Deafheaven, Raccoon City @ The Gov, Adelaide 13/6/2023
Songs that fill the mind with joy, heartbreak, love and even laughter are abound on stage in Adelaide tonight. I don’t mean the Michael Bublé concert across the road, I’m talking about America’s unique blend of genre bending Deafheaven who storm The Gov.
It was an evening that was filled with raw energy from vocalist George Clarke, captivating melodies and sonic aggression all wrapped up in fusion of black metal, shoegaze and post-rock. However, before the main course we had the appetiser that is Raccoon City.
From Adelaide, there is an understated presence to the band before the angst pores out of them. Their music is a drama fuelled experience into the core of your being that combines The Mars Volta’s ability to create ambient sounds with a vocal delivery akin to Robert Smith fronting a post hardcore band.
They had a hardcore following down the front who bob and sing the words back as tracks like Spirit Hunter and Noctyrnus smash down the stage with the bands powerful drumming a particular standout.
Deafheaven are here promoting their new album Infinite Granite and drop three tracks from it during their ninety minute show. As the first notes rang out, that sonic aggression engulfed the venue. Combining so many different musical genres in their palette, you are pulled away from black metal screams to blues rhythms, 70’s rock, post hardcore and some epic guitar solos during the night.
The audience, enraptured, squeeze in tight and dance away the night while the emotionally charged lyrics from Clarke rain down. Sunbather, Gifts For The Earth and Great Mass Of Colour showcasing the bands technical prowess and chemistry through the thunderous drumming and guitar melodies.
Worthless Animal is a treat for the night as the band take over and lead you away into a magical world of atmospheric dreamscapes and blistering intensity all in one. However, the big crowd mover was Dream House that had the crowd responding into a mosh pit with enthusiasm.
Deafheaven has just delivered a masterclass in musicianship of how one genre not mentioned should be. Prog’s ability to take you into other worlds while staying true to the song is one of the hardest tricks for a band to pull and Deafheaven do it effortlessly. It’s a testament to their ability to push boundaries and redefine what is music. The crowd at The Gov certainly enjoyed being enchanted away on the magic carpet ride that is Deafheaven.
Live Review By Iain McCallum