Review: Nev Pearce and Dan Maynard
Photos: Dan Maynard
When it comes to modern deathcore, there are a few names leading the charge and pushing the genre into a new era. Arguably one of the biggest, Lorna Shore have taken the style to new heights by blending deathcore with black metal and symphonic influences, carving out a sound and identity of their own and building an army of fans around the globe while doing it.
Lorna Shore have toured Australia twice before, and with each visit, the band have continued to evolve and grow their fan base, playing to bigger venues each time, proving themselves to be an unstoppable force that continues to rise in the ranks of headliners. Now returning to Brisbane for their third time, they will take on Brisbane’s open-air venue Riverstage, bringing fellow deathcore legends Whitechapel and The Acacia Strain along for the ride.
Metalcore veterans The Acacia Strain are first off the ranks tonight, a band that have been on my bucket list to see live for many years. Every single band on this line-up tonight are legends of the metal scene in their own right, so it’s to no one’s surprise that regardless of having the opening slot, The Acacia Strain walk out to an incredible welcome from the crowd with some specifically there just to see them.
Their set is a stripped-back, no-bullshit education in metalcore and one hell of a way to kick off the evening, and their fan base has shown up to throw down early with them, one of their fans being a very young girl on her father’s shoulders holding up a self-made sign which is pretty cool to see. The boys have been doing this for over 25 years and while this isn’t their first visit down under, it feels as though the next time they visit it will be much bigger for them as they have managed to connect not only their longtime fan base but a whole new generation.
Whitechapel take to the stage bathed in deep blood-red lighting, the perfect backdrop for opener Prisoner 666. Much like The Acacia Strain’s set earlier in the night, the crowd is absolute chaos. These are the kinds of crowds that feel few and far between these days, and you don’t need to be caught in the middle of it to feel the mayhem. Hymns of Dissonance and A Visceral Wretch follow, both hitting with punishing force.
Phil Bozeman is one of the best frontmen in the game, that’s just a fact. His vocal range is undeniably one of the greatest and he’s been a personal inspiration for years, making the chance to finally witness his abilities live all the more special. Back those vocals with one of the thickest and heaviest sounding deathcore bands in the world, Whitechapel have no problems delivering a crushing performance.
Mid-set, Bozeman steps onto the centre-stage riser, clutching the horned mask fans have come to know and love. He stares down the crowd before placing it over his face, dropping to one knee and reaching out with his hands resting against the mask. As the intro to Hate Cult Ritual begins, he removes it, returns it to its place and they launch into the track.
The eight-song set leans heavily on Hymns in Dissonance with the final three tracks looking back to the band’s earlier years with The Somatic Defilement, Devirgination Studies and closing out with the crowd favourite This Is Exile, which sets the pit off one last time even harder than before.
As Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart blares over the PA and the brief rain eases off, Lorna Shore’s banner is cloaked in front of the stage, illuminated to build the ominous tension for the thousands of rain-soaked fans eager to see their heroes. When the banner drops, you can feel the energy instantly shift.
Lorna Shore absolutely bring their A game from the get-go, blasting into Oblivion with pure, disgusting intensity. Not only are they flawless as a band, but their production is amazing and a step up from the last time I saw them. The stage holds multiple giant LED screens surrounding the band, top that with fire blasting alongside the words being belted out by Will Ramos and this clean monolith of a set-up adds that perfect touch.
Ramos has quickly become one of the most influential vocalists in metal. His technique and range are astonishing and it’s only more evident in a live setting. He knows how to work the crowd to a T and get more out of them as the set progresses.
It’s Oblivion, into Unbreakable and almost without skipping a beat, it’s into War Machine. Three of the most epic tracks from their latest album I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me. War Machine sends the crowd into more chaos with its profoundly intense opening blast beat from drummer extraordinaire Austin Archey. Hidden away behind his behemoth of a kit like a fortress on a hill, Austin’s silhouette alone feels intense to watch.
The crowd is treated to one hell of a surprise as Ramos invites Thy Art Is Murder’s new vocalist Jerry Grimefeld out to share the stage with them for the second half of In Darkness. Jerry is yet to perform with Thy Art Is Murder in Australia, yet he’s already being welcomed with big love from fans. He proves to the home crowd why he’s been given the task of fronting one of the world’s best deathcore bands.
The set rolls on with massive tracks like Of the Abyss, Into the Earth and the new album’s big melodic, Glenwood. And one of the biggest highlights for the night is the play-through of the Pain Remains trilogy in its entirety. Not a first time for the band, but something I didn’t expect at all. The night closes out with the song that truly gave them a worldwide name, To the Hellfire. What had already been a monumental setlist was perfectly rounded out by one of the most iconic deathcore songs on the planet.
It’s incredible to see how this band has risen through the ranks over the last couple of years alone, and they show no signs of slowing down. With extreme metal getting a larger spotlight across the globe, Lorna Shore are one of the frontiers of the new era and it’s going to be amazing to see how their influence shines through in the next generation of vocalists and musicians alike. I can’t even begin to imagine what their next tour is going to look like at this rate. Mark my words, this will forever go down as a landmark line-up at Brisbane’s Riverstage.
– GALLERY –
