Decapitated, Psycroptic,Origin @ Espy, Melbourne(02/04/2010)

Thu 8th Apr, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Check out photos from the Espy here

To suggest there was much anticipation about the arrival of four of the planet’s most reputable extreme metal acts would have been understating things a tad. Those who were there knew why they were there and they wouldn’t have missed it for the world, even with the hefty $88 tariff. Those who weren’t there, well… they would never really understand what they had missed anyway.

Euro deathstars Origin took the stage just after 9pm, unleashing their blend of insanely technical death metal upon a Gershwin room that was already around 80 per cent full. Veritable veterans of the extreme scene, this was Origin’s first tour Down Under and it’s hard to describe just how full-on the Kansas lads were live. While guitarist Paul Ryan, bassist Mike Flores and drummer John Longstreth delivered flawless renditions of many of the tracks from latest album Antithesis, new vocalist Mica Meneke, who was only performing his 2nd show, patrolled the stage with gusto, capturing and holding the attention of the crowd as he screamed his way through a rapid-fire set of relentless blast beats and sweep-picked arpeggios. To his right, Flores was something of a sideshow curio, his multi-finger bass technique evoking comparisons with some kind of giant epileptic octopus. So frenetic was his fretwork that it became kinda distracting, and I found myself wondering about the possibility of him contracting a severe forearm cramp that required an injection of electrolytes straight into his beefy limbs.

Throughout the set, the mix held tight, even when Origin launched into a triple-vocal attack that saw Ryan and Flores supplementing Mica with pig squeals, guttural growls and everything in between. Amazingly, behind them, Longstreth attained percussive perfection with little fanfare.

After a lengthy changeover that involved loading giant dual-backdrops of skull art onto either side of the drum riser, Tassie’s Psycroptic launched into Ob(servant) from the album of the same name, sending the parochial crowd into a rapturous and frenzied fit of fist-pumping.

It was instantly apparent that the band has worked on their stage performance since appearing in Melbourne last; the energy was high and the lads were fuelled by the rising chant of “Psycroptic… Psycroptic” that started just minutes into the set. Vocalist Jason Peppiatt was particularly watchable, firstly for his peculiar haircut – best described as a reverse Friar Tuck, or full-bodied Fu-Manchu ponytail – and secondly for his decision to go topless. Repeated thrusts of his scrawny body at the sweaty crowd beneath him only added to Peppiatt’s apish appearance and I could’ve done without the regular cameo appearance of his pelvic muscles each time he stepped upwards off the foldback, courtesy of his low-riding shorts.

Such thoughts aside, Peppiatt’s ownership of centre stage was pivotal to the band’s momentum, given the relative stagnation of his compatriots during the more technical passages. From the outset, his mix was punchy and heavy in attack, his low voice probably the most clearly defined of all his registers, and his overall consistency was impressive.

Lacertine Forest and A Calculated Effort came next before the mighty Skin Coffin sent the crowd ballistic; a circle-pit quickly opening in the tight constrains of the Gershwin. Peppiatt covered previous vocalist Matthew Chalk’s parts effortlessly, while drummer Dave Haley, guitarist Joe Haley and bassist Cameron Frost put on a clinic, such was the ease in which they delivered the anthem.

Disappointingly the band seemed to lose the room a little with the inclusion of slow-chugging Horde in Devolution, causing some disinterested punters to start slinging water, but the energy returned with The Colour of Sleep before the lads closed with Initiate. Impressive stuff from a band that has taken giant strides in the past two years, giving itself every chance of taking on the big boys.

Decapitated started so quickly they seemed to take the crowd unawares, and the room was only half full when they launched into A Poem About an Old Prison Man. A small technical glitch with the guitars saw the bridge interlude stretched out for minutes longer than normal but soon it was business as usual with the precision attack of _Day 69 _.

It was always going to be a point of comparison to see how the entirely new band handled the old material but the resemblance was uncanny. Closing my eyes, I could’ve sworn new vocalist Rafał Piotrowski was indeed Adrian “Coven” Kowanek and new drummer Kerim “Krimh” Lechner, in replicating the remarkable drumming of deceased skins-man Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka, was so exact and precise that his playing acted as something of a respectful tribute to the late genius. In fact, the only member who allowed himself the luxury of any improvisation was guitarist and founding member Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka, who embarked on blues-fuelled lead breaks that highlighted his music-school pedigree.

Post Organic and Visual Delusion were next, delivered identically to the recorded versions and mention must be made of the clarity and punch of the overall mix as well as the individual tones, particularly the drums. It’s hard to imagine how Decapitated could find the headroom to improve their mix over the already exceptional mixes of the earlier bands, but improve it they did, sounding cleaner and achieving greater instrument separation than any of the bands that preceded them. Much of this had to do with the tones emanating from behind the kit, which were as flawlessly delivered as the performance itself – Lechner was a clear winner for drummer of the night, which is quite an effort considering the company he was in and even more of a feat considering he looks not a day older than 20.

Three Dimensional Defect, Winds of Creation and Flashback careened past before the band closed with Mother War and Spheres of Madness from the Nihility album. Decapitated then briefly left the stage before returning to once more play Day 69, which seemed like a waste but they must’ve just been out of material.

The raw professionalism and impressiveness of Decapitated’s live show defied popular convention, as it was the type of performance one only expects from musicians who have been playing together for years. Filing out of the Espy, it was clear to everyone involved that they’d witnessed something special and unique. With that in mind, one can only hope the band now turns its attention to new material and another tour before too long.