Live Review: King Zog, Alzabo, Dirac Sea

The Velvet Lounge is something of a secret in Perth. A small venue that hides at the back of the Flying Scotsman Hotel in Mt Lawley, you could be forgiven for not knowing it existed at all.

The dark and intimate venue offers an encapsulating experience for the audience. You’re never far from the stage and the open plan of the room gives off a sort of happening vibe that envelopes you in the music. You start to feel like you’re part of the performance, part of the experience itself.

Dirac Sea kicked the night off with an incredible display of soundscape and doom metal. Their songs ranged from the raw and emotional to bursts of ferocity that bled rage and accusation. Their songs melted from one to another, never giving the audience a chance to fully digest what was taking place, and while that may sound like a criticism, it’s a testament to their dedication. Their set was uncompromising, a dark and twisted journey into psychosis.

The intriguing two-piece Alzabo was up next. Their music is as unique as it is masterful, the guitar taking both lead and bass duties while the drums provided a haunting backbone of syncopated rhythms.  The result is a demented soundtrack, something that would suit a Tarantino zombie western – it’s mesmerising and weird yet wholly fulfilling. The response from the crowd was overwhelming positive, the cheers briefly shattering the illusion the band had created.

It seemed that the majority of the crowd were already big fans of the headline act, King Zog, and the response to them taking the stage was some of the loudest of the night. Their tracks blending the heaviness of ‘70s metal with psychedelia and sludge. Their songs were perfectly executed, from the scornful Bitter Wisdom to the new and slightly more upbeat Look Who’s Torkan. Each song closed out with screams of appreciation from the small but adulating crowd. While the room never packed out, it was great to see fans of these bands showing such wonderful support, loving what they were doing, and the fact that they were doing it.