Opeth Law w/- Caligula's Horse - Metro City, 11th Feb 2017
Words: Kim Elizabeth
A modest but dedicated queue of fans steadily entered Perth Metro City on Saturday 11th of February to worship at this institution of live music and entertainment; to witness the god-fathers of progressive black metal that are Sweden's Opeth.
Very appropriately supported by the Aussie outfit from Brisbane, Caligula's Horse, punters definitely got into the punchy drums and hardline guitars of the band's tracks All is Quiet by the Wall and Rust. Lead singer Jim Grey's dedication to his outgoing and longtime bandmate Zac Greensill was genuine and well placed before sweet, soaring and melodiously delivered songs. Brilliantly thoughtful lyrics “Fuck your prayer for rain, pray for rust”, followed by catchy guitar riffs and galloping rhythms from the drummer Josh Griffin, coupled with the band's tight and well oiled chemistry on stage set a very melancholic yet hard hitting tone in preparation for the headliner everyone had come to see.
With Opeth being a mainstay fixture on the black and progressive metal scene for 25 years, one would've expected a near capacity filling of such a venue. Right off the back of sold out shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, observing the punters slowly file in and as the clock ticked closer to official starting time, it was plain to see this was going to be a much smaller and more intimate affair. Touring for Sorceress, their newest studio album, fans of all ages and walks of life had come. The band’s steady and patient supporters from the days of Orchid stood shoulder to shoulder with the greener and more recently converted Pale Communion and now Sorceress followers.
The cool and calm vibe lingered amongst fans right up until a few minutes before showtime. The band gradually filed onstage, with guitarist, singer, comedian and all round nice guy Mikael Akerfeldt emerging last. His appearance instigated a sharp rise in the collective heart rate, with the energy of excitement and anticipation blending with cheers and the wafting sitar samples, whipping up an artful and atmospheric lead into the tour and album title track, Sorceress. A trademark of Opeth's progressive style, classic heavy metal riffs, perfectly executed and complex percussion in total marriage with the impressive vocal range of Akerfeldt. In one moment he belts out “You are dying, it's in your eyes” in subtle yet seductive tones, the next, deep, gutteral growls of “Pouring venom brew deceiving” bring rise to the awareness of the darkest corners of the soul's condition. As Opeth have an impressive and extensive back catalogue, songs both new and old were featured, including Cusp of Eternity from the 2014 album Pale Communion and Demon of the Fall, featuring on the 1998 release My Arms, Your Hearse.
The amazing and mesmerising layers of sound produced by the band, all at once highlighted their unique and outstanding talents as technical musicians and also the wave of intensity and movement of sound they created together as artists. Artists and seasoned
Very appropriately supported by the Aussie outfit from Brisbane, Caligula's Horse, punters definitely got into the punchy drums and hardline guitars of the band's tracks All is Quiet by the Wall and Rust. Lead singer Jim Grey's dedication to his outgoing and longtime bandmate Zac Greensill was genuine and well placed before sweet, soaring and melodiously delivered songs. Brilliantly thoughtful lyrics “Fuck your prayer for rain, pray for rust”, followed by catchy guitar riffs and galloping rhythms from the drummer Josh Griffin, coupled with the band's tight and well oiled chemistry on stage set a very melancholic yet hard hitting tone in preparation for the headliner everyone had come to see.
With Opeth being a mainstay fixture on the black and progressive metal scene for 25 years, one would've expected a near capacity filling of such a venue. Right off the back of sold out shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, observing the punters slowly file in and as the clock ticked closer to official starting time, it was plain to see this was going to be a much smaller and more intimate affair. Touring for Sorceress, their newest studio album, fans of all ages and walks of life had come. The band’s steady and patient supporters from the days of Orchid stood shoulder to shoulder with the greener and more recently converted Pale Communion and now Sorceress followers.
The cool and calm vibe lingered amongst fans right up until a few minutes before showtime. The band gradually filed onstage, with guitarist, singer, comedian and all round nice guy Mikael Akerfeldt emerging last. His appearance instigated a sharp rise in the collective heart rate, with the energy of excitement and anticipation blending with cheers and the wafting sitar samples, whipping up an artful and atmospheric lead into the tour and album title track, Sorceress. A trademark of Opeth's progressive style, classic heavy metal riffs, perfectly executed and complex percussion in total marriage with the impressive vocal range of Akerfeldt. In one moment he belts out “You are dying, it's in your eyes” in subtle yet seductive tones, the next, deep, gutteral growls of “Pouring venom brew deceiving” bring rise to the awareness of the darkest corners of the soul's condition. As Opeth have an impressive and extensive back catalogue, songs both new and old were featured, including Cusp of Eternity from the 2014 album Pale Communion and Demon of the Fall, featuring on the 1998 release My Arms, Your Hearse.
