Lord, Truth Corrode, Emyrean @Enigma Bar, Adelaide,(22/05/09)

Mon 25th May, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Butt ugly guys, deafening music, an unholy stink? Sure is metal in here. Metalhead denizens of Adelaide braved the slip-and-you’re-dead claustrophobic steps of Enigma bar and reached the upper level to treat themselves to the harsh and powerful yet enriching music of Lord at the end of a working week.

Phoned in at the last minute after the cancellation of Brisbane’s Empyrean, Fragmenta opened the show while the punters filed in. They represent a younger group than the other bands on the bill and are still growing in technique and confidence, but they have come a long way since their first gig less than two years ago.

Fragmenta played a half hour set of classic thrash songs, including Pandemonium and trademark track Corpse Platoon. They also threw in a couple stabs at something a little technical and progressive, songs which are a little different every time they are played, evolving with the band.

Older in years but comparably new to the stage, Se Bon Ki Ra already has a well established fan base in this their home town, clearly visible from the large ”(S)” logo on the shirts of a dozen or so attendees. Se Bon Ki Ra play an easily accessible, tried and true style of heavy metal, simply described with a quick comparison with US’s Lamb of God. Hard guitars and tough guy vocals laid over an infectious groove and downbeat was a constant for their half hour set.

These guys have a good energy and presence, so a couple of bland riffs in there didn’t matter, it was about getting a crowd pumping and moving of which they did a good job. Most of the songs they played will be featured on an upcoming EP.

Adelaide’s oft touted Truth Corroded was up next, with Jason North, a local legend of sorts, heading up the band as vocalist. Between their songs of hard hitting modern thrash Jason did a notably good job of thanking each band involved with the gig, thanking the patrons for rocking up and generally made everyone feel good to be spending their Friday evening at Enigma.

Coming off the back of a tour of Thailand and China as well as an extensive Australian round trip, Truth Corroded have tightened up and play a well rounded set including old favourite 91, and Decimate from their latest full length, Upon the Warlords Crawl. The Truthies left the stage after 45 minutes of chaos having built all the punters up for the main event.

Lord has been a greatly respected Aussie metal commodity for four jam-packed years, picking up after the 16 year career of the mighty Dungeon. Lord Tim, LT to his fans and friends, is the mind behind the group and has brought the band around the country in support of the upcoming Set in Stone album release, a follow up to their 2007 album Ascendance, and the limited release Hear No Evil EP.

As the stage was being set for Lord, the classic track Painkiller by Judas Priest was played over the PA and had the crowd clearing the dust out of their pipes and wailing along, a sort of warm up to the extremely catching and memorable melodies of a Lord chorus. When Lord finally opened their set with a rousing rendition of Through the Fire, the packed Enigma venue followed along with the refrain like a choir.

Lord went on to play a full hour of energetic power metal with melodic yet heavy riffs, harmonies and face melting solo sections. Truly masters of shredding, LT and Mark Futner traded licks in lead guitar duels after the half way mark of every track, and in an extended contest . They also displayed their individual characters in their lead playing, with Mark barely using a pick but being ultra precise about his art, and LT showing his road hardened skill and making impossible sweeps look easy.

There’s a true sense of fun about Lord’s live show that is refreshing. They put each other down, there is some tongue in cheek innuendo and homoerotic displays, and they even try to sabotage each other by lowering mike stands and psyching each other out during solos, all for the crowd’s amusement. This kind of humour came to a climax with the final track I Am Death which was interrupted by a few bars of Kylie Monogue’s On a Night like This, Lord style, the full version of which had previously garnered a huge response on their Myspace page.

As it was an all ages gig, there loomed a curfew. After I Am Death the band exited stage left, and despite chants from the 200 strong mob upstairs at Enigma, staff were forced to deny the band an encore. LT apologised and sympathised with the crowd, promising another show at their peak on their next trip to Adelaide, coming this September at the fifth instalment of Against the Grain.