Review: Nev Pearce
Photography: Dan Maynard
Poland’s finest extreme metal band Behemoth have a long connection to Australia dating back to the mid-2000s.
Many people I know were there at their first show in Brisbane at a tiny underground venue where the metal scene at the time was flourishing, those there to witness have often said how incredible it was to see them in the early stages of their career and how their journey throughout the years has led them to be a household name in heavy music and a force to be reckoned with on any stage.
Opening tonight at The Triffid is Brisbane’s Resin Tomb, who have been called in at the last hour to fill in for Melbourne’s MUNT who unfortunately had their flights cancelled and couldn’t make the trip up.
Their droning atmospheric feedback drenched death metal hits like a sledgehammer and their intensity captures the punters’ attention as they spill through the doors.
Resin Tomb is without a doubt one of the best heavy bands in the country and can hold their own against any they share the stage with even when called upon at the last minute to save the day.
Golgothan Remains are up next and have travelled up from Sydney to play main support.
The band are nothing but crushing, with their own unique style of unsettling ambient death metal.
Frontman Matthieu Van Den Brande’s reverb-soaked vocals engulfed the room with a range from brutal low growls to harrowing wolf-like howls over a sensory assault of blast beats and face-melting riffs, the band put on a fierce and abrasive performance, demonstrating why they have been chosen as main support for Behemoth on their sideshows.
This may have been the first time a lot of locals have seen or become aware of these guys, but you can guarantee that many have walked away with them on their radar, this is one hell of a band to keep an eye on.
As the apocalyptic sample of Post-God Nirvana rumbles throughout the venue a familiar cloaked figure stalks the darkened stage, illuminating his face with a torch while contorting and tormenting the audience before the lights come on and the band rips into ‘Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer’ from their masterpiece ’The Satanist’.
This is followed by Malaria Vvlgata, Conquer All and The Deathless Sun which keeps the fans pretty damn satisfied as the set rolls on to Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel which is one of Behemoth’s biggest hits.
With its massive arena rock riff that leads the fans in chanting along, it’s surprising that they have chosen to play it so early on in the set, but its position sits perfectly and is an indication that the band still have some absolute bangers on the way for the remainder of the night.
Now I have seen many shows in this venue but the production and stage set-up for Behemoth is incredible (is this the biggest drum riser they have had on this stage!???)
Everything from the sound to lighting is above and beyond your average metal show and even without pyro the band put on a true jaw-dropping spectacle.
Frontman Nergal is one of the best around, he’s engaging and charismatic between songs and while his bible-tearing antics and anti-religious views have caused him some trouble back in his homeland, he doesn’t need to fear any controversy for it here as the fans understand that he is a man who staunchly stands up for what he believes, which leads into the track No Sympathy for Fools, with its sheer power and fury this is hands down the highlight of the night and send the pit into a frenzy.
As the set rolls on to a close with the encore O Father O Satan O Sun! there is a sense that fans got more than what they paid for tonight. Behemoth is one of the hardest-working bands in music and takes great pride and care in delivering a memorable show every time.
Behemoth proves once again why they are one of the best not only in their genre but a force of nature in the global live arena and I can’t wait to do it all again on Sunday at the Good Things Festival in Brisbane.
Remaining sideshows:
GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL DATES AND VENUES:
Friday 1 December – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (LIC AA 15+)
Saturday 2 December – Centennial Park, Sydney (18+)
Sunday 3 December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (LIC AA 15+) SOLD OUT
Tickets on sale now at http://goodthings.oztix.com.
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