Live Review: Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene, The Ugly Kings

A sea of battered black denim and leather jackets descend on Northcote Social Club. Blues rockers The Ugly Kings are easily one of the hardest-working bands in Melbourne; at one stage it was impossible to leave the house without happening upon one of their gigs. Tonight they are in top form, with Goodbye an early pace-setter and belter of a tune to boot. With the crowd awkwardly forming a crescent a good couple of metres from the stage, lead singer Russell Clark bridges the gap by hopping off the stage and performing from the front row. His actions pay off as punters eagerly pour forward for the rest of their set.

The band have never sounded better than they do this evening. Every howl, croon and yell belted out by Clark hits the mark. Christos Athanasias thrills on guitar, and bassist Nick Dumont and newcomer Andy Alkemade on drums are a rhythm section to be reckoned with. Wicked Witch Of Wonder sees a pair of hirsute lads swinging windmills, as the rest of the audience dances, slinky-hipped.

Even if you haven't listened to Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene you would have almost certainly noticed their name around town. Having spent much of 2016 recording the follow-up to 2014's Facing The Ruin, the Melbourne four-piece turn a rumble into a roar tonight as they make a much-anticipated return to the stage.

Cigarettes are stubbed out and beers poured from glass into plastic as the band begin what will be an epic set that lasts one hour and 20 minutes. They receive a raucous welcome from the packed room. It's magnificent to see them back in full force.

From the jump, the band pull out all the stops. Each member is a talented vocalist in his own right, there is nary a dull moment vocally and their harmonies are on point. Dream is full of swaggering bravado, and White Crystal Lady is an aural kick in the pants, with Dave Ferguson's soaring vocals punctuated by bassist Luke Bolton's shredding wail. Alejandro Adams on drums provides the backbone on which the tunes climb.

New track Resurrection is a diamond of a tune and the highlight of the whole show. Moody, heavy, melodic - it is a mammoth-sized song that is impossible not to get lost in. The set comprises "a couple of new songs and a couple of old songs" according to guitarist Jake Hills and, from what the band show of their new material tonight, the upcoming album is going to be gargantuan.

The first single off the new record, Dead Forever After, has Bolton on lead vocals and is a belter of a track. The band's outro features Dumont from The Ugly Kings looking happy as we've ever seen him look on tambourine.

Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene are a tricky band to review, as they so completely immerse their audience they almost need to remind themselves to come up for air. The band weave between countless genres and sub-genres, yet they sound like no one but themselves. They're always an electrifying watch, but tonight they seem reinvigorated; there is a raw power that is tangible. The next time you see Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene cursing at you from a poster around town, give your ears a present and go see them.