Live Review: Dark Tranquility, Be'Lakor, Orpheus Omega

On a night celebrating a pioneering brand of Gothenburg extremity, both supports took plenty of cues from the headlining act. Orpheus Omega's melodic death metal didn't pack many distinctive songs or any new ideas, but after battling technical gremlins the Melburnians' keytar-sporting fare gained punters' approval. Ignoring the Warhammer-inspired moniker, on record fellow Melbourne mob Be'lakor prove a joyously melancholic prospect. Within the live environment they were efficient, but rarely reached similarly grandiose heights, a situation partially attributable to a somewhat muted stage presence. Nonetheless, a fitting soundtrack to a few brews.

“We've got a lot of melodic death metal for you,” charismatic growler Mikael Stanne enthused early on in proceedings. A grand understatement, certainly, but one possessing greater resonance considering it's been the best part of a decade since Dark Tranquillity's previous visit. Although not the flashiest or trendiest of the trailblazing Swedish outfits, they've been arguably the most consistent. Undeterred by a marginally disproportionate mix, for 90 minutes they set about underlining just that. While backing tracks substituting for a live bassist resulted in a few flat spots and the (otherwise appealing) video screen's occasional karaoke-like effect was a tad cheesy, they were slick, seasoned performers.

This extended to a well balanced setlist, fusing a handful of cuts from latest disc, Construct with numerous favourites, covering the majority of records from a career now extending to 25 years: the Monochromatic Stains and Lost To Apathy double-shot was an early standout. Ditto a furious Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive), widespread interaction for sublime The Wonders At Your Feet and a noticeable intensity lift during Punish My Heaven, the latter a two-decades-old song pillaged wholesale by bipolar metal acts the world over. “Let's do this again very fucking soon,” the frontman uttered with a grin you'd have needed a sandblaster to remove. It's a deal.