On Friday, The Amity Affliction kicked off the first Aussie show of their Let The Ocean Take Me 10-year anniversary tour at The Riverstage in Brisbane.
It's a big and bold support line-up tonight (8 November) with internationals Ice Nine Kills (INK) bringing all the chills and thrills with their horror-themed tunes and metalcore maestros We Came As Romans (WCAR), who I saw raising the roof at the Princess Theatre not so long ago – glad they made good on their promise to return.That's not all, hailing from Melbourne is Heavensgate, post-hardcore and alternative rockers who have the honour of ceremoniously kicking off the first set of the tour as first support. Heavensgate are quick to set free our inner emo and punk with their fusion of melody and aggression.
Heavy guitar riffs with softer, melodic sections keeps it interesting; not even a technical hitch with Nazareth Tharratt's mic could detract from it. The frontman took in his stride like a pro, kept on singing while there were fans in the crowd that helped him out by singing along loudly!
Geeing up the crowd with a heavy set full of authentic feels, punters embraced 'Chemical Heaven' with its liberating and heavy wall of sound and tasty chorus that brings us an anthemic release. While it was a short set, 'Violent Joy', new single 'Ratking' and 'Ginsick' also need a mention as the crowd got lost in those gems too.
Impassioned vocals with emotional lyrics and explosive instrumentation sealed the deal for many new to Heavensgate. Their delicious brand of metalcore topped off with a shoegaze glaze, sealed the deal. Bring us some more, soon!
Heavensgate - image © Clea-marie Thorne
It's still hot and sticky, but it's not putting off a single soul for fans of WCAR who are crunching closer to the barrier. I see mates packed in shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the first splinter of sound and right on cue, as the opening riff of 'Darkbloom' hits, the pit erupts.
'Doublespeak' has us all hooked by their collective well-oiled musical chops. There's sweat trickling down our backbones, but no one gives a damn as the notes crawl into our bones, uniting us in this wild, raw experience. Punters are big on energy, and tonight, WCAR are matching our energy fist pump for riff and bellow with no letting up.
As they launch into 'Cold Like War', the energy in the pit doubles and surges up infecting the packed crowd standing on the grassy slopes. If there is ever a moment to lose yourself in the music of WCAR, this is it.
We Came As Romans - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The mosh pit is opening up; people are slamming into each other while the band keeps on coming with their sound that crashes beneath Dave Stephens (vocals) belting out the lyrics from a no-frills stage set up.
By the time their well-known tribute to Kyle Pavone 'Lost In The Moment' kicks in, many more punters have found their liberation by letting go of everything holding them back – I see it on their faces, hear it in the shared screams as they embrace the release. Some remain content to watch the frenzy while simply head-banging along while singing. We're all lost in this moment, that's for sure, and it's clear the band is feeding off of our spirited passion.
Stephens is amused and chuffed that a young lad surfed his way to the front and declared (although wearing a TAA band tee) he'd come to see WCAR! I wonder if that was his first crowd surf? I'm sure it won’t be his last!
We Came As Romans - image © Clea-marie Thorne
WCAR finish with 'Daggers', the mosh pit kicking into feral levels as fireworks light up the sky behind the amphitheatre adding to the drama. No one is holding back; there are horns in the air, heads banging like mad, and the crowd is singing along to every word. The riff hits like a punch and we are knocked out by the instrumentation then left panting and buzzing with adrenaline.
Punters are left to catch their breath during the break while the stage is prepped for Ice Nine Kills. I've been frothing to see Ice Nine Kills (INK) live since 2019! I can't wait to see what movie moments they'll be reenacting for us during their set – who cares though, I'm sure it will come with all the great theatrics whatever the set list – or it had better or somebody might die. . . Mwah ha ha!
INK stride onstage and the place simply erupts. A wave of cheers ripple through the crowd as the band combines my loves of music and horror to give fans one hell of a theatrical live show under the open sky. Kicking it off with 'Rainy Day' and the irony isn't lost on me, since it's hotter than Hades out here.
Fans are going bloody wild and when more Resident Evil inspo follows with 'Meat & Greet'; there is more head-banging and thrashing – I'm so glad they're handing out water to these champion moshers! Aussies might be relaxed most of the time, but when it's live music, we can get bonkers.
Of course, this song's got that perfect horror movie vibe, and Spencer Charnas' voice has everyone in a trance. The stage is creepy, the torso of a rotted corpse mic stand, blood splattered clothing, thick fog, CO2 eruptions and creepy characters (including Amanda Sahr) acting out horror scenes while clips of movies are projected on the backdrop screen.
Ice Nine Kills - image © Clea-marie Thorne
I feel like we're at some wild, haunted house party. We're only at song three 'Ex-Mørtis' and the crowd is mental. The mosh pit is brutal, people are on shoulders, crowd surfers are going at it and you can feel the energy just building, adding body heat to muggy night air.
