Artists: Ghostsmoker, Convulsing, Brian Campeau, Black Aleph, Saleeha & TVISB, Instrumental (adj), Lack the Low, Diploid, Aphir
Venue: The Bendi, Melb, Aus (Naarm, Woiwurrung country)
Date: 21st August 2026

Review by: JRoc, Dan/Ulffe & Ziggy
Photos by: Dave Collopy

Friday the 21st of August showcased an eclectic lineup of Art as Catharsis musical acts celebrating the 15 year anniversary of the label. While the Bendigo Hotel may be in its final hours as a live venue for heavy music, punters flocked in to celebrate a hugely positive milestone in the Australian music scene. This bill was a reflection of the ethos of the label showcasing a diverse array of sounds and stylings that are important to its history and community.

Check out the summary of the night by Jess, Ziggy, and Ulffe/ Dan

Aphir

Opening this incredible line up is experimental dreamgaze artist Aphir, to be able to see Aphir perform in such an intimate space of the upstairs bandroom (after such an enormous mind altering performance supporting Chelsea Wolfe on her 2025 show at The Forum), was truly a gift.

The room fills early with a sea of bodies perched on the carpet and surrounding the purple lit space, everyone was enchanted, and endlessly curious. Aphir presents mysteriously draped in layers of lace, mesmerising us with haunting ethereal vocal loops that continually take shape as they transcend through the air. With droning, developing layers married with soundscapes and electronic feedback that leave you breathless, yearning for more as your mind sits on the cusp of drifting to a place far beyond this realm.

Aphir’s latest release Avarena is out October 9, be sure to listen to the track Photokeratitis that’s out now paired with it’s music video.

Diploid

Naarm’s finest noise-grind-punks Diploid, or Dippers as I have affectionately heard them called, fresh from their European tour are back demolishing The Bendigo Hotel main bandroom stage. The trio are no stranger to this room, with their amps draped in beautiful delicate tapestries, they take hold as they rip into their short, fast, suffocating tracks, it comes so abruptly as we enter the room, there’s no turning back now.

An abrasive display with distorted samples, I hear tracks I know, that seem to hit different every time I see them performed live, DIPLOID shows are immensely visceral to put it lightly. Trust the Process closes this undeniably powerful yet confrontational set, with all three members on vocals throughout this closing song “waste of space, waste of time, I won’t stop until I die” guitarist Maz while using every breath they’ve got left screaming these final lyrics, throws themselves at us, and eventually to the floor for the last time at this historic Collingwood venue.

Lack The Low

Heading upstairs the soul of the night was immediately apparent as LACK THE LOW set up and faced the crowd. Kat Hunter’s solo project moved between intricate textured electronics, warm keys and striking vocal work, retaining the ‘avant-pop’ sound that defines her style.

This performance was enchanting, and an incredible contrast to the heaviness of the Diploid set downstairs. I loved the native flora, and the act of interacting with the stage between each song, I noted the words ‘Spell for Grieving Someone Still Alive’ and ‘Wake’ presented on material that was replaced and presented on a podium between songs. The front rows of the audience sat captivated as the performance filled the room.

God-Carrier is a beautiful release with warm production and can be found on Bandcamp here: https://lackthelow.bandcamp.com/album/god-carrier

Instrumental (adj)

This Sydney based three-piece have been around for over a decade in this ensemble, releasing their debut in 2015, aptly named A Series Of Disagreements, while they are new to me, it’s diverse line ups like this that gave me the opportunity to see the experimental jazz infused prog trio absolutely blow my mind.

Hypnotically taking us from the moment they take stage, they play together like they both want to, and want to drift into their own time sequences, which is intriguing, and frankly, that’s jazz baby. For what felt like a jam between three talented individuals with pulling in each corner, developed with heaviness that billowed as thick as the smoke that drowned out the drummer. For those of us familiar as more metal-leaning fans in the room, this heavy-prog eruption takes us on a sonic journey you didn’t expect, like getting on the wrong bus but staying on, and being fascinated by the mystery of where you’ll end up next.

Saleeha & TVISB

Upstairs was the place to be for all things unique and wonderful. The quiet hum starts the set, a combination of TVISB’s samples and open melody from Saleeha’s guitar filled the top floor. Adding layers of emotion before stepping towards the mic to lay devotional vocals. The set folded in electronics and samples in a slow-burning collision of drone. Its industrial texture and atmosphere was grand and spiritual. Their collaboration was highlighted hotly in deep red stage lighting and the captive audience witnessed this performance comfortably.

While not knowing the music of this collaboration until tonight, I left with the overwhelming urge to experience this moment again- I’d highly recommend getting around a SALEEHA & TVISB performance when you get the chance.

Black Aleph

All of us at Hook Riff & Banger were naturally thrilled to to be getting the opportunity to see BLACK ALEPH live again. Each time this band hits the stage- from the first hypnotic moment- punters are instantly enthralled. Tonight was a wonderful way for supporters to celebrate 15 years of Art As Catharisis, and a pleasure seeing the man himself, Lachlan Dale on stage and performing on the bill.

