying the air around us.
Finally, our headliners are here and they're not holding back as they move into 'Intuition' – and mine tells me it is going to be a wild ride!
Oh. Hello! ERRA's Cavey is back onstage and joining 'Miasma' for its live debut – Cavey is of course performing Winston McCall's parts in the song. Bridges and Cavey don't need a light show to shine their pipe magic from a dark-blue stage. The crowd return their energy with hectic moshing in the pit and big roars of appreciation, signally absolute fan approval for this song.
J.T. Cavey and Marcus Bridges (right) - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Fans get even frothier for '4D' and totally nuts for 'Talking Heads'. Bridges growls are so deep and dense, while his cleans are clear and as crispy as a box of rice bubbles in contrast. His vocals are at their peak – not that they've not been amazing prior – but it is fine-tuned perfection for this show.
'Citizen' comes next and then 'Bloodline' from the album 'Alien', which is giving us long-time fans a hit of nostalgia like a luscious warm embrace – not that we need any more heat for the makeshift sauna the crowd has going on.
'Dante', however, takes us from the sauna into a furnace – Northlane are relentless. Their creative experimentations explored through their music are showcasing their willingness to incorporate diversity of sound.
Northlane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
What I love most is witnessing the flexibility of many of their fans being open to it – an abundance of adoration is present in the room, which leads us to the reason for 'Echo Chamber' and gets the techno-metal vote of approval from fans in the crowd as it chops between raging metal and smooth pop vocals.
'Clarity' keeps us held in a metal rapture, but it is the medley of 'Worldeater', 'Dispossession' and 'Jinn' that sends us into a state of ecstasy. We then nod heads to a reimagined 'Solar' ahead of another live debut, 'Afterimage'.
Bridges introduces it and tells us to "have fun. Sit back. Enjoy!" Sit? Where? Haha. It starts out slow and he croons with interjections of thunderous raging screams. Intricate synths provide depth and it has a cool, industrial undertone that we can rock back and forth to – I feel me some Karnivool vibes in the chorus (and maybe that's for a reason).
The instantly recognisable 'Clockwork' sees the core central mosh pit infect punters further afield, including those leaning over the upstairs mezzanine, the venue a flurry of whipping hair and sweat sprays – knowing this may be the last or one of the last songs of the night, there is no holding back energy anymore.
Northlane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'Nova' then ends the brilliant set with fans making the most of it, one more time bursting with song and so much more loudly for the chorus: "My spirit exploding. Chaos fire. Infinite release."
Northlane gather at the front of the stage in a wave of thanks and have their photo taken with the first crowd of this tour. Northlane sure brought us the goods for an underground trip of oldies and new bangers with an intense rage and aggression dappled with liberating melodic strains.
More photos from the show.
