The Amity Affliction, Ice Nine Kills, We Came As Romans, Heavensgate @ The Drive, Adelaide 15/11/2024
With the current influx of high production international music events- some insanely more expensive than others, there is not enough money or time in the world right now to be able to see everything. Live music punters are wanting something truly awe inspiring and memorable to capture their hearts and imagination. The Amity Affliction and Ice Nine Kills absolutely delivered last night with a production that was truly legendary. A high energy, entertaining and perfectly executed spectacular that raised the bar for what a live show should be and blew the audience away, offering them a night they will never forget.
Melbourne’s HEAVENSGATE fired up with a handful of tracks from their 2023 debut EP And All I Loved, I Loved Alone along with most recent single release RATKING starting the night very early while fans swarmed into the venue and loud heavy riffs, breakdowns and roaring vocals carried across the river to lucky diners enjoying food truck fare at the Lucky Dumpling Market. By the time We Came as Romans graced the stage to deliver their high-powered set of metalcore assault, the crowd were already in a frenzy, and I did wonder how we were going to sustain that energy all the way to the final act.
Ice Nine Kills had no problems keeping that energy going- and admittedly I did not know what to expect from them as I had been unaware that someone had taken Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco to the post hardcore realm and made them Horror themed. All I knew was that these guys have been banned from Disneyland and are known to use fake blood onstage that is occasionally confiscated by customs when touring. They are now most definitely the standout for me this year, and my twelve-year-old son’s new favourite band ever. Ice Nine Kills were nothing short of good value and endearing entertainment. Using whimsical theatrics, hefty face melting metalcore with melodic harmonies, clever pop culture references and satire with a dash of flamboyance, they delivered a captivating performance that in my opinion, is made to be seen on the stage. The horror themes and incorporation of beloved fictional serial killers using costumes, props and dancers is nothing short of genius. Honourable mention to the most insanely joyful cover of Walking On Sunshine I have ever heard, intercepting the melodramatic recreation of famous slasher film scenes onstage. I can’t even describe how much glee these guys incited in the audience.
While I’ve been painstakingly shrinking my stretchers over the past ten years and embracing adulthood, there are just certain albums that will still transport any elder Emo back to the days of heartfelt melodies juxtaposed with gutterals in a tidy like post punk package. For so many of us, The Amity Affliction’s 2014 Let the Ocean Take Me is going to bring the big feelings and an urge to sing to the heavens hard and fast. Playing the entire album from beginning to end meant it was as predictable as it was comforting. Everyone was well and truly feeling it with the crowd engaged and in high spirits for the entire hour and a quarter set featuring an impeccable synchronised light show, pyrotechnics and streamers flying out. Lead vocalist Joel Birch loomed the stage with his enormous slender frame in a cool swagger while powering out the words to additional fan favourites Open Letter and Drag the Lake while Ahren Stringer continued his recent triumphant return to the band, holding his clean notes flawlessly and throwing his entire weight into the show’s intensity. While they didn’t have a great deal to say to the audience, they continued to fire out tracks giving ample opportunity to fans to sing along and connect with them through the music. Closing with Soaked in Bleach and one final explosive stage flex of streamers, the band concluded on an emotional high, leaving everyone exhilarated and feeling alive, the kind of feeling that only comes after a show as monumental as this one was.
Live Review By Bec Scheucher