Whitechapel, Dyscord,Malignant Monster, Gallows forGrace @ Amplifier, Perth,16/01/2009

Sat 17th Jan, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Gallows for Grace kicked off proceedings and set the tone of the evening with a really tight set. This band seems to be getting comfortable with their recent conversion to a four piece, and the stripped back feel that results has improved their live sound.

Up next were Malignant Monster, a band with a polished sound, professional vibe and some great-sounding songs – but also an unfortunate tendency to strike poses that seem vaguely absurd. They had a few fans in the crowd that were obviously enjoying the former but were not disturbed by the latter.

Perth’s own Dyscord topped off the support slots. Having accompanied the headliners around the East Coast on a brutal 13-date tour, they took to the no-doubt familiar Amplifier stage with relish to play to their home crowd.

This is a band that just keeps on improving. As usual, frontman James Herbert tended to hang back, allowing the guitar attack of Matthew Herbert and Curls Magee with bass player Raffe Houston to take centre stage. Delivering tracks from their debut Dakota to home town punters who knew the songs must have provided an edge, or perhaps it was the revitalised lineup with new drummer Ashley Large – whatever the reason, Dyscord impressed with what was surely one of their best shows yet.

When Whitechapel took to the stage, it was with apologies from frontman Phil Bozeman about his voice, which sounded much higher and more crackly than on their recordings. He didn’t hold back, despite being in obvious pain – because when has death metal not been about pain?

The stage was crowded, with no fewer than three guitarists – Ben Savage, Zach Householder and Alex Wade – joining Gabe Crisp on bass and dummer Kevin Lane in creating the furious, frenzied sonic landscape of the band.

Having only been around since 2006, Whitechapel have only two albums to draw material from. Although focusing mostly on their latest release, 2008’s This Is Exile, they dipped several times into their Jack the Ripper-themed debut effort The Somatic Defilement, notably for the “leaving nothing to the imagination” track Ear To Ear.

Despite promising not to be “a whiny bitch” about his vocal problems, the set was cut short after barely half an hour – disappointing for the fans in attendance, but probably the best thing for Bozeman himself. What Perth saw of Whitechapel was impressive, and they promised they’d be back – let’s hope they can keep that promise.