I arrive at Brisbane's well-known live music venue The Zoo (11 April), following the throng of people climbing its black and gold glittered steps.
It is cool inside and a pulsing anticipation is emitting from the chatty crowd gathering to see the triple treat of bands. Orange Goblin have not toured Australia since Soundwave 2013, so it is fair to say we are ravenous.Understanding our hunger, the tour is dishing up a three-course menu of heavy persuasion. Astrodeath kick things off like a rising leviathan (ha!), lubricating our ears and warming up our necks with their brand of heavy.
Tim Lancken (vocals, guitar) and Yoshi Hausler (drums) make up this two-piece from Sydney. In mere seconds they're reeling us in with their grunge-laden heavy sludge and punk-tinged appetisers. I stay put to gorge on every last sonic morsel that is vibrating its way into my being. Punters are on a winner and existing fans are riotously stoked.
Astrodeath - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Fans erupt with roars of excitement and moshing frenzy for 'Mountain King' and 'Ceremonial Blood' that both had one lad so into them that spittle is flying from his lips as he yells along with Lancken: 'Blood!" Yew, dodged it!
Hausler, a steady, dynamic beater of drums, is impressive to watch all casual behind the kit as he strikes the tubs and flicks his long, thick mass of hair about. Lancken, who has 'RIFF' tattooed across his four fingers that are running mad along the fretboard, could have been born with that tattoo – he is a mad shredder and a pedal boffin, stomping and twiddling with precision to carve out their unique sounds.
Lancken asks "Who likes Sabbath? No one?" There are some "yeahs" from the crowd, but while the response is not overwhelming their dark cover of Black Sabbath's 'Children Of The Grave' invokes a brooding sing-along from all corners of the venue.
Closing out with 'Relentless Brutality', the moshpit mimics the title and heads are banging and hair is flaying the faces of nearby punters to the riff-tastic ending of this set. I shall feast more on Astrodeath after this gig, because for a two-piece their sound is mighty meaty. Think tomahawk steak. Yeah, now you're getting it!
'The Simpsons' theme is played over the speakers. Fans in the crowd make a bit of noise for Victoria's zesty, full-bodied five-piece, Dr. Colossus.
I'm told by an avid fan during the break that to know anything about Jono Colliver (vocals, guitar), Joel Collier (guitar), Mike Findlay (bass), Josh Wales (drummer) and their music is to know they're excellent musicians and songwriters that take their craft seriously. They are also fans of 'The Simpsons' and have incorporated quirky theatrics to their performance, lyrics and album titles. Can doom-metal music also be comical? I guess tonight I find out.
Dr. Colossus - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Dressed in the red robes of the Stonecutters ('Homer The Great', S6 Ep12) it sets the tone for their unique blend of doom metal, humour and homage to 'The Simpsons'.
The Zoo windows shake as they launch into the thick and heavy sounds of their song 'Mono'. The sonic assault hits us in the chest and causes bodies and necks to rock and snap in unison and enjoyment. 'Future Bart' is followed by a familiar song 'Pickabar'.
It's invigorating to experience this live, as Dr. Colossus ferociously tear it up while hooking us with its addictive melodic groove. After another programmed sample we get 'Sixty-Six And Six' before 'Whack Sabbath' that sends the crowd crazy with steel-snapping riffs. I say this as Astrodeath's Lancken jumps in to loan his guitar while a broken string is replaced for Colliver – noice one!
'Lard Lad' hits us in the chops making us salivate in drooling proportions before closing with a big banger 'So Long Stinktown' that vibes Crobot and Clutch in my ears as a punter gets his fill of singing into an outstretched mic.
Despite my failing Simpsons knowledge recall, the references add a quirky twist, but honestly, the musicianship and vocals alone will bring me back for seconds.
After stage turnover, the recorded voice of the departed Bon Scott is singing in our ears – it is a subliminal message! The room has filled and primed punters are drawing closer to the stage while bleating "It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock & roll!" as an invisible bond of camaraderie is cast among the crowd.
