Review: Natalie Lorenz
Photography: Dan Maynard

The night at The Back Room promised an onslaught of metal mayhem, and with Snake Mountain, Wolfheart, and Fleshgod Apocalypse leading the charge, it delivered with no holds barred.

Walking into the venue, I was fortunate enough to catch the openers, Snake Mountain, doing their soundcheck. Their raw energy and powerful sound immediately got me hyped for the gig, setting the stage for what was to come.

Before the show kicked off, fans with VIP meet and greet tickets had the chance to meet Fleshgod Apocalypse, getting autographs and photos. It was heart-warming to see fans excited to meet the musicians they admire.

Snake Mountain, the Gold Coast’s own purveyors of technical death metal, set the stage ablaze with their exciting sound. From the moment they launched into their set, it was clear that these five musicians meant business. Their performance was intense, and they unleashed music that punched you in the face and reverberated through the venue. The crowd was treated to the live debut of Snake Mountain’s latest single, “Everliving,” a song that left everyone wanting more. With their infectious energy, Snake Mountain proved themselves to be worthy of sharing the stage with such legends that evening.

Following Snake Mountain’s performance, Finnish melodic death metal titans Wolfhearttook the stage by storm. Adorned with a skull and antlers atop the mic stand, they were ready to transport the audience to a realm of bleak winter landscapes and epic battles. From the haunting melodies to the bone-crushing rhythms, Wolfheart’s performance was nothing short of spellbinding. Each song was a journey through dark, atmospheric realms, littered by moments of sheer intensity that left the crowd in awe.

With a twist, the interlude between bands saw a homage to classical composers like Bach, Vivaldi and Beethoven, adding a touch of sophistication to the evening’s proceedings (Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op. 67 is an absolute banger, no one can convince me otherwise).

Amidst the excitement as the crew prepared for the headliners to take the stage, a heckler, whose persistent taunts at the band and stage crew had become somewhat annoying, delivered a line that made others and myself laugh. “You guys are nerds, I bet you use Linux!” Thankfully, it marked the end of the heckler’s commentary for the evening.

But the night belonged to the Italian symphonic death metal maestros, Fleshgod Apocalypse. Despite a minor technical hiccup right before their set, the band emerged with a commanding presence that left no doubt as to their expertise. Launching into “Healing Through War,” they unleashed an auditory assault that thundered through the place, commanding the crowd’s undivided attention from start to finish.

But it wasn’t all serious business for Fleshgod Apocalypse, as they surprised fans with their cover of the 90s Eurodance anthem “Blue” by Eiffel 65, injecting a dose of nostalgia into their set. From their latest release, “Pendulum,” to their encore “The Violation” and “The Forsaking,” every song was delivered with precision and passion, leaving the audience entranced until the final note faded into the night.

Their stage presence was nothing short of captivating. Adorned in striking attire and accompanied by the masterful pianist Francesco Ferrini, their performance was elevated to another level by the ethereal vocals of classically trained opera singer Veronica Bordaccchini. Together, this all formed an extraordinary combination that needs to be witnessed firsthand to be fully appreciated.

In conclusion, the Fleshgod Apocalypse, Wolfheart, and Snake Mountain show was a tour de force of metal. Each band brought their unique flair to the stage, creating a great night of music appreciation.