The amazing and mesmerising layers of sound produced by the band, all at once highlighted their unique and outstanding talents as technical musicians and also the wave of intensity and movement of sound they created together as artists. Artists and seasoned
showmen too, they faced the drummer in a haze of green lights to move in unison with the riffs to start Cusp of Eternity then descended back to the lower realms in a wash of red lights for Heir Apparent.
If the music and visual effects of the music weren't enough, the whole show was punctuated with polite and genuine instances where phrases such as “Thank you very much for being here” and “We really appreciate you coming” were balanced with good natured back and forth banter between Mikael and the crowd. At one point, a younger and more fiesty punter yelled 'Why don't you have a shot?' to which Mikael carefully explains that at his age, that level of alcoholic intoxication would seriously impede his ability to maintain his reputation as a serious musician. Of course phrases such as “Fuck off...” and “Fuck you...” were generously peppered throughout the many discourses between songs by both and between Mickael and heckling but admiring onlookers. This kept the mood light-hearted and fun yet focused on the music, which all had come to pay homage.
And of course, what better a way to finish off such an epic yet intimate show with a classic song from the early 2000s, namely Deliverence. This song encapsulates all that is Opeth; starting at the opening gates with chunky metal riffs, screaming lyrics getting the old school fans jumping and nodding along for some hair metal action. Another complexly crafted wall sounded with Mickael bouncing between gutteral and melodic deliveries. Furthermore, the whole show could be epitomised by the expressions of thorough and complete enjoyment on the faces of the band, as if each note of each track they played, was being experienced and shared for the first time and the sheer rapture of the moment was all that mattered. The lyrics “Your salvation's found in a sinners deed” towards the end of Deliverence, was a poignant reminder of the human condition, the state of the world as it is today but also, the end of each audience member's personal journey during the show.
As the crowd slowly but surely filed out of the venue, quietly and profoundly awed and changed by the performance they had just witnessed, even the windy Perth Saturday eve whipping up into their faces nor the awkward single file crowd management at the venue exits couldn't erase the gratitude each one had for such outstanding and talented groups such as Opeth coming to Perth to remind us all what it means to experience rather than just attend a gig.
If the music and visual effects of the music weren't enough, the whole show was punctuated with polite and genuine instances where phrases such as “Thank you very much for being here” and “We really appreciate you coming” were balanced with good natured back and forth banter between Mikael and the crowd. At one point, a younger and more fiesty punter yelled 'Why don't you have a shot?' to which Mikael carefully explains that at his age, that level of alcoholic intoxication would seriously impede his ability to maintain his reputation as a serious musician. Of course phrases such as “Fuck off...” and “Fuck you...” were generously peppered throughout the many discourses between songs by both and between Mickael and heckling but admiring onlookers. This kept the mood light-hearted and fun yet focused on the music, which all had come to pay homage.
And of course, what better a way to finish off such an epic yet intimate show with a classic song from the early 2000s, namely Deliverence. This song encapsulates all that is Opeth; starting at the opening gates with chunky metal riffs, screaming lyrics getting the old school fans jumping and nodding along for some hair metal action. Another complexly crafted wall sounded with Mickael bouncing between gutteral and melodic deliveries. Furthermore, the whole show could be epitomised by the expressions of thorough and complete enjoyment on the faces of the band, as if each note of each track they played, was being experienced and shared for the first time and the sheer rapture of the moment was all that mattered. The lyrics “Your salvation's found in a sinners deed” towards the end of Deliverence, was a poignant reminder of the human condition, the state of the world as it is today but also, the end of each audience member's personal journey during the show.
As the crowd slowly but surely filed out of the venue, quietly and profoundly awed and changed by the performance they had just witnessed, even the windy Perth Saturday eve whipping up into their faces nor the awkward single file crowd management at the venue exits couldn't erase the gratitude each one had for such outstanding and talented groups such as Opeth coming to Perth to remind us all what it means to experience rather than just attend a gig.