Live Reviews : Decimatus, Orpheus Omega, Hybrid Nightmares & Catacombs @ The Evelyn, Melbourne 24/05/2014

It’s not every day you get the chance to see four of Melbourne’s premier up-and-comers share the stage for one awesome night. But that’s exactly what happened last night at the Evelyn.

Created by Tommy Jennings, lead vocalist and founder of Decimatus, Jennings was able to recruit the talents of Orpheus Omega, Hybrid Nightmares, and Catacombs to his side. And let me tell you right now, seeing all of these acts together, running one after the other, it was an experience in itself. I can’t remember the last time I headbanged and windmilled that hard, and that’s coming from a guy who recently has had the pleasure of catching such bands as Children of Bodom and Dark Tranquillity live. It’s in saying that that I feel is the best sort of recommendation and applause I can give, that four Melbourne bands out shined my recent memory of tours from high-end international acts; acts of which were captivating to witness themselves.

Opening the night were the melodic death metallers, Catacombs. With a solid driving rhythm behind them and a monstrous sound to boot, Catacombs aural philosophy of take-no-prisoners rubbed off quite well on the already impressively sized crowd. With synchronised crowd-band headbanging galore, the band easily won over the audience; receiving a warm response. Matt Askeland looked fearsome and accompanied onstage by Lachlan “Loki” Robson and Michael “Gummas” Gumley of Hybrid Nightmares, Askeland’s mournful cries echoed throughout the Evelyn, his vocals ringing through with all the sorrow and clarity of hells damned. It was a fantastic start to the evening and the band was solid on every count. The harsh red lighting that swallowed them from above served only to further heighten the engaging and unnerving atmosphere that Catacombs projected. If this was any indication of what was to come (and it turned out it was), I couldn’t wait to see what would follow.

Following in Catacombs stead was Melbourne’s extreme metal quintet, Hybrid Nightmares. With the almost gothic vibe prevalent within the Evelyn’s design, the small chandeliers and parched walls that decorated the hotel seemed only to elevate the haunting, yet interestingly fun, atmosphere that Hybrid Nightmares themselves exuded. And even though the hotel and stage itself were quite small, it was wonderful to see such a strong turnout for local bands. The rapturous, and at times riotous, presence the audience let forth leapt around the room embracing all it touched. There were few people I saw who didn’t look like they loving every moment of it, and I know for a fact I was a part of that mutual feeling. Every band outdid themselves tonight, and Hybrid Nightmares, like Catacombs, would be no different.

As violet light fell over the stage, a spoken intro heralded in the band as they emerged on stage one after the other. What came next, however, was even more awesome than I anticipated. They performed a cover of the Terminator 2: Judgment Day theme, and like the version featured on the second disc of Austrian Death Machine’s Double Brutal album, it was fucking awesome to hear it in glorious metal form; something of which seems all the more appropriate when you consider who and what the Terminators are. Nothing seems to scream metal more than a T-800 endoskeleton (especially when placed beneath the skin of a hulking assassin), and it seems Hybrid Nightmares are of this mindset also. At least, that’s what I like to believe. Either way, Hybrid Nightmares killed it with their cover (with Loki even getting the crowd to fist pump along to the opening segment), and from that point forward, the extreme metallers had me under their spell.

Welcomed by a solid three rows worth of headbanging, Hybrid Nightmares donned their trademark white robes that seemed all the more perfect for the fact they became fluorescent under the lights. It worked work in unison with the glowing green paint streaked along their faces and coiling up their forearms like the roots of a tree. Offering an ode to the bands, Hybrid Nightmares were brilliant. Ever the showmen, Loki and the others knew how to get a crowd going, and with lines such as ‘We come from the third moon’ before “Mourn Not the Dead”, it was clear they loved the theatrical side inherent to this style of metal music. Managing to form their own mini circle pit with declarations like ‘Let me see violence!’ Hybrid Nightmares were often greeted by chanting and frantic moshing on the likes of “Thrown to the Wolves”. One thing I also feel must be noted is Loki’s whimsical side. Often ad-libbing many of his jokes, the stuff he came up was pure gold! One of my personal favourites – and one everyone else clearly loved too judging by the heavy laughter afterwards – was when he mentioned the last few copies of their EP over at the merch desk. ‘There are only a few copies left,’ he began in jest, ‘They will be injected in your sphincter. Effective and painful. Just like Hybrid Nightmares!’ I couldn’t help cracking up at that one, especially because it came suddenly out of left field, but everyone loved it.

Closing on a high note, Loki ended with thanks. ‘We’re so grateful to you guys. You guys fucking rock! May the Obelisk shine in your favour!’

