Alchemist

w/ Alarum, Mephistopheles, Aphotic Dawn and Systematic Genocide

East Brunswick Club, Melbourne – 3rd October 2009

***Click here to view more photos***
***Click here to view video footage of Aphotic Dawn’s set***

With a fantastic range of progressive metal on offer, the 3rd ‘Hellraiser’ event in Melbourne boasted an embarrassment of riches, with 5 class bands spanning 3 states, headlined by the unique metal hybrid that is Alchemist.

Having missed opening band Systematic Genocide due to other earlier commitments, Aphotic Dawn were the first band try greet my ears. The 4 piece from Melbourne who rarely plays live brought out their groove laden technical death metal. Fan favourite Eracddtx2 was the clear highlight in the seven song set played by the band, which received appreciation from the building crowd at the East Brunswick Club, and no doubt silent pleas for the band to continue as a project and play live more often!

Mephistopheles made the trek across Bass Straight to play in Melbourne for the first time this year. A band I haven’t heard much of prior, the 4 piece impressed greatly to a crowd consisting of first timers and fans made from both previous trips and the bands 2006 release Ascension Aborted. With former Psycroptic front man Mathew ‘Chalky’ Chalk on vocals, the combination of their technical death/jazz fusion and hard to pronounce name led to new fans and rekindled vigour in older relationships.

After a prolonged period of inactivity in recent times, Jazz metal fusionists Alarum have been very much active in 2009, playing many gigs in Melbourne and also appearing at the recent Against The Grain festival in Adelaide where the received great response from a crowd who hadn’t seen them in four years. However on return to their Melbourne friends and fans, the enthusiasm continued, with the band moving through a long set list consisting of four new songs and a selection of past hits. The bands forthcoming album Natural Causes will undoubtedly become a hit in the local scene, and further continue the expansion of their worldwide fan base.

Canberra’s Alchemist headlined the night, and for them I’d say the majority of the attendees had come. With six full length albums and 7 demo/EP/promo releases spanning back to 1987 to their name, the band is a mainstay of the Australian scene with. They kicked off their set with Wrapped in Guilt from their latest album Tripsis (2007) before working their way through a number of songs including fan favourites Chinese Whispers and Yoni Kunda.

Alchemist is rightfully one of Australia’s leading metal bands. They’ve been around for ever, toured everywhere, and had a major impact on the Australian metal scene through the bands work with the now defunct Metal for the Brain festival. Safe to say they are a respected force. Unfortunately this deserved respect does not extend to the East Brunswick Club management who unceremoniously ended Alchemist’s set not more than halfway through due to the venue closing its doors early – even given the knowledge of a late gig on its hands. While I understand licensing and local noise restriction laws were probably the factor that prompted their move, there were far more respectful ways than the abrupt ending they forced upon the band and the venues punters.

A well promoted night of quality music put on by Gary @ White Noise Productions and supported by MetalObsession.net, however with the unfortunate conclusion to the night, one that wasn’t quite as enjoyable as it should have been!

ALARUM SETLIST: Saturday 3rd October, 2009
Subject to Change
Taking Place
Latin*
Remote Viewing
Velocity
Natural Causes
It Passes Always
Boundless Intent
Liquorland*
Woven Imbalance
Reconditioned
Thirsty Camel*

* denotes working title

APHOTIC DAWN SETLIST: Saturday 3rd October, 2009
Convergence
Seven
Normality
Time Again
And So It Returns
Prevaricator
Eracddtx2 (click here for YouTube footage)

Reviewed by Brendan Amos
Photos by Jess Day