Words: Shannon-Lee Sloane – The Colourful Writer
Pix by Tom Wilson thanks to Sense Music Media
Emotions were running high on Friday night as Brisbane’s hardcore groove metal masters Massic took to the stage for their final live performance. Their final show. The end of an era. The last hurrah from a band that will leave one hell of an imprint on the Brisbane metal music scene for many moons to come.
Brought to you in association with the legends at SCHEMA Collective and Heavy Mag, the show featured not only Massic but also three other solid bands who also have a steady number of fans who will follow them anywhere. Massic were joined by Flaming Wrekage, The Black Swamp and From Crisis To Collapse.
The Zoo is still (quite literally) one of our hottest venues and the perfect setting for a night of top-shelf metal from the bands who graced the stage. All of whom delivered one hell of a performance in honour of the mighty Massic or, for Massic, in honour of their dedicated fans and followers.
Massic has always been, without a doubt, one of Brisbane’s finest. As a band, they deliver something that not all bands manage to do, despite their attempts. Massic’s raw talent and ability to simply destroy whatever stage they are on feels effortless to those watching and despite the aggressive way it’s delivered, it is simply and utterly delightful to watch and listen to. For over seven years Massic have dominated the metal music scene here in Brisbane but on January 27, 2023 they announced via their social media that the band had decided to call it quits.
For those who missed it, their post read:
Hey Everyone,
First and foremost we want to thank you all, for simply paying and keeping your attention on Massic, and for genuinely caring about the music Massic has created over the last 7 and a half years and most of all, for rocking up, rocking out and supporting us as a live band!
As a collective, we’re very proud of the two albums we wrote and produced together, being Redshift (2018) and Cognisant (2022), they’re both something we will cherish for the rest of our days!
After such an amazing time together Massic has now reached a point, and as five individuals we have (as a group) decided to call it a day.
With that being said, we want one last final party with all of you legends, so what better way to do so then to gift you all with an incredible show with three bands that we’ve become extremely close to over the years:
From Crisis To Collapse (NSW)
The Black Swamp (QLD)
Flaming Wrekage (NSW)
Now, let us be very clear, there were many bands we wanted to include on this lineup but as we’re sure you can all appreciate the bands we have chosen speak for themselves!
It would mean the world to all of us if you could join us in celebration of a musical project that has been Massic, a project that has brought us all so much joy over the years.
Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts,
- Si, Chris, Shayne, Rashid & Al.
A sad moment for all Massic fans and no doubt, a sad one for the band themselves though I am sure this decision did not come lightly nor would have it been made without much deliberation. So the decision was made, and the final show locked in. This was bound to be a big night.
Unfortunately, I arrived late to the event due to my lift running late (cough cough, it was Heavy Mag bossman himself, so I can’t get in trouble for missing the first act!) However, I have been blessed to witness From Crisis To Collapse on many previous occasions, so I have no doubt that they delivered a set to their usual standard, which is always of an incredibly high ranking. Although I am sad to have missed their last show with guitarist and the power force that is Chad Ellis. Chad is hands down one of the most driven, talented and kind members of the music scene that I have ever met or been blessed to know and call a mate. He is always smiling and always giving his all to his band, his music, his live performance and whatever else it is he’s set his mind to. Chad, you will be sorely missed!
No doubt an emotional set for the band who have shit tonne of shows under their belts with Chad up there with them. Who knows what will come next for the band, but the talent and ability that each member has in their little fingers alone is enough to continue to propel them forward even with a member leaving.
I arrived just in time to cop an ear bashing and eyeful of a band who I had heard much hype about before I ever even witnessed them live. The Black Swamp. I still recall the first time I saw them many moons back as I stood in awe and devoured every moment. I continue to do the same at every performance of theirs that I witness. With an almost underground and cult-like following, these guys, not unlike Massic, just hit the nail on the head when they formed, combined forces and made some seriously fucking beautiful music together. With a frontman who oozes all the things a frontman should and backed by a band of again seemingly effortless and talented musicians, they never fail to have crowds in the palm of their hands or held in place by their gazing stare as they become one with their sound and deliver not only a performance but an energy and vibration that mesmerises those watching. With a sound that, to me, seems a mixture of sludgy sounds that make me think of bands like Clutch to a darker energy and vocal that even has me thinking Type O Negative and then to some proper old school gritty metal like early Pantera, it’s a tasty treat for all the senses anytime that The Swamp take to the stage. Friday night’s performance was not only all those things, but it felt like they added some extra emotion to it all, being there in honour of Massic’s final show.
Flaming Wrekage are another band who I had heard the hype about before I had witnessed them live. The first time I saw them was on a boat for a Sludge on the Seas event a few years ago, funnily enough it was with The Black Swamp and Massic. Flaming Wrekage bring some serious thrash metal energy and the intricate guitars are always a stand-out in their performances. The band has a solid fan base in Brisbane even though they are based in Sydney. Whilst there are strong elements of thrash metal, there are also some melodic flashes and groove metal moments that together create a sound that is somewhat unique. Best served live, Flaming Wrekage never fails to bring metal fans to the front of the stage, with local crowd-surfing regulars blissfully surfing through their set on Friday night.
The night felt as though it flashed before my eyes a little too fast as it was already time for Massic to take to the stage for one last live performance. To be honest, I felt blessed to be seeing them on stage for this last set. Most people who follow the band or know the band members would know that we are in fact, very blessed to even have the band as they stand right now. Frontman and ringleader of this talented bunch, Simon Russell-White had a near-death experience that nearly stole him from us back in 2020. Fortunately, Simon fought back and survived the experience, however, it was assumed by many that it would be the end of Massic. But Massic was back before too long, as strong and heavy as ever. The band proceeded to release more music, play more shows and keep on doing what Massic do best and simply slaying as they do so eloquently. Their recent announcement of the band calling it quits did come as a shock to most, but their decision was accepted with love and support from fans as we all hastily ensured we secured tickets to their last show.
To be honest with you, I kind of lost myself in the moment. I did not take notes. I did not take many photos or footage. I simply enjoyed the moment. Massic took to the stage to cheers and loving chants from the punters. They performed to the same high level they always have and delivered each song with passion, vitality and force. Being an empath and sometimes unknowingly tuning into people’s emotions gives me a perhaps somewhat different perspective when I am reviewing a live show. I felt so much from this performance. More than I could put into words. Not only did I see and hear Massic’s final show. I felt it. And oh man, did it hit hard.
Massic played through a set full of their finest tracks, including the much loved, Devolve from their 2018 album, Redshift. This song never fails to resonate with me and fill me full of some kind of passionate fury which I can’t quite explain.
Simon dived out into the crowd for one last crowd-surf which resulted in some carpet burn as he was rather ungracefully returned to the stage. But apart from some mild carpet burns, the band finished their set unscathed, though I am sure feeling emotionally heavy combined with the high of yet another incredible performance.
Massic will stay with us forever more, like a tattoo etched into our skin. They have made a mark on so many of us in their time as a band.
We salute you Massic.
We salute you Simon, Chris, Shayne, Rashid and Alan.
We thank you for your music, your passion, your talent, your drive. We thank you for the pieces of yourselves you gave us through your music. We will miss you and the way you would devour any stage you stepped onto. And most of all, we wish you all the very best that life can bring.
