Live Review: Tonight Alive, The Beautiful Monument, Terra

Space inside Corner Hotel slowly fills as opening act Terra take the stage to open the night. The Melburnian alt-rockers pack a punch as they paint the walls with their classic pop-punk vibes and zestful energy. Lead vocalist Cassie Sutton commands her position up front with force and conviction, her dynamic range ripping the roof off and never wavering. Their tight-knit set and playful banter give the crowd the warm-up they desire.

In a sea of synth and strobes, the room is coloured red as The Beautiful Monument's dark and dirty riffs pound through the speakers. The haunting lyrics and gritty vocals of frontwoman Lizi Blanco bring a harrowing and emotive performance. From the rough and raw Manic to the enchanting Sins, The Beautiful Monument boast incredible stage presence and charisma, and their tunes, while not overly complex, sure aren't lacking in variety. The crowd lap up every second of their performance.

With a smile that's almost blinding, Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive runs onto the stage looking happier than ever before. The now four-piece (any long-time Tonight Alive fan will never truly get over Whakaio Taahi's departure) are back with a fire in their hearts, stronger than they've ever been.

The opening drum beats to Lonely Girl pound on, and the night is off and racing. McDougall's energy never lessens as her confident attitude takes centre stage for The Ocean and How Does It Feel?. The last few shows have obviously been incredible since McDougall struggles when speaking, having almost entirely lost her voice, but her singing barely falters. Knowing her adoring fans have always got her back ("I know you've got me, yeah?") the band burst into a string of some classic Tonight Alive tunes. Listening and Wasting Away ensure the passion, love and gratitude is felt all around, Tonight Alive shining light on their love for Melbourne. "Melbourne was the first place we played out of Sydney," McDougall enlightens. And this Back To Beginnings national tour demonstrates the band haven't forgotten where they came from.

During World Away, there's a change of tempo. "I know I will survive this / I'll be the strongest person I know," is sung as an ethereal chorus by the crowd, the rawness of the pain and healing bleeding through the song. A quick feature from Northlane's Marcus Bridge on The Edge is an exciting addition, before Tonight Alive lead into their final song. "We've been through a lot of shit this year and we wrote a song about it," McDougall reveals, as their latest single Temple rips through, demonstrating the phenomenal growth and reinvention of this legendary Aussie band.