Fans of extreme metal music don’t get many outings in a city like Perth, so Saturday night saw a fair number taking advantage of the opportunity to see death metal legends Obituary.

The Florida pioneers are touring minus guitarist Allen West, who is currently incarcerated for reasons unknown. Rather than take on a temporary replacement, the band decided instead to make do with only one guitar. Hardcore fans may have been disappointed with the lack of blistering solos, but most were just grateful for the chance to see one of the genre’s original outfits on their first trip to Australia.

Drummer Donald Tardy, bassist Frank Watkins and guitarist Trevor Peres launched the set with Redneck Stomp, the opening instrumental track from 2005’s comeback effort Frozen in Time. As the ribcage rattling riffs of the opening track wound up, vocalist John Tardy took to the stage, unleashing both a head of long wavy hair to rival any Pantene model, and also his distinctive vocal gargle as he paced up and down the Capitol’s small stage. Punters were treated to songs spanning the band’s entire 23-year, six-album career.

A small but violent mosh pit at the front of the stage ensured more than a little crowd participation, with stage divers stealing the show a few times – although the band didn’t seem to mind dodging flailing arms and legs.

Technical issues plagued the set, the band conferring between songs and relaying complex hand gestures to the sound board. An uncomfortable bass buzz continued to rattle heads and chests right through to the end of the set. Showing their long experience and professionalism, the show went on regardless.

The band left the stage for the first time, only to be coaxed back for an encore that started with an amazing drum solo, and ended with the grinding and brutal Slowly We Rot, the title track from Obituary’s first album, released way back in 1989.

Terms like influential, legendary and seminal are thrown around freely when referring to Obituary. On Saturday, our small corner of the planet was shown that they are deserving of the respect they command. With a new record label and a new album on the way, Obituary look stronger than ever.