Pix and words by RASHID ALKAMRAIKHI
I was already inside the venue because Kris and I had come in early to record an interview with tonight’s main support, ERRA, so it was interesting to be standing inside the empty hall and watch the crowd flood in to the venue.
And flood in they did, much to the joy of tonight’s opening act, Banks Arcade. With a sizeable audience to perform to, they get busy setting the tone for the night, which if you didn’t already know since you are at a Northlane concert, is going to be metalcore. Either way, they rip, and the crowd gets into it.
Hailing from France, Landmvks hit the stage, and they are pumped. This is their first time performing in Australia, and they are keen as mustard to show us what they’ve got. With three albums worth of material to catch us up on, they tear into their performance and the appreciative audience sings and moves along with them.
Alabama wrecking crew ERRA rock up next to thundering applause. No strangers to our shores, or to the Northlane fandom, we all know we’re about to get our arses kicked and in the best way. They are very close to dropping their new album, Cure, and these shows are going to give them the chance to road test cuts from it. Brisbane is here for it and lap up every second of music ERRA has for them, new and old.
Throughout the night a giant curtain had been covering the back of the stage, and we were all keenly waiting for it to drop. Not only so we could see what was hidden behind it, but because it would mark Northlane taking to the stage. Finally, it drops to reveal a huge drum riser set up in front of a giant screen and more lights than the LED section of Jaycar.
The whole venue goes ballistic both in terms of the band, the lights, and the crowd as Northlane set their phasers to kill. Jon Dailey in particular has the look of a Bboy Terminator from an alternate retro future, with his glowing target lock eyepiece and Kangool cool walker wear.
They continue to pummel the denizens of The Fortitude Music Hall with cuts spanning their entire discography. A discography that has cemented them both nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s premium musical artists.
Vocalist Marcus can more than hold his own but when joined on stage by ERRA vocalist, J.T. they meld together into something truly ferocious.
I could have saved myself a lot of time writing this review because there’s really only one way and one word needed to describe this band and the whole night: Huge.
