After playing their first ever Australian shows in 2019, Metal Church is back to introduce new Singer Marc Lopes to an appreciative Australian audience.
… And just like those 2019 shows, it’s Temtris who roll out the welcome mat.
Greeted by a healthy throng of disciples pressed up against the barricade, Temtris come out swinging, with Singer Gen Rodda resplendent in natty Green Shades.
It’s a short, sharp set tonight, and as the band have been gigging fairly regularly of late, they’re in fighting form, all guns blazing!
It’s a fairly cramped space on stage to accommodate Metal Church’s gear, but that definitely adds to the intensity of Temtris assault tonight.
Opener Khaos Devine, Forever (featuring a particularly tasty harmony guitar solo from the Fox & Nadi Naroozian), and One for All with its Chugging riff and shout-along chorus were highlights. As ever, Temtris delighted the faithful and thrilled any newcomers.
Killrazer seamlessly morphs from soundcheck into their set, with the bombastic opener Legions.
The brutal death metal vocals are underpinned by old-school thrash with constant tempo changes to keep the crowd on their toes, while an avalanche of double-kick drums pummel them into submission. The contrasting lead vocals of the Bass player and the guitarist also keep the set fresh throughout. Salt in the wound and ‘Spanking Newie’ Theatre of War continue the onslaught.
Due to the heat outside, and the not-insignificant crowd numbers inside, it’s steaming in the Crowbar tonight. A spotlight from the stage, constantly scours the room, like a helicopter searchlight conducting a manhunt while Killrazer’s soundtrack cranks up the crowd to boiling point ready for the headliners.
Recently, the Talk Louder Podcast lauded New Singer Marc Lopes for “Bringing back the Gnarl” to Metal Church’s sound! I would not only agree, but also add that he’s also added a massive energy boost to the mix as well!
After the percussive intro music (The aptly titled ‘Son of Thunder), the opening tune Ton of Bricks hits like a… well you get the idea. The singer is like a firecracker, pinging off every surface on the stage. Classics Start the Fire & Battalions exemplify how influential these guys were to the 80’s Bay area sound, while new tunes Gods of Wrath & Pick a God and Pray reaffirm Metal Church’s enduring appeal, this is reflected by the rapturous response from the Crowbar crowd.
The camaraderie on stage is palpable, with grinning band members matching the elation of the crowd while drummer Stet Howland is almost a show all on his own. Typically, drummers are hard to spot on the crowbar stage, but the stick-juggling jack in the box here cannot be missed!
Metal Church have dragged out some deep cuts for this tour, Burial at Sea (never played on tour before) goes down a storm, while perennial favourites Badlands & Fake Healer are welcome old friends, the epic finale, Beyond the Black and Metal Church, concludes a night of pure metal magic.
The band plans to ride this wave of renewed energy to record another new album in 2024, so here’s hoping for a return visit on the back of it when it’s done.
Photos by Adam Sivewright | Review by Biggs
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Killrazer:
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