Killswitch Engage, Fallujah @ Metro City, Perth
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
There has been a spate of bands in recent history dipping into the nostalgia of their early career, a trend seen across many genres. With Jesse Leach’s return to Killswitch Engage, and their return to Australia touring 2001’s iconic album Alive Or Just Breathing, this has been an eagerly anticipated show by many in the Metal community.
Supporting act Fallujah, hailing from San Francisco, California, brought to the stage a highly technical and brutal style of music for the Metro City punters. The vocals were reminiscent of classic death metal bands like Napalm Death and Cradle of Filth, delivered by a more than capable Alex Hofmann, combined with relentless blast beats and a technically proficient guitar and bass section. Throughout the set both guitarists displayed an enviable level of dexterity dropping onto the audience two most impressive tapping guitar solos, particularly during Cerebral Hybridization and The Prodigal Son.
An unusual mix of the Beasties Boys’ (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) donned the PA system as Killswitch Engage bound onto the stage, Jesse Leach posing the question “Are you ready Perth?” and launched straight into Numbered Days. The band have a very loose and energetic presence onstage, especially guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz who did not stand still for a single second of the entire set.
They looked comfortable on the stage, their playing was tight, and Leach’s vocals were on point through the whole performance as he seamlessly transitioned from screaming, growling, and serenading the crowd into a frenzy.
As they progressed through the album, it was clearly apparent what the crowd favourites were, going wild at the breakdown at the end of Fixation on Darkness, and taking the singing duties from Jesse for the start of My Last Serenade. During Life to Lifeless Leachlaunched himself into a stage dive without losing a beat and returned to the stage for the epic intro to sort-of title track Just Barely Breathing. As they wrapped up the album they promised to “take the party to another level” as they laid down a blistering rendition of Vide Infra.
Once finished with the album tracks they ventured into their other albums, delivering favourites such as My Curse, Beyond the Flames, and closed their set with the classic The End of Heartache. Returning for the encore they produced the passionate Rose of Sharyn.
Only early days, but this show will be on many peoples top ten list for the year. Great metal, good fun, that met the expectations of an eager audience.
DARYL EMMET
Pics by Paul Dowd Photography
