Live Review: Northlane, In Hearts Wake, Hands Like Houses

As soon as doors open, fans rush as close to the barrier as they can possibly get and then sit on the ground to guard their spots. There's always a completely different vibe when Festival Hall hosts gigs that cater for all ages and not being able to drink a beer while watching the bands sucks for those among us who are used to doing so. 

Canberra group Hands Like Houses present a set that comprises a lot of songs from their latest and third Dissonants album. Frontman Trenton Woodley stumbles over his words a fair bit and could work on his banter, but their sound is well-honed and memorable. It's aggro, but not devoid of melody.

These Equinox shows are such an interesting concept and there's added suspense as to how the evening will unfold. Byron Bay's finest, In Hearts Wake, grace the stage next and bring added urgency along with their trademark alternating unclean/clean vocals. Vocalist Jake Taylor's presence impresses while chugging riffs rev up the crowd and incite the mosh.

Then enter Northlane. Bass rumbles up through the venue's floorboards and we wonder whether these interspersed sets engage the bands in a healthy competition for best crowd reaction of the night. Lights are directed toward the audience and resemble accusatory fingers pointing out our way, demanding that we get involved. Relatively new frontman Marcus Bridge thrashes his big hair around and the band's dense sound completely fills this vast space. Most of the material Northlane play this evening can be found on their Singularity set. (Relax, long-time fan-favourites Rot and Quantum Flux are also included.)

Before we get into the Equinox stage of the evening, In Hearts Wake and Northlane return the stage for one more bout each. Then, as soon as the Equinox EP artwork drops in as backdrop, we know what's coming. But nothing could really prepare us for the overwhelming experience of seeing Northlane and In Hearts Wake literally sharing the stage and combining forces. It's beautifully brutal as demonstrated through Hologram and both bands blend into something even greater: a merciless sonic beast. And after confetti cannons detonate, our celebration of these heavyweights on the worldwide heavy scene is complete. It just had to be said that UNFD are owning it at the moment with their artist roster.