Tonight, Ben Ward (vocals), Joe Hoare (guitar), Chris Turner (drums) and newest band member Harry Armstrong (bass) greet us with the familiar intro to 'Solarisphere'. The crowd spirit is ignited from the get-go. As the music chuggs get faster the crowd gets looser. We wade into the depths of a rocking groove.
Orange Goblin - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'The Filthy & The Few' incites the whiplash motion among punters as they go at it hard, all with smiles and sweat-beaded brows. 'Saruman's Wish' is backed up by the massive banger 'Made Of Rats'. This song completely engrosses fans, with the energetic performance across the three band members on axes in front only dialling up the energy, feeding the frenetic thrashers to smash headfirst into two crackers 'Aquatic Fanatic' and 'The Man Who Invented Time'.
Ward calls out that "we are all sons of Brisbane," and he directs us to sing the very catchy 'Sons of Salem'. Punters obey his command, as do I. I mean this dude, in the flesh, is as immense as his voice, towering about 6 foot 5 inches with a decently muscled frame – you obey him just out of awe.
OG pay creative homage to Motörhead and Black Sabbath in some of their music, and Ward declares the toe-tapping rock & roll grizzler 'Renegade' a tribute to "Ian Lemmy Kilmister".
Orange Goblin - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The hulking frontman in his black tee emblazoned with the words 'Gimme Some Motorhead' gives us the best Lemmy-influenced vocals he has done all night. Ward not only pays tribute to Lemmy, he is channelling the essence of him in a way that is respectful, tributary and authentically executed.
Next up is 'Your World Will Hate This' then 'Some You Win, Some You Lose' and this hard-rocking kicker melts our faces – I swear the spirit of Bon Scott is swirling about. A recent track '(Not) Rocket Science' fans the embers with its catchy fever.
Energy levels rise as slamming and bouncing ensues in the pit as OG continue with 'They Come Back (Harvest Of Skulls)' and doesn't let up during another fan favourite, 'The Devil's Whip'.
Ward bellows they have a few more songs with a warning they are "... not into that pretentious rockstar bollocks! So, when we do go off [stage] that's it!" We get it. Don't call for an encore.
Orange Goblin - image © Clea-marie Thorne
After this warning, he tells us that 'Time Travelling Blues' is dedicated to every single person in the crowd and gives thanks for the ways that fans show support. Ward may emulate Kilmister's stance and gravelly voice, but this song is tinged with the likes of Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) and Pepper Keenan.
It's so deep and dirty blues sounding, as is the instrumentation behind it – glorious indeed. Hip grinding, butt swaying, throwing your neck back, hollering heavy rock blues. Extending the blues spell is swampy blues riffing of 'Scorpionica'.
The moshpit is stirring up again. Stage lights illuminate the flicked hair of punters in the sea of bodies rising and falling like crashing waves into a rock pool of sludge thanks to the intoxicating heavy groove of 'Quincy The Pigboy'. Let it down low.
To carry on with Dr. Colossus' Simpsons theme, that bottom end is hanging "low and lazy Apu. Low and lazy!" It is so thick and juicy though, and the guitar is pumping it up over the top. We are devouring it.
Ward is again at the front of the stage, waving the microphone into the faces of fans for them to sing into, letting them reach out and grab his hand while singing at them. He even twirls the mic on its cord like a lasso, miraculously missing the faces of front-row moshers as well as Hoare and Armstrong. Fans are gobbling down these intimate elements of the show.
Orange Goblin - image © Clea-marie Thorne
It's ending all too soon. 'Red Tide Rising' is a kick-ass closer that has us going bonkers. After we sing "Azrael rising, wings of the angel of death," Hoare is shredding the strings with an insane intensity one final time for us as the hands of fans are raised in worship.
Ward's pipes are coming back in, with deep vibrating vocals baying: "No sanctuary, no hail Mary. No visionary. . . can save you from what has begun!"
Astrodeath and Dr. Colossus whetted our voracious appetites for our heavy, hearty main course. OG did not hold back shovelling their immense heavy rock, doom and punk-infused set at our hungry ears and eyes.
We are left heaving from our indulgence of the very heavy and scrumptious performance by the staunch legends that are OG.
More photos from the concert.
