Ryokuchi/Fire Witch/Star Ten Hash/Behold The Sun
Rocket Bar
Friday March 30


Ryokuchi, from Japan, and Fire Witch, from Melbourne, have over the past year struck up a formidable partnership, resulting in a split CD release, a recent tour of Japan and now this, a comprehensive Australian tour, taking in major cities and regional towns. Both groups are regarded as fiercely DIY and tonight it's reflected in the organisation of the running times and the workmanlike presentation of the sets.

Fire Witch is first, opening with one bass player holding thick notes while the other slowly peels high-end sliding shrieks from his instrument. When the drums start shaping hard patterns against the now-locked bass thunder, the band begins to crush down, the mood inescapably heavy. The intuitive cohesion of these three rhythmic players coupled with their ability to bleed uplifting, body-rattling spirit-noise from their axes is to their utmost credit. Ryokuchi step on stage with two and a half stacks running one fretless bass, and a tiny drummer who grows twice as big as the set marches on. The precision of the drum strikes and supremely heavy bass attack is an exercise in annihilation. But like their spiritual brothers Fire Witch, the men from Ryokuchi let their hearts and human hands show through the swollen riffage. Each band, with its rumbling fire metal, pulls its audience in closer, the unity of the sound expound in deft construction and soulful execution.

Earlier, local quartet Behold The Sun present a more song-oriented set centred on polyrhythmic drumming and flourishing progressive passages on piano, flute and violin. Star Ten Hash meanwhile was an enjoyable mash of metal and burlesque, the guitarist relying on her chops, not her flesh, to lead the band into teenage stoner witch land and back again.

Lenin Simos