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Gig Review: Hellyeah + supports, Sydney

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Hellyeah + Bellusira + Carbon Black
The Metro Theatre, Sydney
28 August 2015
Review by Matt Bolton
Photo by Britt Andrews

You know that feeling you get when you hear an unreal Oz band for the first time. The same feeling I got when I first heard The Butterfly Effect I got instantly when I heard Carbon Black. Jonathan Hurley’s vocals were faultless and emotive ripping out with Mourning to open a killer set. Damon Bishop led the way to a riff heavy groove enforced by the overpowering bass lines of Rob Giles and Luke Cook belting the skins, showing heavy influences from Big Vin. After smashing through their entire EP, Principium, which I rushed to grab from the merch stand after the set, they ended with another track, Ignorance. The second song of the set, Blood and Sacrifice reminds me a lot of Kyser; a greatly missed Sydney band, who I had seen at this same venue, with their infectious groove driven metal. Jon states he used to be in the crowd like us and the view is much better from where he is now up on stage. And I’m sure it is.

 

Also hailing from Melbourne were Bellusira who are currently doing it big in the states gaining No Doubt’s tour manager and returning with a familiar face on guitar, that being Koichi Fukuda of Static-X bringing his guitar wizardry to the table. Cachango was a strong way to start the set rather than leaving it till last as it was the song I was most familiar with. It didn’t take long to take in the world class hard rocking that deserves all the recognition that it is getting worldwide. The devilishly beautiful Crystal Ignite was well spoken stressing that there is life after abuse and stands up against bullying, something I can relate to. With a positive; “Look where I am now. F*ck all the haters!” attitude. Closing the set with The Fight the band show they are here to play what they want and for us all to “Be yourself”. Expecting boos and receiving none its safe to say Bellusira were well received being a hard rock band playing at a metal gig.

 

The hellions erupted as Big Vin could be seen making himself comfortable behind the kit. Starting an epic set with Soul Killer, Sangre por Sangre (Blood for Blood) and the pit going crazy for Demons in the Dirt. Chad jumped in the air like Michael Jordan going for a slam dunk and a heavily dreaded Kyle Sanders ran around the stage like a mad man let loose in an insane asylum.

 

Dime lives in his brother Vinnie and it’s good to see him flying the flag with music you can just see how much he enjoys playing. With his distinct playing and teamed up with the brilliance of Tom Maxwell the backbone of Nothingface and Christian Brady on guitar the band are tight and a delight to watch. Chad belting through songs such as Moth and Hush were highlights for me.

 

Chad let us know about some lucky fans filming their views of the gig and the band compiling it all for a DVD. Having chosen Australia over the world, promising that they won’t make us wait another three years till they return to our shores. Proving that the heavy metal community is alive and well and Hellyeah have provided the smiles on the faces of many ‘heavy metal kids tonight’, a tag Chad Gray likes to use.

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