A vocalist falling through the floor and continuing on, another breaking down in tears after a brutally emotional performance and a band finally touring an album nationally eighteen months after its release may just about be the most rock n roll night of the year as Windwaker and friends roll into town.
Windwaker’s stunning album, and one of this reviewers top 5 for 2022, Love Language dropped last year as the band went on some pretty major support slots before a change of vocalist halted momentum somewhat. A few single releases since and the band have created an extensive national tour that focuses on that album. Like the album, they do not disappoint.
Joining them are England’s Caskets, they themselves about to drop a new album Reflections on August 11, on their first Australian jaunt and Adelaide’s own Alt. who continue to evolve right before our eyes into their own powerhouse of a band.
Alt. stunning new album Abeyance dropped last month on the back of some pretty impressive touring runs and it shows. Having seen the band evolve from its creation to now, each time they get more impressive.
Starting with insubordinate the crowd are bouncing in a motion that doesn’t stop for their whole set. The bands ability to engage the audience one of the features that touring has honed as they embrace the heavy dynamics of their songs.
The nights first rock n roll moment occurs during the epic Back To Earth track, with its glorious and now ironic lyric I wanna be a rock star, as vocalist Daniel Cullen-Richards breaks through the stage floor while performing. Leaving the destruction behind, Daniel doesn’t stop despite the obvious discomfort as the band continue to rage through Wraith and APEP to a rapturous home crowd.
Caskets bring with them a set list that matched the hype swirling around the band currently. Opening with the track Guiding Light from the new album, the packed room bops along and sing every word back.
The harmonic atmosphere and ability to switch from poetic softness to crushing riffs is mesmerising as the crowd clap along during Hold Me Now and scream back during More Than Misery.
Wall of deaths and circle pits are common place as vocalist Matt Flood utilises every inch of stage and barrier to connect with everyone as he cathartically unloads his emotional lyrics in kinetic fashion with the crowd.
Eventually Flood breaks down after one particular manic performance in tears as the weight of it all, in a special safe environment, be comes too much for him. Finishing with Glass Heart, Caskets deliver on their promise with their own memorable set and with the impending album release in a few weeks, they would’ve added a few pre-orders to that release tonight.
Tonight though is about Melbourne’s phoenix from the ashes story, Windwaker. Last years Love Language was a brilliant and eclectic musical adventure of styles, emotions and heady excitement that deserves more recognition worldwide, not just Australia. So the bands decision to tour it properly is welcomed by all.
Opening with Superstition Fantasy the place jumps and bounces that they almost touch the ceiling as the band swings from pop chorus to death metal verses seamlessly.
It’s clear everyone is on point as Lucy is loud and proud as the audience sing back with the vibe around the place one of musical bliss.
Vocalist Liam brings the energy of a toddler on red cordial as he snake hips, sways, claps, slides on his knees across the stage all the while while rapping, growling, crooning and singing those high notes all at once. The band behind matching every enthusiastic flick of the wrist with their own explosion of energy.
New song Sirens is sung back despite being literally days old in further proof of the bands ability to connect with their fans as the excellent Nighthawk and rare treasure Trenches – preceded with Liam picking out a fans sign asking for it to be played – are unleashed with ferocity.
The schizophrenic powder keg of a song Dopamine Lifestyle shakes the room as the band bring the fire with its ability to hit those downbeats harder than most as the crowd fire back. A touching moment as Love Language itself is performed to a camera lit filled room before the they finish with the shuddering anthem Beautiful – arguably the best song of 2022 – to send everyone on their way into the cold night chanting the bands name. Now that’s rock n roll.
Live Review By Iain McCallum