Live Reviews : Marduk, Inquisition & Denouncement Pyre @ HiFi Bar, Melbourne 16/01/2015

Last night saw two of black metal’s elite, that of Sweden’s Marduk and Colombia’s Inquisition, take to the stage for what was ultimately a series of pounding, mind-blowing performances. Prior to this, I hadn’t been so excited for a gig in quite a while. This was to be, at least for me, my first ever live black metal show, and what better way for me to kick things off than with two of the subgenres most esteemed and influential bands?

Making my way to the HiFi, I arrived with about twenty minutes to spare before the first band arrived on stage. They were to be Melbourne’s Denouncement Pyre, a band I was later to discover have existed since 2003. I found this rather remarkable, as, like Ne Obliviscaris had for quite a while before them, Denouncement Pyre had fallen completely under my radar until now. Also like NeO, however, is the fact Denouncement Pyre clearly haven’t wasted the years they’ve been circling the underground. This band is tight. With their musical direction centered in blackened death metal, with a healthy live offering of symphonic majesty at their side (channeling the likes of Emperor), it can be said with honesty that Denouncement Pyre blew me away just as much as Inquisition and Marduk did later on.

The crowd was fairly tame at this point, filling up slightly more when Denouncement Pyre took to the stage, but still remaining rather low key. Donning matching leathers and smeared warpaint on their faces, one of the things I loved especially about Denouncement Pyre’s onstage personas is the dedication they offer to their craft. Frontman and guitarist D. was a monster on stage. Between his rasped, high vocals to the low, menacing growls used during the intermittent sections, the band’s aim was to take you on a journey through, as D. put it, “[the] void outside this world, to a place where the serpent lives.”  And that they did. I know a lot people give the HiFi flak for its poor sound quality, but I’m not sure whether they’ve updated the systems or what, because Denouncement Pyre and each band that followed sounded excellent. If it wasn’t in the strong reverb that gave D.’s vocals an ominous trail (almost like an echo, but not bouncing off walls like one), then it could be noted in the fact each instrument could be heard clearly, with the guitars complementing D.’s vocals and L.’s drums (this band has a penchant for one letter stage names, it seems).

Denouncement Pyre sounded impeccable live, and beneath the gold-red lighting and the smoke machines that silhouetted D. as the monstrous force that he was, perhaps then it was a shame the crowd was rather still. But then again, this is a black metal crowd, so, naturally, not having insane headbanging and moshing everywhere is a given. Albeit, the rapturous applause given when they left was nice to see.

Inquisition. What can be said? This two-piece from Colombia are incredible live. Jaw-droppingly so. You truly see the strength of a band when there are literally two members that make up its number, yet they hit with the power and proficiency of a four or five-piece. And pull it off with complete authenticity, I might add.

The crowd swam through the doors in spades once Inquisition arrived. Due to the nature of Inquisition as a band, with Incubus playing drums in the back, and Dagon being the only one at the forefront, aside from the great sparing moments in which Incubus would rise from his seat and display his drumsticks in the shape of an inverted cross, for the most part, Dagon was effectively driving the entire live performance on his own. Alternating between two microphones that were set up on either end, his serpent-like movements as he crept from one mic to the next matched his suitably reptilian vocals. There was something darkly beautiful in the simplicity, yet paradoxical complexity of Inquisition’s music. I was honestly left in awe watching how much atmosphere could be built, and how much emotion could be wrought from such a small number of sources (namely, drums, and a single guitar and vocals). Incubus’ efforts cannot be overstated enough though, either. His unique use of blast beats carried like the monstrous war-drums of some unholy legion marching into battle in the high cosmos; Dagon’s vocals like the omnipresent chant of the legion’s captain.

Interestingly, Inquisition didn’t once communicate directly with the crowd. It was a purely cerebral experience. There have been only so many bands I’ve seen in my time where I’ve been completely engrossed and captivated by their performance, where to the point I’ve had to physically remind myself to take notes. Inquisition is one of those bands. If you’re lucky enough to get the chance to see them live, do so. There is no other black metal band I’ve heard in recent times or past that sound quite like them, and it’s an awesome thing.

From the opening scream of “Panzer Division… Marduk!”, Marduk hit like a train through the skull. Tonight, as a special showing, Marduk were to play in full their classic albums ‘Panzer Division Marduk’ (1999) and ‘Those of the Unlight’ (1993). Beginning with ‘Panzer Division’, frontman Mortuus was downright fearsome on stage. As the relentless blast beats of Fredrik Widigs pounded on, Marduk brought the full force of their awesome power to the fore. I don’t think I’ve heard a band so intense in some time.

The crowd lapped it up, too. The venue had become a full house by this point, and if it wasn’t in the circle pits that started hit “Baptism by Fire”, it was in the strong chantings of ‘Marduk!’ and in the way the smoke and crimson lighting enshrouded the band. The interesting thing about the ‘Panzer Division’ album is the fact that it consistently sounds almost as if it were one continuous song, with Widigs’ intense drumming never once coming to a quiet.

After Mortuus announced how much of a pleasure it was to be in Melbourne, hit the midway mark of their set was ushered in “Darkness Breeds Immortality” as ‘Those of the Unlight’ began. I’ll admit that I favour this album a bit more over the other. Being someone who enjoys a stronger touch of melody over an all-out blast beat assault, the rhythmic moments and sullen chants that weave their about this album made the experience all the more immersive for me. And from what I could see, I think this was the case for a good deal of others, too. The crowd became more invested, threw up the horns far more frequently, and generally, could involve themselves further in the experience (such as with the small moments of groove in the track “On Darkened Wings”). Technically flawless, once the encore had arrived, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Evil and Devo play their melodic interludes either end of the stage, beneath the dark lighting and ominous low hits of Widigs’ drums.

The band’s on show tonight left me astonished, and as the night rounded out, Mortuus thrust his arms up to the heavens, offering one final hail to the dark forces before the evening wrapped.

The Marduk-Inquisition Australian tour continues tonight in Sydney at the HiFi Bar, before rounding out the day after at the Crowbar, Brisbane (18th).

Saturday, January 17 – Sydney, HiFi Bar
Tickets available: http://tickets.thehifi.com.au/?Event=46497

Sunday, January 18 – Brisbane, Crowbar
Tickets available: http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=46545

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