Lachlan’s effects-heavy guitar is hypnotic and ethereal, Peter’s amplified cello provides huge, beautiful cinematic bottom range and melody while Timothy’s daf/percussion produced some of the evening’s most tectonic moments.

This band is a refreshing instrumental convergence of doom, drone, post-metal and middle eastern musical influence. It’s been a while since we had Lachlan and Tim on the pod, but we discussed the unique place they sit that allows them to slot into a heavy lineup.

To no surprise their set was transportitive, punters were enraptured by a range of emotional playing throughout the music we have already come to love, while also being treated to exciting new Black Aleph material. We witnessed new sample/key instrumentation from Tim, and some exceptional techniques on the much loved daf. This is an exciting evolution to the already established Black Aleph sound. The performance was such a treat and wonderful celebration of the night.

Brian Campeau

Brian Campeau is a Canadian-born, Naarm based singer songwriter, performing funky, folk-rock poetry, with jazz drones that slip you onto a nice warm wind on a cloud, a kaleidoscopic adventure as I layed on the floor and watched Brian strum and sing along with a band of bass and drums rounding out this sound.

Songs like Losing Friends really grabbed me, Brian’s playful, cheeky demeanour makes digesting his message Losing Love is easy, Keeping Friends is practically impossible, a little less grim to bear – like I said, it’s poetry. Dancing around his guitar strings for the beginning of Garden Song, as the track finds it’s body, Brian signals to the bass player to go for it, and wielding a red Starfire Bass, we’re taken on a ride for a hefty solo.

He closes with Obvious, with words simply stating “it takes a soul to change a mind”, this was my first time seeing Brian Campeau, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Convulsing

Convulsing’s Brendan Sloan opens the set with a message that bears repeating forever: Fuck occupations worldwide. Freedom to all.

The crowd spills in from downstairs into this pit of heaviness, it feels like the room is distorting around me as the technical compositions immediately overwhelm my senses, I feel the voices in my brain get drowned out.

Brendan’s devastating riffs tear through time and space shifting from brutal to melodic, while his vocals cut through with harsh intensity and vulnerability. Robin Stone tests the foundations of the Bendigo Hotel with his furious blasts that still has my head rattling as I write this the next day – watching Robin play truly left me in awe – phenomenal. Whilst Peter Kossen on the bass weaved underneath with a rumbling tone that rounded out this colossal sound.

A quick glance around the room offers a wide range of reactions – appreciation in the form of banging heads, eyes wide and excited glances between friends who no doubt are experiencing this for the first time, and a few people who looked like the emotional weight was hitting them hard.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Convulsing twice before, and each time left me feeling changed in some way. Whether it be creative inspiration, being provoked to challenge my perspectives or allowing for introspection. A wire always trips in my brain. Tonight was no exception. My heart feels full. This is art as catharsis.

Ghostsmoker

Closing out the evening we descend into another grim realm of heaviness with Ghostsmoker. The crowd closes in for the last act on this incredible mixed bill, from instrumental ambience and prog, death metal to drone, and now we’re ending with doom.

It’s been a minute since I’ve caught a Ghostsmoker show and let me tell you I’m so fucking excited. Their latest release Inertia Cult was one of my most listened to records last year.

The stage was clouded in a menacing haze and as the band appeared it looked like a scene from a horror movie. Silhouettes moved through the mist onstage and unleashed a monstrous roar that immediately gripped the audience who stuck it out to the end.

Grim, slow and gritty rhythms from Ben Astbury gnawed away at you while vocalist Nathan Brunning cut through with earth shattering harsh delivery. Brayden Becher made his presence known on the drums with his high energy style of earth shattering doom, while the new addition of Pat (also plays in Giant – go check them out) on bass provided a colossal roar that brought the room to its knees. With a glimpse of new material that sounded absolutely fucking devastating and clear fan favourite Incarnate, ending such a legendary night of celebration with a set like this felt like an appropriate farewell to the end of an era at The Bendi.

Thank you to Lachlan Dale for putting together such a stellar lineup and showcasing incredible music via Art As Catharsis. You’re a legend.

The mood in the room was heavy knowing this will be one of the last gigs we experience together at The Bendi as we know and love it under the guidance of The Mill.

The Bendi has become a second home to us at HR&B. The amount of gigs we’ve attended here, our podcast recording days with incredible creatives, album launches of bands that have become dear friends, to halloween parties and tattoo flash days with Hellraiser, legendary BA birthday bashes and endless pints and parmas – it’s a bittersweet farewell.

Go support your local live music venues and creatives. The connection and communities these establishments cultivate and nurture are necessary and needed. Celebrating 15 years of Art as Catharsis tonight proved exactly this. Supporting each other is everything. The last gig is on the 29th of August. Don’t miss it.

To the team at The Bendigo Hotel & The Mill – thank you for everything. We love you.