Photos – @djsedick
Words – @jstewbyy
Coming to the end of a weekend dedicated to time with friends, working on music & general shenanigans, it always feels a little grim knowing the work week is ahead. This weekend I had the pleasure of trading the usual Sunday night wind-down and early bedtime for the fake night sky and grand walls of the Forum. A late addition to the ‘It Calls Me By Name’ world tour, out of fear there wouldn’t be anything left standing at the original venue.
It’s a rare occasion that I get to catch a show stacked with bands that I love, all of which I’m yet to see live, but on this particular night I was excited to finally be ticking off USA heavyweights Wage War & Orthodox, alongside Melbourne’s very own Heavensgate. Between crushing breakdowns, infectious grooves and enough pit calls to keep the room moving from start to finish, the night did not slow for a moment. Even between sets, the energy in the room held strong.
Heavensgate,With an already packed venue, the crowd was treated to a moment of calm in the form of nostalgic and ambient music before the sound they’re known so well for hit like a tonne of bricks. They launched into their set in a way that makes me surprised they weren’t handing out neck braces at the door. Opening on their song Rain, the crowd responded immediately and moved almost like water as everyone headed to their preferred position, a space opening in the middle of the room for the pit & those that like to be up close and personal shuffling forward. The band instantly landed in a sweet spot right between groove-driven riffs & explosive heaviness all tied together with tight, yet fluid vocals. It was like a sonic affair between chaos & order.
Every member looked locked in, creating a performance that was both unhinged and surprisingly controlled.
Next, Orthodox wasted no time turning the intensity up a level. Following another calming introduction, the band exploded into Sacred Place, immediately sending the room into motion. Before the first song was even over, the guitarist was already demanding movement from the crowd, to which the audience responded without hesitation. Vocalist Adam Easterling’s goofy dance moves added an unexpected layer of personality between the brutality while the band’s raw energy never let up. Between crowd bounces, aggressive kicks and an uncompromising wall of sound, Orthodox delivered exactly the kind of chaotic set their reputation promises
By the time it was Wage War‘s turn, the energy in the room had peaked. Right before the band appeared, the stage was illuminated in a way that felt like the crowd was about to be run down by a truck, a fitting visual cue before opening with their song 4×4. It was an entrance that immediately commanded attention and perfectly matched the crushing weight of the opening track.
As they moved through their set, the metalcore veterans blessed the crowd with songs from their latest release, It Calls Me By Name & seamlessly weaving the newer songs between fan favourites from across the years. The fresh material translated effortlessly to the live setting, delivering the same punch and melodic hooks that have helped define the bands sound.
Wage War have a proven track record of blending accessibility and aggression, this show was another strong example of that! Flowing through massive choruses, crushing breakdowns, punchy riffs & emotional delivery, reminding everyone why the band has become one of metalcores most reliable bands to carry the genre.
With three bands delivering distinctly different flavours of heavy while sharing the same relentless intensity, the night was a celebration of everything that makes the genre so enjoyable in a live setting. From Heavensgates blend of chaos & order, through Orthodoxs unpredictable & raw wall of aggression, to Wage War’s arena worthy performance, it was an evening that left no room to catch your breath.
Huge thanks to Heavensgate, Orthodox, Wage War, the Forum crew and Dallas Does PR for having us!
