The Amity Affliction @Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide(24/05/11)

Mon 30th May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Even a freezing wet Tuesday night could not dampen the spirits of the Adelaide fans for this colossal event known as the Destroy Music tour. Featuring some of the leading outfits in Metal and Hardcore music today, this was surely going to be a night to remember for everyone involved.

California’s Of Mice & Men were responsible for opening this mammoth show and did so in a very impressive and professional manor. There is no doubt that Austin Carlile is most likely the new poster boy in the heavy vocalist realm at the moment, and it is a deserved position to be frank. After going through serious heart surgery, being removed from two bands and then invited back in, it is actually quite inspiring that he does his role with such valour. Focussing mostly on songs from their self-titled debut album, which sadly does lack a lot of substance; it was the newer songs which caught this writer’s attention as their formula is actually a cleverer take on the Metalcore genre with less reliability on breakdowns and more experimentation with solid Rock music, it is honestly far better constructed. Whilst the outfit’s live performance was very entertaining and the countless shows they have endured has caused them to become a very tight unit, the biggest letdown of the performance was the ridiculous amount of reverb and vocal effect placed on bassist’s Shayley Bourget voice, which was realistically nonsensical. Nevertheless the band’s sophomore record ‘The Flood’ is probably one to keep an eye and ear out for.

Melbourne’s Party Hardcore Rap genius JJ Peter’s and his Deez Nuts band followed the impressive opening and from my perspective have never looked better in a live setting. Obviously the inordinate amount of globe-trotting this quartet has done has really impacted their live show, as it is now of extremely high calibre. JJ’s role as a front man has improved exponentially since Deez Nuts’ humble beginnings, and it was really a pure delight to be a part of. Running through tracks from his entire discography, it was the tracks from his first album Stay True which resonated best with the crowd, and hearing lines like “You’re Mother Should Have Swallowed You” screamed by kids at a Hardcore show, although inappropriate, is something which has to be witnessed to be truly understood. It will be interesting to see what comes next for Deez Nuts.

Around three years ago Australia (and the world as a matter of fact) said farewell to one of the greatest Metalcore exports Adelaide has ever produced in I Killed The Prom Queen. The time for mourning is now over; the quintet is back and armed with a new vocalist in Jamie Hope, formerly of The Red Shore, and the excitement levels for the five-piece’s return to the stage were practically lifting the roof of the Thebarton Theatre on their own. Opening with Your Shirt Would Look Better With A Columbian Neck-Tie, it was almost as if their three year absence did not exist because the response was outrageous. Jamie Hope’s vocal rendition of the songs is a very refreshing and solid outlook, and although different and probably difficult to render, his performance was stunning. Guitarist Kevin Cameron supporting a manly beard was flailing about and as conspicuous as ever with his performance; whilst Jona Weinhofen’s constant crazy touring with Bring Me The Horizon has created a true mastermind who has the ability to do anything including singing, screaming and of course gallivanting around the stage in a near perfect manner. The real highlight however was bassist Sean Kennedy’s return to the live setting, it really started to feel like the old glory days, which were simply breathtaking. There is no doubt that a three year absence has affected the band’s chemistry to be a little rusty, but I am sure this issue will disappear just as Ed Butcher has managed to do. With a set list including tracks mostly off Music For The Recently Deceased as well as a sneaky rendition of the song Never Never Land, it was sad to see the event finish, but satisfying to know that with as new album in the works, I Killed The Prom Queen are back!

A huge task was now set for Queensland’s The Amity Affliction to headline this massive event, but once they walked out onto stage and begun the song Youngbloods, the band did not look phased at all and the audience ended up singing louder than what front man Joel Birch or bassist Ahren Stringer could deliver. The exponential growth in fan base The Amity Affliction has now garnered is very overwhelming, and hearing Joel Birch’s constant remarks of appreciation was true testament on how indebted the sextet is. Performing an array of songs mostly from their two albums Severed Ties and Youngbloods, it became more like karaoke but with one of the best bands in Australia still performing at their absolute full potential. Guitarist Clint Owen-Ellis’ presence on stage is just becoming more astounding with every show he plays, both musically and in his performing demeanour. Ahren Stringer’s vocals were yet again practically on perfect pitch whilst the rest of The Amity Affliction worked together to become a very professional unit. Closing with an encore of their lead single from their second album I Hate Hartley the stage may have at this point belonged to the six-piece, and the words may have been constructed by them too, but the microphone was nearly useless as the audience’s sing-along was deafening. In closing, the rest of the world better look out, because Australia may just have the best talent yet.