Live Review: Shapeshifter, Kilter

Sydney new gun Kilter shows why he's been getting all sorts of positive hype with an opening set that quickly aligns himself with the headliners' fanbase while also putting his own distinct stamp on the one-hour slot. Things are fairly experimental early, with hip hop elements spliced with future bass wubs and woofs, before a Shapeshifter remix generates the first of many hands-in-the-air moments for those cutting the carpet early.

Kilter offers up something fresh by delivering live drumming on electronic percussion pads running through his mixer; a nice spin on the usual which provides extra oomph to critical rhythms as well as offering additional beats. And when he gets tropical on tracks like Slowly, the Maori boys are loving it. There's some nice unapologetic vocal house a la Disclosure towards the tail end before What You Do wraps it all up tightly and strong.

The room is packed and absolutely buzzing by the time New Zealand's Shapeshifter arrive onstage, and this reviewer will level, it's probably the loudest roar he's ever heard greet a band at the venue. Seriously, it's ferocious. As is the quintet's performance.

With three keyboard and synth warriors dotting the frontline, Paora 'P Digsss', is given centre stage to showcase his silky vocals. Stirring and soulful, he takes industrial strength drum'n'bass bangers like Dutchies and sends them out with colour and identity. Meanwhile, drummer Darren Mathiassen is an absolute workhorse on the risen kit to the back of stage. He maintains the BPMs with clinical precision, his rhythms demanding you to cock your neck back and forth and shuffle with that nice constant bounce.

After a heady stretch of songs to open proceedings, one of the aforementioned warriors picks up a guitar and things get euphoric, Giving Up The Ghost highlighting the new songwriting breadth and versatility that the Kiwi crew have grabbed onto with their most recent record, Delta. A saxophone appears and adds yet another dimension.

What it also does is lull you into a false sense of serenity, as things quickly hit double time – triple time even – with Stadia, and it's like a leech sucking at your neck – you're paralysed, trapped under the pressure of the beats rumbling from the speakers. And although it's claustrophobic and kinda scary, it's the best moment of the night. The five-piece then work bringing you back up to the surface for the last 30 minutes before an explosive two-song encore caps it all off.

Some purists have scoffed that the band have turned their back on the d'n'b community – tonight gave them a big serving of shut the fuck up. An absolute rinse out of the highest order; now, to ice those blistered feet.