I love local Metal gigs. They definitely have a different vibe and warmth, and I try to attend as many as my dad-life permits me these days. More often than not, I see familiar faces, have a good chat, and discover great local talent. Today I went to watch Sydney Gothic Metallers The Veil’s album launch gig (for their new album ‘Departures’)
I arrived right on time to catch the very first notes of opening band Oar’s set, and I was immediately captured by their brand of raw Black Metal mixed with thick and dense atmospheric passages. I didn’t know Matt from Golgothan Remains was their new growler, so it was a pleasant surprise to witness this live set, as this guy is a truly talented frontman and guttural vocalist. They played a 30-minute long set that felt way shorter, maybe because of how immersive their songs are, most of them interwoven within each other, creating the perfect balance between atmospheric soundscapes and hellish intensity. The crowd was very engaged with them since the very beginning, and that is always refreshing to see for an opening band.
Hekate were next, and while I am usually not that much into Stoner Metal, their set was very enjoyable. Their style lives somewhere between the classic Heavy/Doom meets Georgia Stoner, with groovy rhythms and catchy chuggy guitar riffs that drive every song effectively. In yet another vocal surprise of the day, I was pleasantly surprised to see Witchskull’s Marcus in vocal duties for this band that I had never seen live or heard of. I really liked the fact that I found his vocals pretty unique and different to the stuff he does with his other band. Often even giving me some hints of ‘Bleach’ era Kurt Cobain, the mix of sounds on Hekate made for another enjoyable set.
3rd band of the night Cruciform was a real surprise for me. I have heard of them before, I know they were one of those legendary bands that have been around for a long while, but somehow I had never managed to catch them live. I absolutely loved their set, full of Death/Doom and Gothic magic that coined the 90s sound in full perfection. It was like going back to listening some of the bands I grew up listening to, like The Sins of Thy Beloved or Tristania. Heavy and oppressive songs, with growling vocals to match, intricate guitar passages and a masterful use of keyboards that gave every song a truly unique and bombastic feel. I am not familiar with their songs, but the last one in their set was fantastic. I am really keen to watch Cruciform again next time I have the opportunity to do it.
Now, after 3 very solid bands and their respective sets, it was time to welcome Sydney’s own The Veil onstage for their big night. I do know they are a band that have been around for a decent amount of years now, but this was only my 2nd time watching them live, with the previous one being a few months ago, so I really have no reference of their live sound previous to their current lineup, but I knew it was going to be good. The Veil plays heavy music that might be a bit hard to categorize. It is Gothic Metal/Rock through and through, but with strokes of Shoegaze, Prog and Doom. Their sound is very eclectic by nature, and one might find influences from a few different bands and styles here, (I like to name-drop when writing my reviews, as I find that comparisons to existing good bands are a nice form of flattery) and I can objectively say that I find hints of Dead Can Dance, Thy Catafalque, Anathema, Vulture Industries or The Cult, in The Veil’s music. Yes, it is THAT eclectic, and interesting, and engaging. And in their case, that is a good thing, because the band has effectively found a way to sound fresh in almost every song and to have their own unique sound stamped all over, at the same time.
One of the most surprising things about their set is how they achieve such a full and thick sound being 3 musicians onstage. Bass-man Ben Rumble does a great job on the 4 strings, drummer Bunga is an absolute machine and probably one of the very best drummers I can recall from the Sydney scene today, and singer/guitarist Che de Boehmler is fantastic in creating interesting melodic patterns and leads and matching them perfectly to his very unique vocal style. This style I find very histrionic, theatrical even, with interesting vocal inflexions that make for very memorable melodies. His voice really works as another instrument to the full extent. Another thing that I really liked about The Veil’s set (and songs in general) is that, unlike so many other Gothic Metal bands, this band does not sacrifice the use of the often-relegated-yet -mighty Guitar Riff. Literally all their songs are chock-full of intricate riffs, something that instantly becomes one of the trademarks in their overall sound. As a guitarist (and wannabe singer) I thoroughly admire people that can play and sing with mastery at the same time, as I cannot do it at all. Che does it all the time, he sings in all those varied ways and plays complicated riffs on his guitar with true precision.
After approximately one hour of great songs, old and new, The Veil thanked the audience and left the stage, leaving me and many others wanting a bit more. I am not very familiar with the band’s individual songs, but today’s gig made me want to check all of their material and catch them live in the future again. Their delivery was both engaging and powerful, with a very populated Vanguard (awesome thing for a local gig!) and a varied lineup of local talent, making this one of the most enjoyable local gigs I have attended in a while.
Review by Roman Ibarra.
