A staple in the emo and adjacent community, Of Mice & Men (OM&M) returned to Australian shores with promises of a reckoning of a tour.
Back after two years, OM&M are doubled down on that promise, bringing Japanese powerhouse Crystal Lake along for the ride. These respective Goliaths have made their way around the country, with Brisbane closing out the run (10 May) expectations are through the roof.
After releasing their ninth album, 'Another Miracle', late last year, diehards of OM&M, who are cornerstones of the genre, will be seeking yet another opportunity to revel in their majesty.
Not touring our neck of the woods in several years, Crystal Lake have continued to climb into a stratosphere of their own as fans clamber to embrace their chaotic, heavy and aggressive take on metalcore.
A follower of this band for the majority of their career to date, I'm ecstatic to see what tricks have been polished or constructed entirely anew as this outfit returns with a fire in their stomach.
Fans have turned out in droves to The Triffid on this overcast and ominous Sunday evening as the autumn breeze caresses carelessly across the hills and valleys, as a sense of impending onslaught riles in the belly of the beast.
Crystal Lake - image © Kelly Warren
As the stage falls black and ominous pitches begin projecting from the speakers, within a flash – figuratively and literally – Crystal Lake's onslaught begins as they propel into 'Everblack' like a ravenous beast.
From the first second and by the fifteenth, there is no mistake to be made – Crystal Lake are back with a vengeance. Strobes blast from every perceivable angle as this exciting and invigorating five piece commands the stage, using every inch of it to showcase their unparalleled energy.
The Japanese quintet has long been touted for their second-to-none stage showcase, and while there may be line-up changes since their last visit, this foundation to their identity has remained intact.
Promising to waste no time throughout their short but powerful set, after several seconds of quiet reprieve, they relaunch back into 'Bludgod'. This crushing and brutal, driving syncopation hits like several tonnes of bricks and is unrelenting in its wall of sonic thickness.
Crystal Lake - image © Kelly Warren
To intense delight, the third track of the evening is now a classic, 'Prometheus'. Having been lucky enough to see ex-lead vocalist Ryo Kinoshita deliver this directly, I was interested to see if this may impact the magnitude of this exceptional track.
While different, current stand-in vocalist PK of Prompts does an exceptional job in delivering gritty, roaring and abrasive yells and screams.
As the sub-ten set rallies to an unruly high throughout 'Lost In Forever' –another Ryo classic – with cheers and sing-alongs alike, this performance has been phenomenal. Controlled chaos has thematically swept across their entire production from lighting to set-list curation, to stage antics.
While the music speaks for itself, the destructive pageantry accommodates and supports wonderfully. PK delivers a near-flawless harsh and abrasive vocal performance, with moments reminding me of the tone and timbre of CJ McMahon of Thy Art Is Murder.
Crystal Lake - image © Kelly Warren
There are some slight challenges in transitioning from the balls to the walls delivery to the softer, cleaner and more melodic sections. Perhaps confirming that even the vocalist who originally conceived these parts wrestled with their ambition, considering similar challenges had been witnessed on their last outing.
With a catalogue such as theirs, it's difficult not to preface each track and moment with it being the highlight of the evening. However, to no surprises, the true highlight of their set is during 'Apollo'. I still recall the first moment I heard this track via a housemate in Sherwood nearly a decade ago – a testament to the initial impact that was made.
If there was one song to share with someone yet to fall in love with Crystal Lake, it would be this one. It captures each of the elements this act calls upon in the composition of their music.
Hearty sing-alongs; fast-paced and technical driving elements in guitar and drum alike; crushing downtempo breaks with swooning, soaring and wailing leads; and attitude and vigour akin to the biggest and brightest supernovas.
Enthralled fans – overflowing with excitement – now eagerly await the apex of the evening as they search for scattered possessions in the wake of the spinning, flying, and flailing bodies accumulated over the last 30-odd minutes.
With a digitally-flourished, orchestral instrumental, the stage erupts as the Southern California locals launch directly into 'Another Miracle' with chugged notes quickly being joined by vocal accompaniment.
The chorus then launches into everything that comes to be expected of these fathers of a genre as clean vocals soar as arms are delightfully ejected vertically. Bouncing around eras from the outset, 'Feels Like Forever' makes an early appearance in tonight's set.
Of Mice & Men - image © Kelly Warren
Founding member Aaron Pauley does an incredible job having adapted from bassist and clean vocal duties to all-out frontman (hey, I know it's been awhile but I have'’t seen OM&M in awhile, alright!?).
Hearing the experience and accumulated practice in vocal deliveries refined over years throughout the evening is an absolute delight. Pacing of the evening's set is primarily bouncy, sitting right in that sweet spot where the tempo maintains energy and a communal flow state can be experienced, allowing opportunity for significant dynamic fluctuations to be felt deeply.
This is especially effective during songs such as 'Flowers', where elements are stripped back to allow the room space to breathe. There is a strange pacing to OM&M's set this evening with the spaces between tracks seeming to linger longer than expected.
On several occasions throughout the evening it looks like there may be some technical issues slowing the performance; or, this could be masterfully intentional in continuing to build tension throughout their set. If the latter is the case, the mark has been slightly missed as momentum crumbles during these moments of reprieve.
Of Mice & Men - image © Kelly Warren
As the evening appears to be climaxing with the introduction of 'O.G. Loko' – one of the oldest tracks played tonight – to the delight of all, we are collectively thrown back to the early '10s of crabcore and Warped Tour.
As toms are slammed pre-breakdown crescendo, the crowd parts and prepares for mayhem. Bodies young and old launch into the ether as physical catharsis is achieved through carnage as the pit splits, and impacts are braced for.
Within but a few moments, darkness falls over the room before the infectious riff of 'Bones Exposed' permeates the room advising the evening isn't quite over yet. The snappy top string accents of the gritty and grainy guitar lines immediately rekindle a syncopated unison as fans revel in the final two tracks of the evening.
As the room collectively exhales and energy momentarily settles as we truly reach the end of tonight's endeavour, gratitude is shown to all involved – from punter to those joining the band around this lap of our country. With that, a spirited rendition of 'Second & Sebring' is unleashed.
Of Mice & Men - image © Kelly Warren
Immediately, patrons explode with excitement and a joined chorus on this truly genre-defining track of its time. This is a song fitting to conclude the evening from a band that has inspired so many after it – the energy of classic metalcore riffs and rhythms accented and enhanced by a huge, emotional vocal delivery; wrapping up and rounding out a world-class performance.
As the final lullaby of vocals reverberates throughout the converted hanger atop the melodic and melancholy piano track, the sea of fans erupt in applause; cheering and wailing at an evening well spent.
The crisp air of the building's exterior is a pleasant change from the still, muggy and ripe atmosphere of inside as hundreds spill onto the streets satiated and reinvigorated at the staying power and longevity of a band who has been at the front of the pack for decades now; with no sign of lifting their foot off the gas.
