Words – Shelby Lane
Photos – @photo.amai
Kicking off my GOOD THINGS week was a long overdue trip to 170 RUSSELL witnessing GRAVEMIND and DISENTOMB supporting deathcore mavericks LORNA SHORE. I haven’t been to 170 Russell since catching MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA back in 2017, but I’m certain this upcoming show will be an entirely new kind of experience – in the best way.
Melbourne’s prodigies GRAVEMIND kicked off the night as the first support slot for LORNA SHORE’s long-awaited Australian return before their GOOD THINGS performance. True to form, GRAVEMIND shattered genre limits with a mix of progressive metal, deathcore, and djent, crafting a massive backdrop for their fluid interplay of clean and harsh vocals. Their high energy and commanding presence surged through the hungry crowd and came roaring right back at GRAVEMIND. With each surging, and soul punching growl, onlookers were being commanded into wild convulsions with hands splayed, raised fists and limbs thrashing as the mosh pit began to swell by the second – an enduring energy which continued to push them through until their final moments supporting LORNA SHORE. GRAVEMIND’s ambition, musically and thematically, also sets them apart. While clearly aware of their roots, the band strives to evolve, moving between crushing breakdowns and airy, introspective passages, and embracing electronics, dissonance, and intricate production choices.
Brisbane’s own rapscallions, DISENTOMB, did not come here to mess around. What I can demurely describe as a ‘punishing wall of sound’ is merely an easy description. DISENTOMB’s sound is a savage and an uncompromising barrage of grim intensity – a brutal, abhorrent cacophony that leaves an inerasable residue on one’s skin, eyes and ears. With DISENTOMB, dissonance transforms into brutal harmony as they tore through their set with relentless and unparalleled ferocity. I even decided to take one of my earplugs to vet how loud the venue was and, within a mere millisecond, I could feel a wave of regret. DISENTOMB’s uncompromising take on modern death metal is both striking and awe-inspiring, amplified by their remarkable ability to sustain thematic melodies while driving their lyricism deep into the depths of somewhere dark, sordid and depraved. Gloomy, brooding, and at times atmospheric, DISENTOMB’s sound will continue to grow with strength and the recognition they deserve.
When GOOD THINGS announced LORNA SHORE’s return to Australia, fans were in a frenzy. LORNA SHORE musically sits on a broad landscape that immediately introduces fans and upcoming fans to a plethora of space to witness it. In my humble opinion, LORNA SHORE have proven themselves to be one of the most successful evolutions within the genre of metalcore in the 2020’s. Without giving too much away or stating the obvious, I truly believe that LORNA SHORE will one day headline some of the world’s largest metal/alternative festivals. LORNA SHORE’s albums feel like a dark opera, thematically recanting feelings of loss, beauty, hopelessness and through the vessel of Will Ramo’s wunderkind like guttural and tunnel lows to some of the deadliest shrieking I think I have ever heard. The power and clarity is something to truly marvel at because you wonder to yourself ‘how is this humanly possible?’ whilst witnessing it in real time. The band boasts a wide ranging marriage of symphonic metal to the aforementioned modern metalcore which is consumed with glee by the eager and electrified fans at 170 RUSSELL. The crowd was insatiable and cheered, screamed and yelled every lyric to every song LORNA SHORE graced us with. Bodies upon bodies were thrown into the air as LORNA SHORE continually and unsurprisingly dominated their set with their signature energy and ferocity. LORNA SHORE at 170 RUSSELL was the perfect teaser to their full and robust set at GOOD THINGS and, I can tell you, as the kids say ‘went off’.
I wish to express my ardent thanks to GRAVEMIND, DISENTOMB, LORNA SHORE, 170 RUSSELL, DESTROY ALL LINES and Dallas Does PR. Thanks for having us!
EVERYDAY METAL – SUPPORT LOCAL HEAVY METAL
