A satisfying trend that is starting to creep into the touring circuit, mostly in the metal genre, is that international touring bands are increasingly using local bands to support their concerts. This not only nurtures the Australian scene but also provides the opportunity for our bands to experience the big stage atmosphere and last night Brisbane legends Chronolyth seized that opportunity with band hands and strangled the life out of their time in the spotlight, proving our home grown talent is not out of place alongside our international counterparts.
Opening with the title track from their second album, Atrophy, the boys stormed the stage covered in their trademark black warpaint and proceeded to decimate the souls and eardrums of an already large crowd in an hour long set which dripped with world class precision.
Rather than be overawed by the occasion, Chronolyth came out swinging, determined to not only justify their position but also to make sure no-one left the Triffid with only the headliner on their mind.
By the third song, ‘Unified Hatred’, vocalist Hamish McSorley had ignited the crowd into a fierce circle pit that continued throughout the set and claimed more than one victim with its swirling intensity and musical violence.
Their on-stage chemistry and enthusiasm spilled onto the crowd, with McSorley engaging with the audience and the rest of the band making eye contact with as many individuals as possible. They played up to the crowd and, perhaps more importantly, played with the crowd, and their intensity was unwavering and relentless through a set that encompassed both of their previous releases.
Drummer Michael Gee was relentless, with the twin guitars of Alex Nisiriou and Michael Varlet laying the foundations for some entertaining work from bass player Daniel Long.
By the time the double-edged sword of ‘Revenants’ and ‘The Heresy (Crucify Your God)’ had suffocated the energy out of the crowd, especially with the ferocious Wall of Death that was difficult to avoid, Chronolyth had played themselves to a standstill and given an emphatic statement of intent.
With a backdrop that went almost from the floor to the ceiling, Dragonforce made their triumphant entrance on stage shrouded in smoke and lights, with a rapturous welcome saved for guitarist Herman Li.
Many out there believe Dragonforce to be a one trick pony with the wizardry of Li’s guitar playing but that couldn’t be further from the truth with his partner on guitar Sam Totman managing to put on his masterclass display between chugging his beers and combining perfectly for a dual edged guitar assault that was worthy of admission alone.
Opening with ‘Ashes of the Dawn’, Dragonforce had the crowd singing along from the get go, with the sound off stage crushing and clear from the outset.
The predominantly young crowd were treated to a musical display rarely seen in the live arena, with each member standing out individually as well as combining seamlessly with the rest of the band.
Blasting through ‘Operation Ground and Pound’ and ‘Judgement Day’, moldingsinger Marc Hudson tested his vocal range at every turn, conferring with the cromouldingthe pit into his own personal weapon.
The three-part harmonies provided by Li, Totman and bass player Frederic Leclerq were at times majestic and others brutal, with the ability to have, in essence, another three vocalists adding to the depth and scope of the sound.
The interplay between the band and their fans was both entertaining and comical, with Hudson at times lost for words with what the crowd was throwing at him. His Australian greeting of ‘how you goin’ ya bunch of cunts’ early in the piece drew cheers and laughter and the ongoing banter about beer skulling provided a levity and connection that stretched through the performance.
Aside from the guitar interplay between the two leads, Leclerq and drummer Gee Anzalone also had their moment on stage, with a dual solo that went from rock to metal to blues providing a welcome respite from the constant avalanche of solos that punctuated the evening.
Perhaps the highlight of the night was ‘The Edge of the World’, a song from Dragonforce’s latest album, Reaching Into Infinity, which is also the name of the tour. It showcased the diverse musical nature of the band, with the tempo and vocal change into near death metal territory providing a glimpse into both the talent within the band and the vocal prowess possessed by Hudson.Wrapping the night up with a singalong version of ‘Cry Thunder’ and ‘Through the Fire and Flames’, Dragonforce proved they are a musical force as well, leaving nothing – not even a drop of sweat – on stage and providing a night of entertainment that would easily go down as amongst the best to have hit the stage in Brisbane this year.
Wrapping the night up with a singalong version of ‘Cry Thunder’ and ‘Through the Fire and Flames’, Dragonforce proved they are a musical force as well, leaving nothing – not even a drop of sweat – on stage and providing a night of entertainment that would easily go down as amongst the best to have hit the stage in Brisbane this year.
Photography byKen Ken
