LIVE REVIEW: Northlane @ The Roundhouse (2019), Sydney
The Australian metal scene arguably possesses one of the strongest collection of artists in the world and throughout their career NORTHLANE have blossomed into one of the key players. Their fearless innovation and will to experiment with their sound has brought them an abundance of adoration. This has by no means been an easy road that has been handed to them on a silver platter. They’ve had to scratch and claw every step of the way to overcome the steep adversity put in their path. From abrupt member departures to downgraded venues the quintet have had to work incredibly hard to keep this band and their dream afloat. Despite coming from a very dark place Alien proved to be the catalyst which would springboard the band to heights they’d never experienced before and in celebration of this the quintet will be streaming their hometown show at Sydney’s The Roundhouse from October of last year on August 21st and 22nd via Netgigs. We at Distorted Sound have been given the privilege of reviewing this performance and giving you a taste of what to expect.
From the moment the Aussies hit the stage they turned The Roundhouse into a sea of bodies, opening up with the steamroller that is Talking Heads. It was instantly evident that they were there to make a statement. From the frenetic light show to the bellows of smoke expelled from all angles of the stage it was all the hallmarks of a band that are at the top of their game. Like a well oiled machine they effortlessly reeled off tracks from Node, Mesmer and Alien expertly intertwining the stages of their career into an absolute juggernaut of a performance and it showed just how much this show meant to them collectively.
Details Matter was the perfect opportunity for frontman Marcus Bridge to command the stage and prove his doubters wrong by proudly proclaiming “You can’t make me disappear”. Whilst there was particularly adulation from the fans for the likes of Rot, Citizen and Intuition the night really belonged to the performances of the material from Alien. The tracks are intense, pissed off and whipped the crowd up into an utter frenzy and the countless instances of mesmerising drum fills from Nic Pettersen combined with the triple riff assault from guitarists Josh Smith, Jon Delley and bassist Brendon Padjasek leave you knowing without a shadow of a doubt that is by far the strongest lineup the band have constructed.
After a masterclass of roughly 45 minutes the venue was plunged into darkness allowing NORTHLANE to leave the stage. Chants filled the air as the crowd anticipated their return but they were not prepared for what would happen next. Marcus and company returned as he donned a full length sequinned jacket and the chilling tones of Sleepless brought the crowd into a stunned silence. Normally without being present you cannot get a true sense of the atmosphere in the room but there was a state of awe from all in attendance that emanates throughout. The emotions pouring from Marcus could have brought even the strongest willed individual to tears as the emotional distress on his face was evident. Regardless he powered through the track with not a single faltering note and that is a testament to what an incredible performer he is. Phenomenally executed soaring vocals instantly sending shivers down your spine will ensure this performance will be forever ingrained in your mind. This will be one performance you will not want to miss as NORTHLANE have already confirmed this will be the first and only time that this song will be played live. As the unmistakable opening riffs of Quantum Flux signalled the end of the night drawing ever closer it was the ideal way to incite one last surge of crowd participation and a fitting nod to how far the band have come since this track came to prominence.
They may have endured incredible hardship and unfathomable suffering to get to this stage but the tracks that have stemmed from these experiences have allowed NORTHLANE to bounce back and become an unstoppable force in metal and their resilience seems to know no bounds. It may seem like an unenviable task to follow on from the sheer intensity that Alien has brought to the table but they will be more than equipped to tackle whatever comes next.
Rating: 10/10
Check out a photo gallery of the action from 2019’s stunning show from Neal Walters below:
NORTHLANE’s ‘Live At The Roundhouse’ livestream will broadcast on August 21st and 22nd via Netgigs. Tickets for the stream are available now and can be purchased here.
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