PSYCROPTIC

w/ The Ocularis Infernum, Ne Obliviscaris
A Fallen Theory and Tenth Dan

The Hi-Fi Bar – Melbourne, 20th December, 2008.

With end of year Top 10s coming in around this time of year, one constant I’ve been hearing is Psycroptic’s latest offering – (Ob)Servant. And with the weekend events listing dealing up the final gig on the bands 23 stop Australian/NZ tour, combined with a DVD filming, there was nothing stopping a massive turnout through the Hi-Fi Bar doors from the Melbourne public for what the line-up assured, would be a night to remember.

While beer commitments held me from catching the opening act Tenth Dan, I entered the venue midway through A Fallen Theory’s death/thrash assault on the steadily building crowd. While I can’t profess to have enjoyed the bands set, there was mild respect shown to the band with a fair splattering of applause at the end of each song, albeit matched with a splattering of laughter each time the vocalist absently stared out past the lights at the crowd.

Next up on stage was progressive black metal act Ne Obliviscaris. With word spreading fast throughout the venue that a 20 minute set was all that we would get to see, there was some disappointment. However as always the class of the band put our frustrations quickly aside as they launched into a 2 x ten minute song set consisting of Tapestry of the Starless Abstract and a new track by the name of Xenoflux.

The Ocularis Infernum were quickly on after a fast changeover, thanks to the same drummer playing in both main support bands. I must say that given he’d just played a pretty frenetic albeit short set with NeO, the well known fact that drummer Dan Presland is a machine was further set in stone! Moving quickly through their vast array of songs, ‘The Occy’ played tracks such as I Inferior, Nexus Cycle and Evolution Paradox to a moshpit that was clearly saving itself for the main attraction.

But finally the Psycroptic camera crew appeared and the dry ice cascaded throughout the venue as the mighty Tasmanian’s entered the stage to a massive roar from what must have been a near sold out Hi-Fi Bar bottom level easily approaching 600-700 people. The tightest live act I’ve ever seen, tonight was no exception as a crazy moshpit and lighting extravaganza unfolded in front of the cameras for what should prove to be a highly entertaining DVD.

A minor down point on the band’s performance was what some people perceived to be less crowd interaction between band and moshpit to what we have come to expect from Psycroptic. For those who have also read my review of their recent Bendigo shows, there was no jumping into the moshpit by the vocalist to stir up trouble and only minimal crowd banter between songs. Sure, while it can be said that the gigs had different circumstances, I’m damn sure it would have been highly entertaining watching back on the DVD!

While my memory unfortunately does not offer up the full set list, I can say that as expected, up to 5 or 6 new songs were played along with a selection of older material including Carnival of Vulgarity, Sword of Uncreation, The Colour of Sleep, Skin Coffin and Merchants of Deceit.

An awesome night courtesy of Psycroptic – Australia’s finest!

Reviewed by Brendan Amos.