CHECK OUT THE PICS

One might not think Canberra has much of a metal/hardcore following. One would be wrong. Friday night saw Canberra’s hardcore followers out in force as Californian hardcore band Bleeding Through smashed through the capital. Along for the ride were fellow Americans Between the Buried and Me and As Blood Runs Black as well as Aussies In Trenches.

The beauty of all ages gigs is in the early start, so from 6 pm the hoards began to descend on Albert Hall where the heavy velvet curtains were drawn to at least give the facade that it was night time and children couldn’t be seen frolicking at the lake nearby. First to take to the stage was Australian band In Trenches whom feature ex members of I Killed The Prom Queen and Day of Contempt. The band did a stellar job at hyping up the crowd with a strong mosh pit down the front and a large space allowing room for slam dancing and circle pits behind.

As the band finished their short set the young crowd poured outside and were reminded it was well and truly still day light outside. Not yet old enough to hit the alcopops the mostly GenY crowd (or maybe GenTat is more appropriate), indulged in cigarettes and Pepsi outside of the venue in between bands at this drug and alcohol free gig.

After a short break American hardcore rockers As Blood Runs Black blasted on to stage. It was at this point I personally feared for the ear drums of the majority of the crowd as it was clear there was no thought for ear plugs or hearing past the age of 20 on this occasion. Playing roaring tracks from their previous album including In Dying Days and My Fears Have Become Phobias the crowd were revelling in the hardcore ambience.

Next up North Carolinians Between the Buried and Me sprang onto stage. Their prog metal sounds and long instrumentals appeared to bring a sense of calmness back to Albert Hall with a lot of head nodding and impressed looks from the punters. More melodic than the other hardcore bands on show BtBAM played a strapping set with the five-piece interacting with the crowd and getting them moving towards the end of the set.

By the time headliners Bleeding Through took to the stage around 9 pm it was well and truly dark outside and the crowd were well and truly into their groove. Playing tracks from across their back catalogue as well as off their 2008 album Declaration, Bleeding Through showed the crowd why they are stalwarts of the hardcore scene. Frontman Brandan Schieppati had the young crowd in the palm of his hand as he commanded their every move, imploring them to generate a circle pit and to dance like only hardcore fans can dance. In between tracks Schieppati would thank the crowd in his surprisingly quiet way and then jump right back into the thrash of things.

The energy in the room was palpable all night long, and it was exciting to see an all ages gig where the fans were so enamoured and in awe of the bands in front of them.

If Friday night wasn’t enough slam dancing for you, the Boys of Summer Tour
arrives in Canberra this Tuesday 20 January with Carpathian, Against, Verse and Comeback Kid ready to rock the hardcore crowd once again.