[GIG REVIEW] OF MICE AND MEN + CRYSTAL LAKE W/ PATIENT SIXTY-SEVEN @ 170 RUSSELL (AU), 08.05.26.
Author: Mal Keecher
Presented By:thephoenix.au
Venue: 170 Russell, Melbourne, Australia
Images and video: Mal Keecher
A decent sized horde had gathered for Perth’s Patient Sixty-Seven's set from 7:30pm. Initially, this typically Melbourne crowd were mostly stationary, with a "show me what you've got" kind of vibe, as their frontman implored "Everybody start moving!" And some of us moved. More on that later. They fulfilled their purpose of warming up this audience who might have been unfamiliar with their recent rise to popularity in the Australian metal scene. No doubt it was an honour for them to be joining the likes of Of Mice and Men and Crystal Lake on these Australian tour dates.
Patient patrons checking out Perth’s Patient Sixty-Seven
By 8:30pm Japan's premier metalcore musical exports Crystal Lake had successfully shifted the vibe and intensity with their high-octane ferocity. Hands and phones went up along with the volume, pace and conviction. It was clear that Crystal Lake were remarkably adept performers, having decades of experience honing their craft.
Visually, from the start, the predominantly blue crystalline lights added to the mystique and flavour of their performance. By now, heads were bobbing and people were swaying with enthusiasm.
For the first time in many gigs, I decided to get amongst it in the pit where the sweaty and now infamous Banana Man was a familiar sight, amongst black-clad lads, phones up high with grins on their faces, embracing lighter moments in the set, before an onslaught of mayhem ensued.
A pit opened as the now energised and enthused front floor crowd surfers seized later opportunities to get physically lifted, while Crystal Lake did the same musically.
"This song's called Lost in Forever!" Crystal Lake proclaimed with a volume that matched the aural assault that followed. A young bloke with his walking cane gets thrown up as he relishes the extended moments; he flails around at the front as several more people get up and sail toward the barrier.
Three’s a crowd of crowd surfers
Lost in the calamity and fun of Crystal Lake’s wild set
And the metal party continued. Having never witnessed Crystal Lake live before, I was thoroughly impressed by their ability to move the entire room. Bodies moving in all directions, I was certainly getting amongst it for once. It felt good to be involved in this mutually benign kinetic frenzied fun fest. In fact, at times it did have that dense, festival feel where so many people were in the thick of it. It was a feeling of unison, and being part of something altogether uplifting, manic and collectively satisfying.
I intermittently took a few steps back from the action for a wider perspective, because it's so easy to become swallowed by the mania in these types of crowds. It helps being relatively tall, however my frame belies my susceptibility to youthful reckless abandon as I repeatedly got elbowed in the ribs. It's all part of the experience.
Of Mice and Men are introduced with cinematic-like strings and jubilant whistles and claps. The venue is now densely populated after the brief break, and this is the main event of the evening.
Of Mice and Men, of horns and hands
Frontman Aaron Pauley gives a "what's up, Melbourne!" To a rapturous applause.
The familiar and catchy riff of my personal favourite ‘Feels Like Forever’ rings out, as fans instantly recognize it and applause with excitement.
‘Feels Like Forever’-Of Mice and Men
As a relatively new fan of this modern Of Mice and Men lineup, I collated a playlist of songs ahead of the show that demanded my attention, especially the ones with catchy hooks and riffs. Tonight, the band played most of these including ‘Would You Still Be There’. A small shuffle pit opened up, and most folks were either head- nodding or throwing their hands up to the rhythm with the kind of enthusiasm and gratitude that regular folks seldom experience in their daily lives.
The affable Aaron Pauley nodded and grinned with amusement and said "Impressive. Thank you" before a crowd clap along and arm swaying from this mostly millennial crowd.
Another riff-heavy favourite the band played– much to my elation was ‘Obsolete’ which got these millennials moving like Monday was coming, and a surfer seized this high-voltage opportunity to ride the wave of hands.
Far from ‘Obsolete’-Of Mice and Men killin it
As if I had predicted the setlist, ‘Another You’ was played as a fitting lull in their set, as punters were soothed and gently swayed to the ambient sounds and mournful falsetto. Shortly after, ‘Back to Me’ is sung as fans are encouraged to put their hands up and we're treated to Aaron Pauley's clean vocals.
‘Another You’-Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men’s latest album ‘Another Miracle’ is out now.
Crystal Lake released their new album ‘The Weight of Sound’ in January 2026.
Patient Sixty Seven’s newest songs ‘Barricade’, ‘Feel Alive II’ and ‘The End’ out now.
LINKS:
Of mice and men:
CRYSTAL LAKE:
Latest album The Weight of Sound via linktree
PATIENT SIXTY-SEVEN:
thephoenix.au:
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