Artists: Myridian, Atra Vetosus, Requite
Venue: The Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne, Australia (Naarm, Woiwurrung country)
Date: 23rd August 2025
Review by: Ben Eldström
Photos by: Mark Hoffmann
August has been packed with gigs, with tonight’s dirge one of many competing for our city’s cohort of metalheads. How lucky we are to be spoilt for choice for heavy gigs on a Saturday night, “my steak is too juicy and my lobster too buttery” as the internet is echoing back to itself nowadays.
Requite
Requite opened their set to a deep, rumbling undercurrent of sound that immediately drew in early punters. The stage was awash in red as the first riffs rolled out, and punters responded instantly with steady headbanging. However the energy grew throughout the set, going far as to inspire moshing, and the crowd got so worked up that vocalist Andrew jokingly asked everyone to ease up.
There was a thankful nod to the past with a mention of Myridian, the first band they played alongside two years ago. This show also marked a change in Requite‘s lineup, with Ondre moving on and two fill-ins stepping in (sorry I missed their names). We’ve seen Requite quite a few times, and despite the changing line up they seemed to sound tighter than ever. Additional credit to the sound crew on the night too, this was one of the best-sounding performances from Requite too.
They ended up closing with a new track, not-so-accidentally called The End, which brings a fuller sound and potentially hints towards something bigger on the horizon. It was a strong finish to a set that showed Requite’s ability to balance heaviness with anguish, as well as an ability to rev up the crowd for acts to come.
Atra Vetosus
Lonny’s own Atra Vetosus opened their set with a backing track steeped in dungeon synth; the sound of swelling, mournful organs filling the room. It was a slow, atmospheric build that set the stage for something far more intense. When the band kicked in, the contrast was striking. The guitars cut through with some of the cleanest tones you’re likely to hear at a black metal show, which allows them to balance the light and the dark.
In a genre that thrives on bleakness, hearing sections of their songs in a major keys felt almost disorienting. Yet they make it work, creating a refreshing sense of triumph that was repeated throughout the set. Several times, the keyboardist and vocalist Josh menacingly lurched towards the crowd over the keys, adding to the intimidating atmosphere.
Despite the passages of lighter and uplifting moments, Atra Vetosus were still able to stir up the crowd into a mosh, which was almost constant for the last third of their set. Finally, they closed with the same conviction they began with, leaving the crowd revved up for the night’s headliners. It was a set that balanced atmosphere with precision, proving that even in the heaviest corners of metal, there is room for clarity, melody and a touch of grandeur.
Myridian
Closing the night, Myridian brought a cinematic shift in the atmosphere. The earlier chaos gave way to something more expansive, with the band really leaning into melody and melancholy. Somehow the pace of their set seemed to reflect that of their music, slowly unfurling and unravelling to expose more elements. Or maybe these are just the musings of a biased mind.
For all the din of despair, there was one shining light in Sarah’s clean vocals. Coupled with Felix’s shrieks being so powerful that he needed to step back from the mic, you can’t help but feel like you’re hearing a faint eerie call from deep in the woods.
Despite their death-doom stylings bathed in melody, Myridian weave considerable progressive elements to their sound, largely through Zebådee’s drumming. One moment you think you’ve found a rhythm you can grasp and headbang to, next minute it’s shifted and you’re off time. It certainly keeps their sound fresh and ever evolving.
Despite the sound coming out of the stacks being great all night, there seemed to be a few technical and mix issues for the members on stage. Sarah at one point noting to Ian that “it just sounds like a wall of noise”. This garnered an obvious response from a few in the crowd heckling “fuck yeah wall of noise”, which loosened up some of the tension.
Myridian may have gotten lost in their own music a little too much, ending the show somewhat abruptly yet on good terms. Taken aback by this sudden stop, the crowd started chanting “one more song”, to which the band confirmed it wasn’t a bit but they were genuinely done. An unconventional way to wrap up a gig, but it’s certainly an effective way to leave people wanting more.
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