Live Review: The Black Dahlia Murder, Psychroptic, Boris The Blade, Collossvs

29 June 2015 | 11:48 am | Brendan Crabb

"Strnad’s bowel-loosening growls and animalistic shrieks were offset by taut execution."

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Following an extensive national jaunt alongside King Parrot, Colossvs were suitably road-hardened. The Melburnians bridged many subgenres, their hard-hitting fare impervious to the factionalism that often undermines heavy music, while the intensity ensured they likely left with fresh converts. 

A now-defunct local act joked that metal is like a car — best without breakdowns. Fellow Melbourne hit squad Boris The Blade missed that memo, although the effectiveness of their beatdowns were negated somewhat by a shortage of pit ninjas. Heavier than a sack of anvils but nondescript deathcore entailed; generic, synchronised stage moves also hindering them. 

Psycroptic’s mere presence on any bill spurs other outfits to up their game; the headliners’ frontman Trevor Strnad later dubbed them “aliens” who rarely make a mistake on stage. This reviewer has caught the tech-death maestros on numerous occasions over a decade-plus, and anything resembling a dud show is yet to rear its head. Tight to a fault and energetic, the Tasmanians tore through Carriers Of The Plague and the furiously fast Ob(Servant), appropriately being afforded an eager response.

The Black Dahlia Murder are becoming death-metal lifers. Rooted heavily in Carcass-style melody, Floridian crunch and occasional blackened eeriness, the Americans’ overall style alters little from one LP to the next, although they continually refine their bludgeoning. It works though, and translates more potently within the live environment. Even a punter donning a pink bodysuit wanted in on the pit action. Strnad’s bowel-loosening growls and animalistic shrieks were offset by taut execution underpinning monumental standout What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse, early favourites Statutory Ape and Funeral Thirst also greeted by a fervent all ages gathering, crowdsurfers included. Approaching veteran status and with a new album in the pipeline they’re carrying the classic death torch with vigour. Gruesome yet melodic extremity is in capably bloodstained hands. 

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