Live Review: Black Mountain, The Laurels

The Laurels are finally coming back for another shot at glory with their second LP Sonicology, out later this month, and they've been spreading the good word through support slots and headline shows across the country. Their set at Factory Theatre felt alive and heady in a way Black Mountain didn't even approach. Their swirling, Ride-esque freakouts were thick and enveloping, and they pushed through the muffled acoustics of the room and let it feed into their strengths. The vocals never really stood a chance and were stuffed underneath the guitars as they steamrolled over the top. The set melted together and became mildly hypnotic.

Black Mountain last played at the Annandale five years ago and it was a blast: a tight group played a packed room on the back of a great album (Wilderness Heart) and had far better acoustics propping the whole thing up. It was a powerful demonstration of their Sabbath-influenced potential, which is now, sadly, a distant memory. Factory Theatre felt half-empty and the sound was flat. Mammoth riffs were reduced to ashen imitation (Rollercoaster sounded neutered). They opened with Mothers Of The Sun, a great song full of atmosphere and cosmic dread, but the fire they tried to start was soon extinguished as the room just sucked up all the sonic detail and squashed the volume. Even the quieter moments sounded dry and ambivalent, where they should have sounded tripped-out and seductive.

The night never fully recovered after The Laurels left the stage. It's a shame, as Black Mountain still have a lot to say and remain a vital part of the modern guitar-rock movement. Their new album, IV, is a return to form. Their show, however, was disappointing.