Then, just when you think they couldn't surprise us more, they launch into 'Walking On Sunshine' (Katrina and the Waves cover). I gasp! The horror, the horror of it, Ha! Everyone is dancing like lunatics, yelling the lyrics with this wicked tongue-in-cheek fun – taking an '80s banger and adding a horror twist.
Movies such as 'Evil Dead', 'Psycho', 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' are themed for us through the set list, but the real cherry on top is the live debut of 'A Work Of Art' – as featured in 'Terrifier 3'. Charnas' vocals are raw, against the punk-laden beats and it's like the whole crowd's on a journey with 'Terrifier' villain, Art The Clown.
By the time 'Funeral Derangements' comes at us, it feels like the entire sweaty, scream-filled amphitheatre is bouncing in unison to the beat. They close out with 'The American Nightmare' and fan favourite 'Welcome To Horrorwood', the energy of the band and crowd not letting up for a second.
Ice Nine Kills - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Everyone's gearing up for The Amity Affliction next, but right now, INK has made the night theirs. It's been a full-throttle, spine-chilling and bone-rattling set. Horror just feels so bloody exhilarating when portrayed by INK and I'd betchya a beer that half the crowd will have no voice left tomorrow – me included!
As the first notes of 'Pittsburgh' start echoing through the amphitheatre, Joel Birch's voice rips through the crowd like a shockwave. It's raw and gritty, and the way he commands the mic with that mix of aggression and vulnerability. . . bloody hell, it's enough to give you chills. We're all screaming along.
Ahren Stringer backs him up with his smoother, soulful vocals, a perfect counterbalance that feels like a simultaneous slap and tickle. The crowd is going mad, people are head-banging, jumping, arms flailing like they're possessed – and it's only the first song!
The Amity Affliction - image © Clea-marie Thorne
When they move into 'Lost & Fading' and then 'Don't Lean On Me', you can see how much this band means to their fans – they covet these anthems. Birch's spoken about his own struggles with mental health, and you can see it in every word he sings; you can feel it in the way people around me shout back releasing something they've been carrying for way too long.
With songs like 'The Weigh Down' and 'Never Alone', they drive up the energy and it's increasing in intensity. There's feels within the crowd that must be sending one message to the band about this song and it says: "Yeah, we get it."
Birch and Stringer are a powerhouse duo, their voices colliding in perfect contrast while Dan Brown's riffs are electrifying, sharp enough to cut through the dense night air. The mosh pit has grown more chaotic; bodies are everywhere, sweaty and fearless, pushing against the barriers and each other, fully absorbed in the rawness of the music.
The Amity Affliction - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The heat is brutal, the air thick and heavy, but no one's backing down, not even with the awesome pyro displays. Oh my, from the start of 'Death's Hand', the crowd loses it completely. People are moshing hard enough to crack bones and I reckon a few may have. Fans are feeling every word, and when they hit the chorus I reckon anyone walking along the Southbank waterfront across the river can hear the fans singing along.
'F.M.L' and 'My Father's Son' come before 'I See Dead People'. By the time 'Drag The Lake' is kicking in, the show's gotta be hitting its peak. This amphitheatre feels like a hallowed ground – pain, loss, and redemption are laid bare. The drum beats are relentlessly driving everything forward.
When they give up 'All My Friends Are Dead', fans are roaring the words back in a united primal scream. TAA are bringing a massive wall of sound to our ears tonight with rippin' guitar riffs, and drums goin' off like a mad roo kickin' on.
Nothing held back when it comes fuelling pyro sparks and flames that are sparking up on every other song – cooking us LOL, but looking totally insane! Not to mention cannons firing streamers high into the night sky – what a rip snorter of a show! Visual at max.
The Amity Affliction - image © Clea-marie Thorne
They close the main set with 'Like Love' and 'Open Letter', the crowd's energy not fading one bit. The whole amphitheatre is singing along, almost drowning out the band. It's like a tidal wave of voices, each word heavy with meaning.
The band steps off and the chants for an encore are on. The calls for one more song are echoing through the amphitheatre, and soon enough, TAA is back with a reward for our fandom with two more songs.
Leading with 'It's Hell Down Here' sure still feels hot enough to be followed by 'Soak Me In Bleach'. These last two bangers hit hard and are the perfect end to an absolutely insane night. Everyone's voices are hoarse, all our energy is spent, but no one's holding back until it's over.
It's a fitting end to a mental night of pure mayhem. I mean you know things got nuts when you witness a fan in a wheelchair surfing the crowd to the barrier! Even though everyone's exhausted, sweaty, and totally spent we are still here with fists in the air, screaming along one last time.
The Amity Affliction - image © Clea-marie Thorne
This night, this music – it's what we came here for. Faces are beaming as fans pour out of the venue despite reeking of sweat and beer. The sweet combo of adrenaline and humidity, made for a true Aussie summer gig and an unforgettable, gritty night under the stars.
More photos from the concert.
