The 21st of September marked a special occasion for some. There was a 21st birthday party that no Melbournian should have missed.
Dreadnaught had invited a few mates around for beers, tunes and a great time together. Just like a 21st Party, but beefed up on Metal Steroids – this party was set over two stages both named after dear brethren that have passed on- The STOVE and The SUDS stages.
This all happened at the best venue in Melbourne; The Reverence Hotel, Footscray. Owner/Operators of the ART HOUSE, North Melbourne – possibly the best local venue that has supported local music for the past 20 + years.
With a well meshed line up consisting of our local greats, including the reforming of ‘Repugnance’ to open up the Day’s festivities.
It’s been 10 long years since Repugnance smashed and blasted on the stage together. Especially with passion and aggression- it was just like the rabid dog locked in its cage for too long, ready to attack it’s next victim, in a big, bold and bitey way!
From one stage to another, you walked into the doomful brutality of The Black Plague. These guys are merciless, with dangerous riffage, badass bass lines, and impeccable timing complimented with top fuelled vocals.
It’s devastating to know we have such talent oozing from our own backyard. Red Sky Burial are one of those bands that have a wicked energy and beautiful blend of Progressive Rock and Metal rolled in their sound. They should be front running with bands like Dead Letter Circus and The Butterfly Effect.
Hadal Maw just blew us all away, dropping the ‘Brown Note’ on us (Coined by Steve ‘AXE’ Watts). They are devastatingly fast, brash and furious. Hadal Maw -they’re just too good to refuse.
Tough, ballsy and paving their way to a higher place is Heaven the Axe. Front woman Phoebe Pinnock is the white rabbit you follow down the warren to end up in wonderland! The showcased new single “Good Things Come to Those that Hate” is a step in a heavier and much more defiant direction for HTA.
Words cannot describe the talent, wickedness, shred, slay and groove that is Alarum. If you’ve not witnessed the absolute ridiculously amazing talent that this band is, please do see them. Your brain will hang between your knee caps, they are THAT damn good!
After a well deserved beer break for all the bands and punters traveling from stage to stage. Desecrator then kicked off the sets again and re-energised the crowd over on the Stove stage with their brutal attack of thrash metal. Energetic and entertaining, Desecrator have enriched us all with a flashback to the pioneers of “play it loud” music!
Back over at the Suds Stage the room starts to swell. Laughter and bass comes from one side of the stage, sound check of guitars comes from the other. Dreadnaught are slowly grasping that this is their moment. Playing to a swollen room filled with smiling faces, memories and reminders of the past 21 years of joy and hardship – this show was alive.
To watch the band build the blocks higher and higher, each song was pure perfection. Front man Greg ‘Egg’ Trull demonstrating physically the passion and power of the music, and pushing it further with his gutsy, tense yet bittersweet vocals.
Eyes were drawn magnetically to the finger gymnastics of Richie and Damon as they plowed through song after song effortlessly. The crowd exploded when the boys broke into “The Push”, becoming a vicious sea of emotion, suiting the song’s message of struggle.
The set was flawless, not a note or beat missed. This night was dedicated to the fans that have come out to celebrate their amazing achievement for a band that has seen some extreme hardship and ecstasy with band members, friends and family. But it was also a personal dedication to the passing of a very much loved character – brother and original drummer, Aaren ‘Suds’ Suttil.
A strong finish with the song that started it all for them, Flowers. The band room was heightened by the humble and emotional flawlessness of the delivery in their set. We the crowd, cheered and applauded them as they came off the stage with a great sense of personal achievement.
Over at the Stove stage, metal genius with the blood of the three men that are Contrive. They have such a strong delivery, manifestation and dream within their music.
Frankenbok are possibly the most entertaining and action packed Metal act we have in Australia. If you haven’t seen a Frankenbok show then you have been living under a rock for the last 16 years!
The ‘Bok’ is another pioneering metal band that have worked their asses off to show how ‘Fair Dinkum’ they are to the music they love to share.
Se Bon Ki Ra hopped on a plane from Adelaide to help celebrate and play later in the evening, alongside Melbourne’s Earth; yet another band that has had a very long history in the growth of our Aussie Metal Scene.
A few have been and a few have stayed. This birthday celebration really shows that be it large or small, we want our metal.
21 years of service deserves an award for brilliance, determination and dedication. This is something that Dreadnaught have definitely shown us over the past 21 years in the game, we all hope to see 21 more strong years. Happy Birthday Dreadnaught.
Images by Daz Zammit of White Demon Imaging
