Cavalera Conspiracy,Lynchmada, Contrive @ ANU Bar,Canberra (27/01/11)

Tue 31st Jan, 2012 in Gig Reviews

Reunited thrash icons Max and Igor Cavalera stopped by the capital on a summery Friday evening, taking time out from the Big Day Out circus to bring every Sepultura fan’s dreams to life with their side-project Cavalera Conspiracy. Max’s last visit to Canberra with his full-time endeavour Soulfly must’ve kept a lasting impression, returning just a little over a year later to instigate some more trademark mosh pits and over-driven madness. Native support talent made for a thrilling experience that left ears ringing long into the night.

Alas, not as many punters turned up as they did for the packed out Soufly gig some sixteen or so months ago, yet nevertheless a strong showing made their way out on the night, ensuring some hearty foolishness within the pit.

Melbourne three piece Contrive took opening honours, fittingly consisting of guitarist/drummer brothers Paul and Andrew Haug (the latter the former host of Triple J’s The Racket). Bassist Tim Stahlmann completed the trio, who played a lively set of thrash metal numbers that aptly demonstrated their status as one of Australia’s more respected outfits. It’s little wonder then that none other than Devin Townsend mixed Contrive’s latest offering; The Internal Dialogue. A tight set that aptly portrayed the band’s prowess and distinctive sound left the horns raised and the crowd prepped for what was to come.

Hailing from the Gold Coast, Lynchmada took the stage shortly afterwards, the quintet bursting into a frenetic set that writhed and snarled with almost corporeal aggression. Front-man Joel Harris’ stage presence demanded one’s full attention, delivering a fantastic performance that descended into macabre guttural shrieks of discontent before letting rip clean vocals that pierced through the mix effortlessly. The twin guitar attack of Simon Connors and Cameron Wallace afforded Lynchmada a dose of melody, allowing the band to transcend thrash into a refined take on metal-core that was laden with infectious groove and solid breakdowns. Head-banging ensued.

The stage was promptly prepared for Cavalera Conspiracy, with black and white Brazillian flags draped over amps and a kit donning Vlad the Impaler and Rasputin on each bass drum skin. A raucous collective cheer erupted as the Cavalera brothers, accompanied by bassist Johhny Chow and guitarist Marc Rizzo took to the stage. Within minutes a circle pit was firing on all cylinders as Cavalera Conpiracy conjured a level of sheer intensity and unrelenting aggression that, if you closed your eyes, could be forgiven for mistaking for Sepultura at their best. The sheer volume rendered the room awash with hardcore punk tinged with thrash metal that refused to let up, whilst never straying to becoming repetitive or monotonous. Playing a set that covered the band’s fledging discography – highlights being the brilliant title track Inflikted and I Speak Hate, from the sophomore record Blunt Force Trauma, Cavalera Conspiracy inevitably touched on a few Sepultura classics, namely Refuse/Resist and, the quintessential encore rendition of one of thrash metal’s greatest songs, Roots Bloody Roots. By the end of an impressive set, a humble and clearly delighted Max Cavalera joined his brother Igor on stage for a final bow to a sea of horns and sweaty, appeased faces.