Carcass @ HQ, Adelaide(10/10/08)

Mon 13th Oct, 2008 in Gig Reviews

The long wait to see Carcass return to Australia was fulfilled this week, much to fans’ excitement and happiness. The lead-in time to the shows felt like aeons for people who had waited more than fifteen years to see the band return to Aussie shores, and even longer for the younger fans who, when Carcass toured last time, were – some of them – eight or nine years old.

The beginning of Adelaide’s warm weather was the perfect time to head out and see the show. A huge lineup of people awaited entry when we arrived and, soon after we were inside the venue, started to pour inside. Many headed straight for the bar, where a hubbub of anticipation slowly filled the venue. Fans ranged from the older people who had followed the band since their first days, to the younger kids who are just now rediscovering metal’s masters through the present renaissance that is uplifting the genre right across the world.

The first band of the evening, Tzun Tzu took to the stage with probably the third drummer I’ve seen with them in as many shows: Selen Gol, of Juggermath and Stargazer fame. By all accounts it seems that Gol is with Tzun Tzu for the long haul and if the band’s performance at this show is anything to go by, it looks like it will be a happy relationship. Having jammed with Tzun Tzu for just six weeks prior to this gig Gol managed to bring an extra dimension to the sound of Tzun Tzu with slightly different rhythm, a different style, and greater enthusiasm than anybody I’ve seen play with these guys before. The addition of this drummer to the band also brought in another element of heaviness; I believe that this was potentially the heaviest Tzu Tzu set I’ve heard. Add to all of this the clear enjoyment of each member on stage – despite Don’s broken string, a dropped mike, and other minor problems – and you have a recipe for an excellent set.

The fact that the band was on early was a real shame, as people were still arriving, which meant that they played to the least number of punters through the show. It didn’t affect the way the band played, however, and those who did catch the set were enthusiastic from first to last.

One thing that brought down the set, however, was that there appeared to be a slight problem with timing on Kunoichi – a hallmark track – which was a shame given that it was close to the last (or maybe the last) song of the set. Something like this is easily forgiven in the context of the remainder of the performance.

After a reasonably short break, Double Dragon took the stage. Many people were confused as to why this band was on the bill, as their style really didn’t seem to fit the show. Some commented that they’d heard people in the weeks leading up to the gig ask what show it was that Double Dragon were playing that they were the odd ones out. Answer: Carcass.

Having seen Double Dragon so much in the past few months, their set didn’t particularly impress me. Perhaps it was the fact that they were on a bill that they didn’t seem right for; perhaps it was the fact that a great many people headed outside for a chat, a smoke, or a drink while they were on, which never bodes well for a band; perhaps it was just me.

To give them their due, though, Double Dragon did seem to pull off a set that was a wee bit heavier than I’d previously heard. Maybe they were aware that they’d need to alter their style a touch, given that much of their regular crowd was absent and they were playing to people who appreciate a different style of metal? Whatever it was, they still managed to play a tight set. The fact that, between Tzun Tzu and Carcass, their brand of metal bored me is probably of little account, especially to those who enjoyed it. While I noticed a large proportion of people leave the immediate stage area when they took the stage, there was a reasonable contingent of metalheads who really enjoyed the band’s performance – which is probably all that matters.

Unlike with previous shows, HQ had closed one of their bars for the evening; the bar at the side, leaving only the small bar right up the back open. Without casting aspersions on the way the venue is run, or its staff, this was a really fucked situation. You had to line up for aeons just to get a beer, and the staff were apathetic, not particularly friendly, and not that willing to serve people either quickly or nicely. If you wanted to shout someone a drink at this gig, then you had to hope like hell that they’d still be waiting for you when you returned half an hour later.

The break between Double Dragon and the headlining act was long enough to create a heightened sense of anticipation among the crowd. Gradually people started coming back into the venue and, hopping from foot to foot, gazing excitedly at the stage as the lights changed, and as techs moved around doing final checks.

With vertical banners at each end of the stage, a continuous video on multiple screens (of various bits and pieces of human flesh – dead, of course – images from cover art, and others)behind where drummer Daniel Erlandsson was to be, and with anticipation at its peak, Carcass finally hit the stage and ripped through an incredible set peppered with pithy and amusing conversational bits and pieces from vocalist/bassist Jeff Walker.

The crowd reacted in a way that I haven’t seen for a long time: an almost old-school mosh. Rows upon rows of punters banged their heads right from the beginning, and through to the end of the set. While there were only about 470 people present (HQs stated capacity is three times that or more), the fans adequately filled the space to the rear bar.

This old-school grinders didn’t disappoint: playing tracks from nearly their whole discography, from 1987 through to their final release Swansong in 1996 (to some boo-ing, given that many people really didn’t like that album), the setlist provided something for everyone from those new to Carcass to the old-school fans.

Jeff Walker, always one for understated and pointed humour, commented part-way through the set that when he was a kid, a teacher asked him wanted to be when he grew up. He replied he wanted to be an astronaut or a solider,

“I didn’t say I wanted to be in a fucking grindcore band at the age of 39!”

I had such a good time I didn’t bother thinking about how long the set went for, or anything else much. The only thing that was a pisser was that there were no encores. At all. Still, given that they’d had just one hour’s sleep and had played Perth the night before – and playing Brisbane Saturday night – maybe it was to be expected.

Some people commented that the tracks from Heartwork overshadowed the setlist too much, others that some songs weren’t played… who cares! It was fucking brilliant. Even Dysie (of Soundworks) reckoned they played a better set than they did in Perth. The entire thing was fan-fucking-tastic. End of story.

I’m not going to speculate as to whether Carcass will ever return (the short answer is “probably no”), but face it: if you missed this show, you missed the opportunity of the year.