The Red Shore/ For The Fallen Dreams/ In Trenches/ As Silence Breaks/ Abandon All Hope/ Settle For Nothing
Fowler's Live
Thursday 4 December


With quite an early start tonight, I was not able to see a whole lot of the local opening band Settle For Nothing. From the small amount I saw, it seemed that the quintet were more than suitable for the night and capable of playing this show of quite a magnitude. Performing a simple yet aggressive form of hardcore in the vein of Terror blended with Stick Your Guns, it was a more than promising opening set for this relatively young band.

Abandon All Hope followed and in their own way proved that they probably should have been on a bit later. Armed with a new drummer, the band opened with a short yet stellar track which was impossible to ignore and easy to enjoy. Showing a concrete progression with their version of metalcore, it was alluring to say the least. Focusing mostly on their debut release 'Where Life And Death Meet', their set, as usual, was more than enjoyed by the onlooking audience.

Sydney's As Silence Breaks exploded onto the stage next, but regrettably that first explosion was more or less the highlight. There is no doubt that this band knows how to play live shows, their presence is enormous. Bass swings, brutal vocals and immeasurable confidence are strong points on their rŽsumŽ however musically, this five-piece are just not that innovative. Their formula is as predictable and certain as death and taxes; as a result, this quintet is like a simplified As I Lay Dying, with moments of Mourning Tide thrown in for good measure. Personally, I can only hear a breakdown so many times in one song, and this was plainly overdone.

Although In Trenches had never played a show together before tonight, with ex-I Killed The Prom Queen guitarist Kevin Cameron and ex-Day Of Contempt vocalist Ben Coyte, they had plenty of credibility before the show had even begun. Incredibly, with such high expectations, the band lived up to them completely. For a first show, this was just mesmerising. Cameron's guitar work has never sounded so astonishing, and although this is an odd description, the formula that In Trenches have created is some of the most beautiful heavy music I have heard yet. If Cult Of Luna had a fist fight with Misery Signals about who could play punk music better, the result would be In Trenches.

Michigan five-piece For The Fallen Dreams were the main support tonight and frankly were not a standout international touring band. Their set was entertaining, and the perfect description for it and the band would be "tough". Playing tracks from their debut album 'Changes' as well as a brand new track which may not have been a good decision, their recognisable version of "moshcore" music was definitely appreciated by the reasonably sized audience. Sadly the quintet does come off as a second rate Misery Signals, and their new vocalist has not quite adjusted to the front-man regime. Nevertheless, the closing track Brothers In Arms was an obvious climax to the performance.

If there was a time tonight to let your jaw hit the ground in amazement, it was when The Red Shore hit the stage. This Melbourne five-piece have come so far in so little time it's simply astonishing. Performing a set which included songs off their recently released 'Unconsecrated' album as well as older tracks from their debut EP, the entire performance was a malicious onslaught of vicious energy provoking mostly fear (with excitement) amongst the audience. The recent European tour has really pushed this band to become leaders of the death metal/ deathcore genre, and this is something the band is threatening to become. Including a moment of sorrow and remembrance for previous vocalist Damien Morris and friend Andy Milner, it's a sure sign of human strength and perseverance that The Red Shore have continued, and surely will only become stronger.

Will Oakeshott