[Gig Review] AUGUST BURNS RED & I PROMISED THE WORLD (US) w/ THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER, FALLWEATHER (AU) @170 RUSSELL, 01.10.26.
With all these uncanny allusions to weather related topics and themes, local Melbournian lads Fallweather led by Cullen Forbes kicked off the meteorological metal festivities as the first of four bands for this event. This was another opportunity to experience bands I had seldom heard before, only just discovering their Triple J Unearthed feature online. Their presence tonight was both tangible and an invigorating post-hardcore sonic segway into the main drawcards. See below for social links for all bands, whom I am adamant will be seeing more extensive live review coverage at a gig near you in the future.
Melbourne post-hardcore band Fallweather enetertained early on this Thursday night.
The gathering and reception for another local metalcore band The Gloom in the Corner was expectedly dense. These guys are a solid staple and familiar feature on local metal gig lineups, always bringing the onslaught when necessary, as was evident tonight. Led by Mikey Arthur on visceral vocals, the incorporation of a cinematic-like presentation on the track 'Jericho Protocol' won me over, as myself and much of the crowd reveled in their brand of groove-laden metalcore.
Melbourne metalcore moguls The Gloom In The Corner energize the crowd at 170 Russell.
Texan metalcore co-headliners I Promised the World delivered a typically American post-hardcore show filled with angsty antics, emotive guttural vocal mic dumps, in addition to a coincidental lean body T- shirt disrobing, followed by all the antics you'd be used to seeing from a young frontman. IPTW enthused the room a little more, before the main drawcard. A markedly appreciative nod to ISC’s latest photographer Sarah Barnett who has captured the essence of this event in images.
Texan titans I Promised The World @ 170 Russell.
It was a privilege and an honour to witness August Burns Red's powerhouse set, just months after I reviewed their latest 'Season of Surrender' LP. You can read that album review here.
ABR are evidently an imposing and colossal giant in the dense metalcore genre, so it was without hesitation that I jumped at the chance to see them for myself, after a relatively recent but confident onboarding to the ABR train. ABR ensured that my own 2-hour commute to Russell Street tonight was rewarded with a musical journey that visited pivotal points across their discography. A lengthy journey to 170 Russell is almost always certain to be rewarded by musical onslaughts like 'Sonic Salvation' as witnessed tonight by yours truly.
Music has always been both a personal solace and a salvation, something to lean on and embrace, something to delight in and look forward to. Despite seeing a few bands per month of late, tonight's ABR performance was especially noteworthy, as each song cut through the venue with impressive vigor and highly entertaining intent from Jake Luhrs and band. ABR injected some of their harder hitting tracks from 'Season of Surrender', namely, 'Sonic Salvation', 'The Nameless', 'Behemoth' and 'Den of Thieves'. Along with 'Meddler' 'Back Burner', 'The Eleventh Hour', 'Paramount', 'Bloodletter', 'Invisible Enemy', 'Empire', 'Exhumed', 'Mariana's Trench', and an encore comprising of 'Composure' and 'White Washed', all by 1030pm on a Thursday night.
Their commissioned album artwork served as a picturesque backdrop throughout the set, and timed words appeared on screen like a YT video visualiser which assisted those of us not always confident enough to follow along with each song's lyrics. What ensued was an hour plus of hammering, thunderous, pulsating, ravenous, raucous metalcore. ABR as a headline act deserve all the accolades and kudos given to them, evidently being seasoned and lauded musicians who stopped by and conquered one more venue on this sonically tumultuous tour.
The Formiddable and ferocious August Burns Red @ 170 Russell.
The 'Season of Surrender' Aus/NZ tour continues tonight Saturday 3 October at King Street Bandroom, Newcastle, Sunday 4 October - The Tivoli, Brisbane, Wednesday 7 October - San Fran, Wellington, Thursday 8 October - Powerstation, Auckland. All tix available via DestroyAllLines here.
LINKS:
AUGUST BURNS RED:
I PROMISED THE WORLD:
THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER:
FALLWEATHER:
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Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady & The ISC Team.