24 October 2020 at Enigma Bar
Metal is back in Adelaide, I repeat, METAL IS BACK IN ADELAIDE!
Albeit, the lack of pit and the fact it was a seated gig, was something that most show-goers will take some getting used to (let’s hope that we don’t have to), but these regulations did not stop the bands playing at the METAL UNITED DOWNUNDER show at the legendary Enigma Bar in Adelaide on October 24th from tearing up the stage.
The night was opened by Sloven, Adelaide’s own sludge/doom metal act, and it was the perfect way to get back into it. A seated crowd was no barrier for Sloven, with them pulling off an almost flawless set, feeding a live music starved crowd with the heaviness that they had all been missing. The audience lapped it up as Sloven tore through their epics. Stellar vocal work from the singer and just absolute precision from the band made it hard to believe that they had not played a show for quite some time.
While Sloven’s cleanliness and precision made it seem like they had not missed anytime performing, the energy and enthusiasm that power metal band Skyhammer took to the stage with showed just how much they had missed playing in front of an audience. Being everything you want from a power metal band, along with the cheesy but epic cover of Bonnie Tyler’s hit ‘I Need a Hero’, Skyhammer gave the seated Enigma crowd a real treat. Really amping up the room, the stage looked too small to contain the energy that was being thrown around that stage, Skyhammer really put on a show.
With the energy being set up high by Skyhammer, by the time Adelaide thrash favourites Hidden Intent took to the stage, it made difficult work for the crowd to remain seated. Another band looking to be absolutely enthralled to be back onstage, Hidden Intent took the opportunity to show everybody what they had been working on during the forced break, road testing new songs from their upcoming album with some fan favourites. Playing into the seated crowd, from replacing a circle pit with a Mexican wave and normally motivating chants of “go!” with encouraging the crowd to keep seated, Hidden Intent had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand, making it hard work to stick to the restrictions.
The first three bands were chomping at the bit to perform after a break, South Australian grindcore legends Sickness really showed what coming back from some time off was all about. Playing their first show in two years, the headliners ripped through their extensive setlist at hyper speed, having the crowd on the edge of their seats as they resisted the urge to get up and headbang. There was no other way that one of the first big shows back in Adelaide could really have ended, then with having Sickness shred out the night in their brutal fashion. After this incredible show, and even with the pits and a seated crowd, it shows that no virus can ever kill the passion for metal that Adelaide has. Being a scene that has been thriving for decades, make no mistake, metal in Adelaide is back and thriving.
Line-up: Hidden Intent, Sickness, Skyhammer, Sloven
Reviewer: Kayla Hamilton