Live Reviews : Ne Obliviscaris, Beyond Creation & Hadal Maw @ 170 Russell, Melbourne 21/11/2014

Words: Jonathon Besanko

Images: Matt Allan

(Click here to view the full gallery)

170 Russell was bristling with excitement tonight. Ne Obliviscaris, Perth’s metal royalty, were set to begin the first night of their national ‘Citadel’ Album Tour. As I’d discussed with my sister who I went to the gig with tonight, almost everyone we knew was going to this gig – whether in Melbourne or in the days to come – metal fans everywhere were flocking to one of Ne Obliviscaris’ gigs. And without the slightest doubt, it is not difficult after tonight to see why. But more to that later.

Hadal Maw

The opener of this evening was Melbourne’s Hadal Maw, a band I’m sad to say I wasn’t all too familiar with before tonight, aside from having heard their name float about a few times. Since then, they’ve most certainly caught my attention. I was delighted to discover upon researching into them further that the band comprises an eclectic mix of past members from a host of other talented local bands, such as Alarum, A Million Dead Birds Laughing, King Parrot, and more. This combined experience shows strongly in their live set. Hadal Maw felt tight, and from the opening moment they emerged on stage, their brutal onslaught of death metal carried heavily throughout their set. Whilst the crowd felt rather tame for most of Hadal Maw’s set, the response at the end of each song gave enough of an indication for the support for this band. That being said, when the music touches on technical ground – as the same occurred also in Beyond Creation’s set – it isn’t always the easiest music to headbang to, mainly due to the ever-changing and progressive nature of the music.

I’ve got to hand it the members of Hadal Maw, though. They headbanged furiously throughout their set, and as they reached the last song of their set, “Coil”, their unbridled nature never once let up. A solid opener for the evening.

Filling out the last of tonight’s opening acts was Beyond Creation, a fast rising progressive/technical death metal band from Montreal, Canada. Opening with a sharp riff and a quick greeting, Beyond Creation cut right into it. Beneath the dancing strobe lights above, their sheer technical prowess was a sight to behold. “How are you, Melbourne?” vocalist and guitarist Simon Girard cried out. Though the mic was slightly muffled, the venue filled with a sea of horns. Technically speaking, Beyond Creation was unrivalled. Whilst the sound felt a tad off with the drumming (it seemed a bit washed out at times), as a band, musically they were an undeniable unit.

Beyond Creation

What was strange, however, was that throughout the entirety of Beyond Creation’s set, the overhead lights around the venue were kept on, even though the stage was darkened. At times, it was more difficult to see Beyond Creation than it was the crowd. I’m not sure why they did this, but it lessened the experience for me and I’m sure I’m not the only who can say it ruined what otherwise should have been an immersive experience. Despite a technical difficult with the drum kit just as the band was about to burn into “Elusive Reverence”, Girard kept his cool and gave thanks to the crowd, all of whom expressed their overwhelming support for the band and gratitude for them travelling out so far from their homeland. Even their bassist Dominic “Forest” Lapointe had been playing with a broken arm. You’ve got to give kudos to a band that can forge their way through all of that and still maintain the attention of the crowd.

Throughout the set, we were continually given demonstrations of Girard’s skill as a guitarist, showing his impressive sweep picking skills and more, and his place in the band really strengthened the strong contributions from the other members of the band.

Hit 10.45pm, the band everyone had been waiting for were ready to begin their set. As the black curtains that had veiled the stage rose, violinist and clean vocalist Tim Charles was the only one to be seen. As the haunting melodies of his song swept over the crowd, the stark, flashing beams overhead silhouetted beneath the light, granting him an ominous, gothic atmosphere that was all too befitting for Ne Obliviscaris. From this moment forward, the night only grew stronger.

Ne Obliviscaris

What should be mentioned from the outset is that, interestingly, this feels like Charles’ band more than frontman, Xen’s. Maintaining the ‘goth’ role quite well, lead vocalist and lyricist, Xen, didn’t speak for the entirety of the show. He only ever sung his harsh lines, and gave ever the slightest of smiles and claps to us as a crowd. That in itself is one of many things that disallow Ne Obliviscaris traditional classification. When the violinist is the one leading the charge in the audience, and the only one directly giving thanks and speaking to us, it was actually a very cool thing to see.

“Let me hear you, Melbourne!” Charles cried out. The audience soaked it up. Between the contrast in harsh and cleans, the lighting effects that accompanied their set was another easy standout of the evening. The lighting crew truly went all out tonight. Beneath an iridescent swathe of colours, the harshness and unpredictability of the lighting cues fit perfectly with the monolithic sound NeO brought to the fore. I’ve seen a number of excellent and memorable bands in my time – both local and international – but bands that can captivate you and truly leave you in awe are few and far between. Ne Obliviscaris is one of those rare acts. It cannot be expressed or stated enough the experience it is seeing this band live. It never once felt as if I was merely attending another gig. Between the moments of harsh metal ingenuity to the other solemn, quieter moments in which Charles would play alongside guitarist Benjamin Baret on his acoustic, nothing about this night felt static, lacklustre, or, in layman’s terms, just ‘going through the motions’. I was surprised to discover this band has existed for eleven years, but all at once, that suddenly made so much sense. A lot of messing around can happen in eleven years, but it is clear with NeO that this hasn’t been the case whatsoever. They’ve refined their craft to the point where, if I were not from Australia or aware of the band myself, I was honestly believed they were an international act. I’ve seen a lot of brilliant local bands, and I’m not just saying that, either. But few manage to lose that feeling of being a local act. Ne Obliviscaris again do not possess that attribute. They already feel established. And they are so in tune and in sync with one another that watching them on stage is like watching one entity in motion, rather than a group thereof.

It is ethereal and it is beautiful, but it is haunting, it is dark, and it is coarse. And when it comes together as sensationally as this, you cannot help but be swept away by its touch.

Playing right to the crowd before them, Xen and the others masterfully wielded the audience in the palm of their hands. And it was in the sorrowful wails of Charles’ violin and the incandescent nature of the accompanying guitar, bass, and drum lines that it only ever led to a rapturous onslaught of the senses.

Ne Obliviscaris

Nearing the end of the evening, Charles went on to say, “We started this band eleven years ago, and to be standing before you now is mind blowing. Thank you.” Needless to say, it was well received. And between the laments to the fallen given by drummer Dan Presland, none of these moments ever felt disingenuous. They always came across as heartfelt and sincere. It was a wonderful thing to see.

Ne Obliviscaris’ gig tonight was one of those rare events I had to write, edit, and re-write many times as I found myself constantly with an influx of things I wanted to set down on paper, so to speak. But for purely a lack of time and space, cannot. It cannot be stated enough: this band truly is a prodigy. You should do yourself a favour and see them now if you haven’t already. There is nothing like this group in metal right now, whether it be in Australia or otherwise. And for you Melbourne fans, they even announced a new show this Sunday at the Bendigo Hotel, alongside Beyond Creation and Melbourne’s own extreme metallers, Hybrid Nightmares!

I can guarantee you will never see a show quite like this and it is a beautiful thing.

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