ISUA + Supports

The energy of Doom certainly hits differently in a live forum. 

Beggar

Walking up to the stage for the opening act, BEGGAR, your eyes are drawn to the spring balanced on the backrest of a bar stool and all you can wonder is, ‘why is there a spring hanging onto the back of a chair?’
After a slight false start due to audio issues (at no fault of the band) once corrected, BEGGAR destroyed the crowd. This 6 piece, while tightly occupying the Bendigo Hotel stage were huge. 
AN INTENSE blast of doom began rattling the crowds souls. Almost instantaneously putting the room into a headbanging unison.
BEGGAR kill with guttural vocals for their opening track, as their set continued they were respectfully theatric and ritualistic at times. The dense atmosphere the band created was enticing to their vocalist, who spent sections of their performance stepping off the stage and into the crowd facing his band throughout the set. 
Answered early on was the question in relation to the spring. A member of the 6 piece was wielding a hammer to smash the spring adding punch to the percussion section. 
This same guy brings unique electronic noise and screeching textures to the performance with various pedals and audio equipment. 

Generating energy with rhythmic repetition, creating harsh ambience with feedback. BEGGAR killed it. 
This is a band to follow, the experience like a ritual cleansing. 

---

Ghostsmoker

In come GHOSTSMOKER with a comparatively more traditional lineup and song composition. Ditching an industrial spring and hammer, for a Gibson Flying V they combine Doom and Sludge. 

I recall the harsh lighting, mostly red for most of their set. 

I was surprised when the vocals kicked in. High pitched growls grated at your ears, blackening their place in the doom genre. Their sound was raw and the vocals cut through the instruments harshly. The bass pulsated and pulled and guided you, the observer through their set.
GHOSTSMOKER are good at generating heavy rhythm, very impactful especially in sections where the guitars sit slightly behind the beat. Well suited to their latest EPs theme of loss/trauma.
Ending their set with the final track of their latest EP (Mass Grave), they finished with good groove, sliding bass sections and strong head-banging energy – their newest songs show a great evolution of their sound. 

---

Mammon’s Throne

Well-known and respected in the local scene, this was my first live experience with the band and it was not a let down. Mammon’s Throne are a band that completely own their sound. 
Absolute professionalism when it comes to delivering their driving rhythm, and their ability to create melody that stays stuck in your head as a listener with only a couple of repetitions. They build a scene and story that take you along for the ride with their instruments alone, they hold the suspense with climactic outros that feel like they end, then carry on heavier and more interesting.

Their energy translated in my mind to visions of wandering through colour-washed deserts under bright night skies. 

Tasteful and reserved leads and energetic soloing, knowing when to step out of the spotlight. Matthew Millar is a versatile vocalist, who can own dirty vocals and quickly adapt to clean gritty. He is a driving force in the band.
Mammon’s Throne tell a tale with their song structure alone. I thoroughly enjoyed their set.

They claimed on the night to have merch that will guarantee immortality, this is yet to be verified, however. 

---

ISUA

ISUA, a worthy headliner. Another band who are masters of their craft who have been very active in the live scene as of late. They take a firm stand in the genre but effectively fulfil their roles and generate energy in the crowd.

Bringing rhythmic sections that sway like a pendulum, forcing the crowd into a trancelike state of hypnotic head nodding.
The highlight moments of their set include their tremolo heavy lead sections, dirty, wide guitar tones, primal vocals, and energetic yet subtle drum fills. Their songs are carefully constructed and leave room for each other to fulfil their roles.
ISUA are truly a strong finisher and a perfect close for the night.

Catch them at a show, listen to their recordings – it is worth your time.

---

Images archived, please email reviews@hookriffandbanger.net for access