Live Reviews : Hybrid Nightmares, ‘The First Age’ Album Launch @ Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne 07/02/2015

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It was a warm Saturday night when I and my friend, Mai, attended the album/CD launch for Hybrid Nightmares‘ ‘The First Age’, the beginning to a four-part fictional saga the band will be promoting and releasing over the course of this year. We were joined by a host of other fans who’d roughed the heat to see one of Melbourne’s best perform live. Hybrid Nightmares were to also be joined by some of this city’s finest local talent, both established and up-and-coming.

Opening the evening were Amaros, a band whose name I’ve heard float around in the past, but wasn’t too all familiar with their music, or had had the chance to see them live. Well, was I in for a treat! Beginning their set with “Mindless Soldier”, it was immediately prevalent from the offset just where this band’s true strength laid. It was in the one-two punch from both Todd Hilet’s guitars and Ross Savage’s drums. Unlike what you occasionally find with some bands where the riffs are strong, but the drums are merely holding the line, with Amaros it is quite different. Here, the two complement each other on a whole new level. Where the melodic riffs add a touch of class to the mayhem (good mayhem, of course), the drums offer a unique insight into a rhythmic plane; the sounds and diversity of both bounced off one another seamlessly. Whilst at times touching on intense tech-death, at others it quieted to a hypnotic still; before the chaos erupted once more. Vocalist Andrew Skerys is quite the beast, too. Though he did seem to struggle a bit when it came to the higher screams, his rasps held the glue that is this band in knit.

After a short wait, Adamus Exul followed in suit. Though founded in 2008, I only discovered these guys very recently via their debut album, ‘Arsenic Idols’. Not even that prepared me for the intensity I was about to witness with their live show. With vocalist Devalsne immediately bringing Attila of Mayhem to mind, Adamus Exul were relentless from start to end. Drowned in dirtied corpsepaint and wearing hooded leathers and soiled clothing, their image was designed to be as ugly and misanthropic as their music; and it was fantastic! Blast beats layered the backing to much of their set, yet it was in the small moments of still, sullen symphony where the band truly shone. Both and I and Mai agreed on this. Occasionally alternating singers, Adamus Exul’s intense, epic sound was coupled by a rawness and anguish that gave harsh authenticity to their music.

Next was Catacombs. With the venue starting to properly fill out at this point, the melodic death metaller’s took to the stage with the fury of a rampant demon. Supported by Matt Askeland’s monstrous vocals, their unrelenting assault to the senses was a thing to behold. Bathed in blue lights, they stood like fearsome idols, soaking up the atmosphere. Ending on a strong note, the swelling crowd response accompanied Catacombs’ pounding war drums and melodic riffing.

‘The First Age’, out January 15

The time had come for the main act of the evening: Hybrid Nightmares. Being amusingly ushered onto the stage with Europe‘s “The Final Countdown”, it quieted to a soft lull as the acoustic opening to “Satya” began. Before long, Loki and the other members joined on stage. “You having a good night?” Loki cried out, to a welcoming herald back. Going on to announce soon after, “We are Hybrid Nightmares from the Croydon Nebula, the vilest, wretched scum in the Eastern quadrant”, it was met with good laughter; none truer than my own. Playing through ‘The First Age’, it was an engrossing experience. The sheer aural intensity of their music is uncanny, and you will find few bands who are as seamless, tight, or impactful live as this one. As “Inside” – the final song on ‘The First Age’ – rounded out their set, the encore was sounded in by Loki standing tall up on stage and getting everyone to chant along to an “All Hail the Obelisk!” The Melbourne extreme metallers then led into a wonderful rendition of “Upon the Cursed Wings” that saw – and not merely on just one occasion, either – a small circle pit start at the front of the mosh. Leading next into a great cover of the Terminator 2: Judgment Day theme, Hybrid Nightmares closed out their set on the Facebook, fan-voted choice of “Ashes of an Astral Winter” (which I’m happy to say I contributed to voting for!), a song which remains one of their finest amongst an already impressive discography.

Giving one final hurrah for the evening was the atmospheric metal band, Aquilus. Far more instrumental-based with a lesser focus given to the vocals, their symphonic and captivating choruses were the perfect sound off to what was an already brilliant night. Mai and I were able to just listen to the music as it swept over us; a majestic and haunting experience, and one that was emotionally driven. A caustic array of sounds inhabiting oneself before leaving only a sorrowful whisper in its wake. Whether it was in the blast beats or the softer moments, you were able to just listen and escape. To find yourself on this dark, yet beautiful journey. The indigo and violet lightning only served to heighten this. A wonderful discordant foreboding that saw Aquilus leave the stage as tight as they’d emerged.

Hybrid Nightmares’ ‘The First Age’ is out Thursday, January 15 (meanwhile, you can stream the entire album for a limited time here). Click here to pre-order your copy via the band’s official store.

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