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Live Reviews : Bullet For My Valentine, Atreyu & Cane Hill @ 170 Russell, Melbourne 24/10/2016

By on October 27, 2016

 

Words: Bailey Graham

Photos: John Raptis

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Descending the steps of 170 Russell, I knew that I was in for a treat, that the sold-out Monday night crowd is going to give it their all for a night that was truly to remember. Fresh off their latest release Venom, Welsh metal heavyweights Bullet for My Valentine were set to make their first of two sold-out appearances in the heart of Melbourne. Along for the ride was the eagerly awaited return of Californian heavyweights Atreyu and the nu-metal core inspired sensation that is Cane Hill. As the crowd began to pack the venue almost ten minutes before any band had come on, I knew that there was a level of expectation in the crowd tonight.

Cane Hill

Cane Hill

Cane Hill ripped through their set with raw ferocity, sparking the inner teenager in all of us. Reminiscent of Korn and Powerman 5000, Cane Hill’s bass-heavy mix could only be described as tight and energetic. Showcasing several tracks from their latest release Smile, fans were treated to the visceral vocal display of front man Elijah Witt and the synchronised hair whipping of the band. The energy given off from the band slowly made its way into the crowd, as songs like ‘Gemini’ and ‘(The New) Jesus’ sparked mosh pits across the venue. Being their first Australian tour in their rather early career, the Louisiana four-piece had first impressions to garner, and were left with praise from every punter that rocked up early to witness what could be described as “Nu-metal on steroids”.

Atreyu

Atreyu

Excitement and anticipation built quickly as band gear changed over, as it was Atreyu’s time to take to the stage. Hardcore fans amassed towards to the front of the stage ready to give their all, and as the five-piece made their way onto the stage, no one was left standing still. ‘Doomsday’ cemented Atreyu’s position on stage and was executed flawlessly, with subsequent tracks only adding to the level of quality presented by the Californian natives. Front man Alex Varkatzas opted to leave the stage on numerous occasions and jump onto the front barrier, throwing the microphone into the mouths of the diehards below. A rather diverse mix of tracks showcasing their entire discography, from the sorely missed ‘Two Become One’ to their much-loved cover of Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Band Name’, Atreyu made quick waste of the crowd below. For many band’s garnering the coveted support slot for a major international act, the pressure of warming up the crowd can be a daunting one. But for Atreyu, not only did they warm up the crowd, they lit a god damn bonfire beneath it.

As the backdrop began to show itself and the stage cleared for what was to come, chants of “Bullet! Bullet!…” echoed through 170 Russell. Jumping right into ‘No Way Out’ from their latest release Venom, Bullet for My Valentine’s presence inspired a frenzy of bodies, with not a soul in the venue left unprovoked the excitement within. Over the course of their ninety-minute headline set, the Welsh natives never let up, following with back-to-back performances of ‘Waking the Demon’ and ‘Your Betrayal’ – two of the band’s most well-known tracks. From the nostalgic excitement felt from the crowd below during ‘4 Words (To Choke Upon)’ to the furious display of energy from both the band and crowd during ‘The Last Fight’, front man Matt Tuck displayed excellent levels of vocal delivery and a continued level of stage presence. ‘Scream Aim Fire’ was perhaps the most vicious I’ve ever seen a crowd in such a humble venue, with the note-for-note brilliance of both Tuck and guitarist Michael Padget ripping through the song with utter fervour, which only sought to invoke the crowd’s level of passionate insanity even further. Closing their main set with the rarity ‘Room 409’, the crowd was left wanting more, with an encore performance of ‘Tears Don’t Fall’ and ‘Hand of Blood’ answering their desires with crowd surfers engulfing the pit below, much to the delight of the band above.

Bullet For My Valentine

Bullet For My Valentine

For three-world class heavy metal acts to appear on a single package is almost unheard of these days for Australian tours, but boy am I glad this night happened. Cane Hill held their own, despite being followed by two of heavy music’s biggest acts, and I surely hope that their nostalgic and infectious grooves make their way down to Australia once again. Atreyu’s mark on Australia had been left, and my god was it left hard, the Californians displayed levels of confidence and technical proficiency as though they were the headliners themselves, and for quite several punters in the room, they were. As for the Welsh heavyweights, Bullet for My Valentine, their return to Aussie shores was nothing short of incredible, with an incredibly diverse set lists of hits and B-Sides gracing our ears with technical brilliance to match. From the instant that they stood up on that stage, Bullet knew they had to live up the already incredibly high standard of the night set by the previous acts of the night. Not only did Bullet for My Valentine live up to those standards, but completely crushed them beneath some of the greatest metal anthems of today’s day and age and one of the most intense live shows I’ve ever had the privilege to be involved in.