Metal is such a diverse genre that it seems a new sub-genre combination is made up for almost every band of note that comes along. For American outfit Darkest Hour, the label usually applied is “metalcore with melodic death metal influences” – but whether that’s accurate or not is open for debate. Although they haven’t received a lot of publicity in Australia, this is Darkest Hour’s second tour down under (the previous excursion was in April 2006) and the word, it seems, is starting to spread.

Wednesday’s headline show at the Rosemount Hotel was the first stop of Darkest Hour’s Australian tour, ahead of their inclusion in the all-ages Come Together Festival at Sydney’s Luna Park on the 9th and 10th of June. After local bands Anime Fire, Gallows for Grace and Fool the World warmed up the venue, the main event arrived on stage and launched into Convalescence, from breakthrough 2005 release Undoing Ruin. The Washington DC five-piece – Kris Norris on lead guitar, Mike Schleibaum on rhythm guitar, Paul Burnette on bass, Ryan Parrish on drums and John Henry providing screaming and growling – lived up to their reputation for intense live shows despite letting on that they had just spent 36 hours on an aeroplane.

While most songs played where from Undoing Ruin – Convalescence, Sound the Surrender, A Thousand Words to Say But One, Tranquil – two older songs were included – A Blessing in Tragedy from 2000’s debut The Mark of the Judas, and The Sadist Nation from Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation. Fans were also treated to three songs from Deliver Us, the upcoming release produced by metal legend Devin Townsend, due in July. First up was Demon(s), with it’s catchy sing-along chorus, then Stand and Receive Your Judgement, and later the new album’s title track.

Although many Darkest Hour songs have serious themes – religion, war, and politics to name a few – when playing live the band is all about having a good time. Henry demanded “shred fingers” in the air for the start of The Sadist Nation, and later formation of a circle-pit “Perth-style” – and although some who were there may have been unsure if that was an insult or not, most cheerfully complied. Stage divers were encouraged and one intoxicated punter even scored some microphone time. The crowd were thanked between each song, with Henry remarking at one point “I know I’ve said this 15 times already, but thanks…”.

Before starting A Thousand Words to Say But One, Henry explained that the band had planned to go off stage and then return for an encore, but that “the vibe was good” so they decided to just keep playing. Final track Tranquil, the closing track from Undoing Ruin, ended with the singer grabbing a drum and stick, then proceeding to run around the Rosemount beating on it before returning the instrument to the stage and diving into the crowd one last time.

Darkest Hour might be hard to define, but they put on a memorable show, cementing the loyalty of existing fans and no doubt picking up some new ones along the way.