Live Review: Kvelertak, Totally Unicorn

With a diverse range of thrash ambiances and a strictly anti-short hair policy, Kvelertak's Sydney show was a playground for metal purists and newcomers alike. Crude support act Totally Unicorn can be summed up adequately by the disturbingly stark image of an indecent bearded male indignantly standing inside an industrial-sized general waste bin as a series of his long-haired minions comically headbang and wheel him around the Manning Bar floor simultaneously. As they performed their wild, vitriolic track, Cool Dads With Cool Sons, the Wollongong thrashers displayed their unpredictable DIY aesthetic and 'shock-value' reputation as they forcefully lunged themselves at members of the audience and provided seductive exhibitions of random nudity. Although the act evokes undeniable repulsion on a strictly visual level, musically, they possess a visceral level of grittiness and produce pure effortless hardcore, which is perfectly in tune with their pressingly ungraceful presence. Totally Unicorn poke fun at punk and metal genres in a live setting, as well as paying homage to the insolence of early '80s hardcore, for which they should be commended.

As Erlend Hjelvik of Kvelertak emerges wearing an exquisite taxidermied owl headpiece, the six-piece remind us why they are so distinctive to the rock genre and are revolutionising the crowds that come with it. Mixing demented, layered riffs with high-octane throbbing drums, the explosive group are so progressive that it is hard to pin which genre they authentically belong within, disabling the constraints of typecasting through seemlessly fusing dozens of obscure sub-genres. Blurring the lines between Doom, punk and metal, Kvelertak's latest album, Meir, is performed with such an intensified level of melodic grit that even metal newcomers found themselves crowdsurfing to the infectious vibrations. Performing fan favourites Bruane Brenn and older track, Mjød, the stimulated crowd were gripped for the entirety of the Norwegian band's raw performance and frequently feigned understanding of their absurd Euro accents. With irresistible instrumental breakdowns, seething choral vocals and even occasional pop-punk splices - Kvelertak are a rock'n'roll lucky dip who, despite critiques of often sounding too accessible, put on a damn entertaining show.