7 April 2024 – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane – words by Alessandro Ambrosi – pictures by Charlyn Cameron
What’s better than a metal concert to kick the Sunday night blues right in the &#$@???
Tonight, on the menu, we have UK’s Carcass with their 40+ years career (give or take a 10-year break from 1996 to 2006) of pioneering grindcore early on, to death metal and whether it was the former or the latter Carcass has always set the rules to follow. Supports The Black Dahlia Murder might have sounded quite different, if it wasn’t for Carcass.
Citing the UK band as on of their major influences, they are the perfect fit for a support act with their melodic death metal . It is the first time for me after the death of former singer Trevor Strnad so I’m quite curious to see them with the revisited formation.
Opening the night is Adelaide’s Freedom of Fear bringing us their blackened death metal. Another first for me so bring it on guys….and gals! A considerable crowd is already present when the 5 piece from Adelaide starts their performance.
Straight of the bat you can tell this guys have been around and know their trade very well. Guitarists Corey and Matt move with ease between groovy mid tempos and fast virtuous solos as the drums move between blasts and groove. Bassist Georgina fills up the low end with her bass adding that extra layer of heaviness.
Freedom of Fear – The Princess Theatre – photos by Charlyn Cameron
The high praise for me goes to singer Jade which travelled between DM growls and high screams of Cradle of Filth memory without skipping a beat.
Their set is welcomed by the audience with moshing and cheers. Time flies when you’re having fun and their 30 minutes are up but they managed to grab a new fan here for sure in that short time.
Quick breather and a drink and it’s time for The Black Dahlia Murder to hit the stage.
In the hour that follows TBDM make sure to explore the entirety of their career from 2003 “Unhallowed” to 2020 “Verminous”. And it is the latter that opens the performance.
‘What a horrible night to have a curse’, ‘Kings of the Nightworld’ and ‘Sunless Empire’ are played in rapid succession before Brian acknowledges the never forgotten Trevor Strnad (RIP) and thanks the audience for following the reincarnation of TBDM while a “Trevor Trevor” chant raises from the crowd.
The Black Dahlia Murder – The Princess Theatre – photos by Charlyn Cameron
Soon enough it’s time to flex some muscles with ‘Statutory Ape’ before slowing back down for ‘On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood’. The audience responds enthusiastically to the never still Brian with encouragements for fist pumps and horns up. A few song from the early part of their career with personal favourites ‘Funeral Thirst’ and ‘I Will Return’ bring us to the end of the gig for TBDM.
Apart from some issues with mixing here and there (nothing major really) it was an enjoyable hour and hopefully it won’t be another 5 years before they come back to our shores.
The stage for Carcass with their massive ribcage backdrop is getting set and it’s time to check the merch stand.
A few minutes after 10 pm the unmistakable medical introduction welcomes Carcass on stage. It’s a well oiled up machine in front of us. Mr Walker aims his bass at the crowd while the 2 axes shred away.
It’s a mid tempos start with ‘Buried Dreams’ from HEARTWORK, but it’s with ‘Kelly’s Meat Emporium’ that Carcass show their faster grinding side straight away.
Carcass – The Princess Theatre – photos by Charlyn Cameron
Another unmistakable medical introduction opens for ‘Incarnated Solvent Abuse’ and it’s a trip up and down their 40 year career throughout the night. Whether it is grinding the early stuff from REEK OF PUTREFACTION or SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS or the more death’n’roll oriented SWANSONG up to the more recent TORN ARTERIES.
‘Dance of Ixtab’ has the audience clap along after a colourful somehow typical Australian encouragement from Mr Walker. Carcass really know the ‘Tools of the Trade’ (this is also the title of the last song before the encore). And it’s a very old school encore with ‘Exume to Consume’ and the immortal ‘Reek of Putrefaction’.
Carcass – The Princess Theatre – photos by Charlyn Cameron
The night is over. Monday will soon be here but the ringing in our ears will remind us of a Sunday night of scalpel blades, unsolved murders and fear!!!
KEEP ON ROTTING IN THE FREE WORLD
