Live Review: COG, Introvert, iiah

It was early on a Sunday night, but fans were out in droves for the opportunity to see Australian rock heavyweights COG. After a series of sold-out reunion shows in 2016, we weren't just blessed to have them back so soon but they also had new music up their sleeves. COG were pushing boundaries once again.

Locals iiah have been moving from strength to strength. Having supported their idols We Lost The Sea late last year, and coming fresh off the back of their Orsome Welles support slot the night before, it won't be too long 'til they're recruiting their own supports from the Australian scene. Full and lush, iiah were comfortable in their own skin and proved that a reverb-washed sound isn't some cheap trick, but instead one that evokes emotion and space.

Although Introvert took us on a very different sonic journey, it was equally as lush. Akin to their counterparts Endless Heights, they ebbed and flowed between clean and harsh in such a mature way. While their lyrics were much more explicit than iiah's or COG's, heart and honesty shone through the feedback. Closing with Everything Is Different Now, the vocal interplay was possibly one of the most special things of the night.

COG have always been hard to pigeonhole. Performing what could be described as prog rock, they opt for longer songs but offer no frills to what is an innately Australian sound. Lit by a single red light, bassist Luke Gower opened their set as the band entered into The River Song. Balancing tracks from their two albums, there was no way to be dissatisfied with their song choices. Curated, yet unpredictable, the light show was entrancing, complementing both eerie verses and the straight-up, hard-hitting choruses. As the lights cut out between tracks, a new canvas started and each member gave something new to every song. Adelaide even got a special mention - while many bands skip the city, COG have been committed to coming here from the start of their touring career. While we expected every song to be a singalong, the reaction to their latest track The Middle was nevertheless surprising. Different to both albums yet still so 'COG', it's rare for a single released ten years later to be so well received. Bitter Pills offered a welcome end. We were so satisfied. An encore would've been a bastardisation of this perfect set. After all, with an album on the way, fans knew that it wouldn't be too much longer 'til COG were back in town.