Words – Clare
Photos – @photo.amai
Saturday the 16th of August in Melbourne was colder than a witch’s teat, the nights air was particularly icy and it was unlikely that even in the below street level venue of Max Watts among a mass of Portal fans would the temperature rise because the night was packed all the way from hell to the high heavens with bone chilling death metal, so the only heat that I expected to feel was the unsettling warmth that takes over your body before hypothermia sets in.
Even before Vesicant began fans had piled in to the venue practically champing at the bit to get their hands on some kick ass portal merch, and thank Lucifer Everyday Metal travelled al the to Brisbane for Portals last gig in April because we were able to snag one of the only 300 copies pressed of Tempus Fugit cassette collection, a coffin-shaped box containing the first five Portal albums. The four piece from New Zealand turned out to be deeply brutal with the vocalist maintaining his growl throughout the set, even while saying ‘thank you’ to the crowd succeeding each track. The drum kit was an impressive set up, dominating the stage, a giant rack stacked with symbols acting as a cage for the shirtless and ripped drummer.
Knowing that the Swiss extreme metal band Bölzer was composed of only two members, I was looking forward to hearing them live and to say I was blown away by the fullness of their sound would be an understatement. Even the stage presence of the guitarist and vocalist Okoi was impressive, enough to hold our unwavering attention, ’Good evening Melbourne, it’s a pleasure to be back’. From their 2016 album we heard Phosphor and the title track Hero along with 2019’s Æstivation closing with C.M.E from the EP Aura.
Between sets amongst the crowd chatter I frequently heard shop talk, as in fellow musicians discussing their trade, and I realised that Portal along with many if not most of their support bands on this tour are real ‘band’s bands’, that is bands that are revered by other musicians and legitimate death metal fans (the most intellectual of all metal fans in my opinion) and the proof was in the black pudding as once the set began I was pulled into a thundering vortex of insanity in a cathartic ritual. The anonymity of the band’s members were enforced with unidentifiable black garb including execution style black bags over their heads. A hangman’s noose laid tightly around the guitarist Horror Illogium’s neck while the excess rope dangled down delicately caressing the ground as he played.
It was however the elaborate mask and headdress worn by The Curator that was the most visually engaging costume effect, although I say costume but I really prefer to believe that the polycerate head with a frozen black expression is a real form and it’s the human skin suit that is indeed the disguise. Time seemed to disappear as they performed songs from their debut album Seepia including Atmosblisters, Glumurphonel, Vessel of Balon and Tempus Fugit. We were also treated to the 2009 studio album with the title track Swarth and Illoomorpheme as well as Olde Guarde from Ion. The offerings from their latest works in 2021 included Manor of Speaking and Eye. Once the night had come to a conclusion a satisfied horde spilled back out onto the city streets with the vibe of having just awoken after a fever dream.
A huge thanks goes out the PORTAL, Soundworks Touring Australia, Cult Etiquette PR and the crew at Max Watts for having us.
EVERYDAY METAL – SUPPORT LOCAL HEAVY METAL
