Perhaps Perth’s Metal fans were still recovering from seeing Tool and Trivium at last Sunday’s Big Day Out? Or perhaps it was ISIS on Thursday? Perhaps they were at home, living the stoner-rock lifestyle a little too hard for a Saturday afternoon? Or perhaps it was just that 4.30 on a Saturday afternoon was a far too ambitious time to start a rock show? Whatever the reason, a disappointing turnout meant that most of the bands playing during the daylight hours were playing to an audience of bar staff, members of other bands yet to play, and a handful of afternoon drinkers who wandered in and out over the day.

Which is a shame, since the bill offered up a great mix of stoner rock, metal, munk and a few sounds inbetween. The Slaughterhouse Five opened proceedings with a loose but entertaining set, doing the best with what they had to work with. On the main stage, any atmosphere Cease were able to create with their swirling guitars, distorted vocal sounds and samples, was pretty much destroyed by the afternoon sun still streaming through the front bar windows.

Perhaps a band better served later at night after a few drinks, they still managed to have a few early starters nodding along. Tengo Fuego played their set as if it were to a packed room, as opposed to the handful of people they had. A blistering set that suggests an anger that has purpose, not just anger for anger’s sake.

Playing later in the day, Mink Mussel Creek both look and sound like the bastard children of The Kill Devil Hills. A blend of raucous guitars, flute and bagpipes made for an interesting set of folk-inspired rock that generated a fair amount of interest. Chainsaw Hookers, Project Mayhem and then The Homicides in the latter part of the day stood up for the punk contingent, bringing out the mohawked few for their rowdy sing-along sets. Beer was drank, fists were pumped and a good time seemed to be had by all.

The Devil Rides Out cleaned up as the last afternoon band on the main stage. Their sound conjures images of dirty highways, whisky-soaked bars and loose women with looser morals. The sun had barely set by the time The Fuzz hit the main stage and gathered what was probably the first sign of an actual crowd – vocalist Abbe May bringing some much needed oestrogen to what was a positively a testosterone filled lineup. The always-reliable Fuzz served as a nice warm-up to what was to follow, even if May looked a little low on energy. One could hardly blame her though. Between The Fuzz and her own solo work, she is becoming one of the hardest working ladies of local rock.

Next up were local boys Subtruck, and anyone who wasn’t paying attention would’ve probably thought they were headlining tonight’s shindig, given the crowd that had amassed to see them. Sounding much larger than their three pieces would suggest, Subtruck proceeded to get the crowd nice and frenzied for what was to come. Unfortunately most wouldn’t hang around to see it. Byron Bay boys Fort seemed genuinely honoured and happy to be playing the Perth crowd. Bringing the full force of their stoner-rock sound, they worked through a set that included In a New Light, White Sands and new track The Destroyer.

By the time Dreadnaught hit the stage at around midnight, they were playing to a crowd of about 20 die-hard fans. If the drop in numbers bothered the band, they weren’t about to show it. Playing through a solid 50-minute show, those clinging to the stage were rewarded with Twist the Knife and Cutthroat Blues, as well as a new track they dedicated to The Fuzz. After a long and rather big day in, the sweaty, dedicated few remaining stumbled out into the unseasonably cold night. Those who lasted the day left full from the veritable all you can eat smorgasbord of local and interstate metal, rock and punk bands. Here’s hoping next time a few more punters turn up for a taste.