Deafheaven’s frontman launches into the set beneath a wall of stage lights. Photo: Marc Roberts.
Words and photos by Marc Roberts
Genre-defying heavyweights Deafheaven moved between black-metal chaos and shimmering calm in Brisbane on Sunday, with SPY and Peace Ritual setting a punishing pace.
Deafheaven have always been a difficult band to place. Black metal, shoegaze, post-rock, hardcore. They pull from all of it without ever really fitting into one scene, and that is exactly what made Sunday night’s show at The Princess Theatre so compelling.
Opening the night, Sydney’s Peace Ritual wasted no time setting the tone. Their blend of atmospheric heaviness and crushing breakdowns was a fitting introduction after they were added late to the bill when Nothing withdrew from the tour due to visa issues.
Bay Area hardcore outfit SPY took over next, delivering one of the most energetic sets of the night.
Short songs, a relentless pace and barely a moment to catch your breath quickly turned the front of the room into a constant circle pit and mosh zone. It gave the evening an intensity that never really disappeared.
SPY brings the night’s hardcore intensity into sharp focus at The Princess Theatre. Photo: Marc Roberts.
Photos: SPY @ The Princess Theatre
Deafheaven takes control
By the time Deafheaven walked on stage, the venue had settled into a strange calm which disappeared almost immediately as the room came alive with enthusiastic and loyal fans.
The band moved effortlessly between towering walls of black-metal chaos and the shimmering melodic passages they have become known for.
Songs from Lonely People With Power sat naturally alongside older material, while George Clarke remained one of the most captivating frontmen in heavy music. He fed off the room’s energy while somehow making such a large venue feel intimate.
What has always separated Deafheaven from many of their peers is their ability to create contrast.
Moments of complete sonic violence were followed by passages that felt almost weightless, giving each song room to breathe before the next wave crashed in.
The show was emotional, immersive and left the room completely exhausted by the end.
Whether you have followed Deafheaven since Sunbather or only recently discovered the band, it was a reminder of why they remain one of the most important and distinctive acts in modern heavy music.
Photos: Deafheaven @ The Princess Theatre
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment