Review: Alison Gustavson
Photography: Luke Petty
Returning to Australia not even a year after their epic performances at Good Things 2024, Imminence has embarked on their highly anticipated debut Australian headline tour and kicked things off on Friday night at The Tivoli. Playing alongside Sydney’s very own Inertia and treating us East Coasters to an exclusive segment hosted by Nath and Johnny, it’s no surprise this show sold out months ago.
Stepping into the venue, I was greeted by the all-too-familiar sea of black shirts and the buzz of anticipation for a great night ahead. With a merch line stretching long past the bar and a moshpit filling up within moments, it was clear how much passion there was for a band who had only played the country once before.
Taking a slightly different approach from the usual musical opener, Aussie legends Nath and Johnny were the first to hit the stage with a segment for the audience—an opportunity to connect with the crowd and share some laughs, making for an incredibly special moment.
Those of you who have watched The Breakdown with Nath and Johnny know how effortlessly entertaining they are, and it was no different in person. With their easy-going, bubbly personalities, everyone was grinning ear to ear as they brought audience members on stage, held a round of trivia, and played “Pin the Violin on the Eddie.”
Having toured with the likes of Bloom, In Hearts Wake, and Alpha Wolf, Inertia are no strangers to bringing the heat to every show they play—and last night was no exception. With chunky riffs, beastly screams, heavenly cleans, and a rhythm section you can feel in your bones, their entire set was an impossible “try not to headbang” challenge. They were there to warm up the crowd for Imminence, and it’s safe to say everyone was on fire by the time “Leviathan” finished.
Moshing, circle pits, and crowd surfers—Inertia had the audience in the palm of their hands. Owning the stage as if it were their own headline show, this is a band you do not want to sleep on. From the calmer moments in “Too Far Gone” to the face-melting heaviness of “Dominion,” the Sydney group had something for everyone.
Finally, it was time to welcome the Swedish icons back to the stage. Opening with “Temptation,” the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. From vocalist Eddie Berg’s first scream, the crowd came alive—we knew we were in for a spectacular show.
Mixing in songs from their most recent album, The Black, to 2019’s Leave A Light On, we were treated to the likes of “Come What May” and “Infectious.” Berg’s ability to seamlessly switch between angelic cleans and ferocious screams is nothing short of impressive, and we were lucky enough to witness this magic all night long.
With a crowd singing back the chorus to “Death By A Thousand Cuts” and every word of “Erase,” it’s no surprise the show sold out so quickly. There was no shortage of headbanging, singing, smiles, or circle pits—and I doubt anyone stood still for more than a minute.
Performing songs like “Ghost” and “Desolation,” there was the perfect balance of soft and heavy moments. But speaking of heavy—nobody could have been prepared to have their face melted off during “Death Shall Have No Dominion.” Even as a metal vocalist myself, I was questioning if Berg was human at several points throughout the song.
During “Death Shall Have No Dominion” and “God Fearing Man,” we witnessed guitarist Harald Barrett’s genius firsthand. Choosing a violin bow over a guitar pick, all eyes were on the “witch king” as he dramatically bowed his guitar. Trust me when I say this is a moment in the set you don’t want to miss.
Berg’s mesmerising performance—switching between beautiful violin passages, heavenly cleans, and emotional screams—had the entire crowd captivated throughout the set, proving why he’s one of the most powerful vocalists in the scene right now. This was especially evident during “The Black.” Anyone who has seen videos of Imminence live knows that during this song, Berg screams into his violin mic—but I can safely say videos don’t do it justice. Everyone in the venue was covered in goosebumps.
For a band likely battling jet lag, their performance was as tight as on the record—and if anything, the emotion behind each song shone even more vividly live. The perfect marriage of precision performance, pristine audio mix, and striking lighting made for arguably one of the best shows The Tivoli has ever seen.
– GALLERY –
