Live Review: Arch Enemy, As Silence Breaks, Datura Curse - Manning Bar

Adding a few tastefully atmospheric flourishes to the well-worn Gothenburg sound, Sydney metallers Datura Curse emanated enthusiasm. Unconvincing clean vocals hindered them, as did an indifferent response, but they'll learn plenty from the experience. They were at least a less generic proposition than fellow Sydneysiders As Silence Breaks' metalcore/modern metal. Vocalist Sam Rilatt offered decent stage presence and there was greater focus on melody and less on breakdowns so telegraphed they ought to be signposted compared to the previous occasion this reviewer caught them. This allowed them to better assimilate with this crowd, who moderately voiced approval, but a lack of songs was the main shortcoming. The size of the stage noticeably bothered them too, with the frontman even referencing it.

Monday nights are the least preferable for any show, let alone a metal one. Thus, it wasn't surprising it took Swedish heavy metal titans Arch Enemy a handful of songs to elicit anything close to the kind of reaction their high-octane performance deserved. While active, the pit was perhaps a little more subdued than expected, which you can also likely chalk up to the scheduling. Vocalist Angela Gossow briefly addressed the matter, but seemed visibly pleased a healthy turnout made the effort to show up. An overly lengthy diatribe about the trials and tribulations of their Asian tour aside, Gossow swung between snarling, headbanging, growling beast and beaming, charismatic frontwoman who had the crowd doing her bidding for 90 minutes.

The quintet have a history of belting set openers and the ball-tearing Yesterday Is Dead And Gone is among the better ones. While their ignoring pre-Gossow material was frustrating, they aired a strong balance from their catalogue's past decade. Thrashed-up Silent Wars slayed, while stomping My Apocalypse, hook-laden Ravenous and anthems like Revolution Begins, No Gods, No Masters, We Will Rise and anthemic closer, Nemesis, all hit home runs with punters. Drummer Daniel Erlandsson's par-for-the-course solo varied little from previous visits and needs to be culled, but new shredder Nick Cordle acquitted himself in excellent fashion. This was an efficient, visceral showing from one of metal's ultimate crowd-pleasers.