THE AMENTA - Live in Brisbane 2023

8 Dec

Plague of Locus w/ LO! and RESIN TOMB

Written by: Rashid AlKamraikhi | Friday 1st December 2023
Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi >> FULL GALLERY

It was my first time attending a show at Soapbox and reaching the top of the stairs I was pleasantly surprised by the high roofed loft space, utilitarian but decently sized stage, and even better an amazing beer selection (amongst other refreshments) was on offer.

I was hustling though because I was running late due to a prior engagement that had run over time and had already missed the first act of the night, Malignant Aura. Sorry gang, next time.

Fortunately I had made it in mere moments before Resin Tomb, who were a band that I had been keen to check out for ages and also always managed to miss, crank into tonight’s selection of brutal offerings. Their domineering vocalist belted out bile filled lyrics as the band ripped out dissonant riffs and tight as a nuns proverbial blasts. It’s no wonder that their recent release, Cerebral Purgatory, has garnered such praise from the local heavy music community. I won’t be missing them again.

Next up was a band that I have conversely never missed a set from because they are one of my favourites from Australia, if not the world, Lo! Their ever animated frontman Sam was sporting a svelte look reminiscent of his pink goo covered visage from the film clip to Orca, minus the goo. He stared the crowd down while screaming in their faces, often directly as he got amongst them to deliver it up close and personal. The rest of the band played with a fury as they tore through tracks from throughout their discography with highlights being Cannibal Culture and Rat King from recent release The Gleaners.

Final band of the night was the nightmare fuelled The Amenta. Friends who had caught them when they were last up here supporting Emperor had told me that I was in for a spectacle and they did not disappoint. Sporting dead skin masks and business casual attire they got straight down to aforementioned business with a cacophony of demonic swirling sounds and seizure inducing lights. The intensity of their performance continually ramped up during their set as they relentlessly pummeled the crowd with no mercy, but that’s exactly what the crowd had come for and exactly what they got.