Up next was Orpheus Omega, a band who judging by the conversations I overheard near the stage area was the one many were looking most forward to. It isn’t hard to see why though. I’ve caught Orpheus Omega live a number of times now and they’re one of those bands that are always a treat to see perform live. Starting on a strong note, the guys ripped into an excellent rendition of “The Deconstruct”. One of the immediate things that was prevalent to me watching Orpheus’ set throughout was frontman Chris Themelco’s solos. He played each one to perfection on the night, but that being said, every member sounded great on the night. Matt Themelco’s drumming was solid and the rhythm section of bassist Dan Ralph, guitarist Joao Goncalves, and keytarist Keswick Gallagher was unbeatable; the latter of whom was made better by Gallagher’s crazy antics which include hanging off the balustrade and climbing up centre-stage patting the other guy’s heads.

I do, however, feel Goncalves deserves a shout-out here as well. I don’t think he gets anywhere near the credit he deserves, and it’s likely in part to his understated stage presence. With Goncalves’ comfortable spot off to the side, you could be forgiven for not taking as much notice of him as opposed to the others. But with that being said, his solos and riffs were uncanny and weaved around the instrumentation of the rest of Orpheus Omega beautifully, but always with a subtly that didn’t overplay the rest, nor fall short of its own accord. It was the perfect balance of craft and effort.

While there was a minor issue with the mics at one point where they were a bit low (such as Gallagher’s) thankfully this only happened a couple times. And on tracks like “Elegant Deceit” it went off. Sounding monstrous up on stage, Orpheus Omega clutched a throats hold over the audience and with Gallagher’s keys slicing through the melodeath that encompassed the Evelyn, the headbanging and windmilling that you saw everywhere you looked was an incredible thing to watch. One of the more entertaining things I saw on the night was watching this one guy dressed in a Pikachu onesie (who was also clearly a friend of the band) crowd-surf and come up on stage more than once to headbang with Gallagher and the like to the laughter and cheering of others.

With highlights being their rendition of “De6enerate”, getting the whole pit jumping on “Unscathed”, and a special live rendition of “‘Neath the Shadow of the Monolith” – the latter of which saw Gallagher play his keytar on another guys shoulders – one of the more interesting and unexpected moments came with “Sans Memoria”. Inviting Dominique Grech of Melbourne post-hardcore band Renegade Armada up on stage, Dom took over lead vocals for the track, performing an impressive high-pitched version, heralded in by her cry of, ‘I wanna see you screaming!’ It was an awesome thing to watch and I give her kudos for the drive and enthusiasm. She tore it up!

Closing as they always do, Orpheus Omega ended their set with “Sealed in Fate” that saw the guys tear apart the pit area and have both sides charge at each other as the double-bass drum kicked in.

Now came time for the final act of the evening: the melodic metallers Decimatus. Donning a Goatwhore shirt, Jennings immediately kicked things into high gear as he roared, ‘Let’s do this, Evelyn!’ While there was a bit of a humble crowd at first – likely due to exhaustion from many – it soon filled out with some pretty hectic moshing. Decimatus were a relentless machine though. They kept pushing and didn’t stop. And man, let me tell you, Ryan “Booga” Bulgarelli, holy shit! This guy was a maestro on the guitar. He played some of the heaviest, innovative, and strongest solos and riffs I heard on the night. It was melodic as all hell and an easy highlight of the night for me.

Bouncing from one song to the next, the beat didn’t ever slow and kept on racing. It was raw, it was melodic, and it was ace as fuck! Playing tracks like “Countless for Rage”, Decimatus groove-laden sound was both catchy and forceful. It was an immersive experience and Decimatus’ pounding, frantic beat was a force to be reckoned with.

There was a real meaty sound to Decimatus and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them live again, having only ever caught them live once before this at Eluveitie back in May last year. I can safely say, however, that Decimatus feel at their absolute strongest right now, and coupled with the addition of new members Josh Rech (drums) and Pauly Brammer (guitar), the band haven’t sounded better. Speaking of Josh Rech and Pauly Brammer, this is the first time these guys have performed live as a part of Decimatus and they were excellent. Rech’s drumming was outstanding, creating one of the heaviest and meatiest beats I’ve heard in a long time. Brammer’s guitar work was great as well, serving to fuel the ferocious engine that is the band.

Ending the night on a great note with “Usurper”, the energy slowly fizzled out as Decimatus left the stage. Cheers to all the bands and to Tommy Jennings for helping put this whole thing together and make the night the success it was. I know I had a blast!

Related Posts

• 

  Markus Saastamoinen – Puzzle Pieces
• 

  HJELVIK – Welcome to Hel
• 

  AC/DC – Power Up
• 

  Depravity – Grand Malevolence