Soundwave - Perth, 5th March 2012
Words: Todd Lockley
As the sun was heating up, Christmas, New Year and all Birthdays came at once for the metal heads of Perth as the annual Soundwave festival rolled into Claremont Showgrounds. It was interesting to see that Soundwave has managed to keep the venue, whereas the Big Day Out had to find alternative accommodation this year. An indication of the reputation of this festival perhaps?
Kicking off the big name this year list were US So-Cal heroes Unwritten Law. Scott Russo was in fine form as he and the boys blasted through heavier versions of Cailin, Teenage Suicide plus bonus covers of Bob Marley’s Celebration Song and Aussie buddies Grinspoon’s More Than You Are - which sounded as good as the original.
Kill Hannah were also an early highlight, the old school Chicago legends rocked out in the morning heat to a smaller but appreciative crowd, blasting out the Lips Like Morphine early while rounding out with newer material Promise Me from recent release Wake Up The Sleepers. Angry christian metalcore rockers Underoath smashed out a an awesome set that included a long over due rendition of Reinventing Your Exit before finishing with Writing On The Walls.
Steel Panther looked like Poison in drag (go figure), often pulling out pocket mirrors to check their looks, all while blasting out odes to love and teenage girls. Singer Michael Starr turned on his own 80's drag show that would challenge Kiss, and Kiss suck.
Metal juggernauts Coal Chamber had, without doubt, the craziest, fuck-yeah-metal set of the day, with a moshpit to scare the weak. The band busted through crowd fave Loco, withbassist Chela Harper proving that beauty and metal can go oh-so well together. Fucking hawt.
Kicking off the big name this year list were US So-Cal heroes Unwritten Law. Scott Russo was in fine form as he and the boys blasted through heavier versions of Cailin, Teenage Suicide plus bonus covers of Bob Marley’s Celebration Song and Aussie buddies Grinspoon’s More Than You Are - which sounded as good as the original.
Kill Hannah were also an early highlight, the old school Chicago legends rocked out in the morning heat to a smaller but appreciative crowd, blasting out the Lips Like Morphine early while rounding out with newer material Promise Me from recent release Wake Up The Sleepers. Angry christian metalcore rockers Underoath smashed out a an awesome set that included a long over due rendition of Reinventing Your Exit before finishing with Writing On The Walls.
Steel Panther looked like Poison in drag (go figure), often pulling out pocket mirrors to check their looks, all while blasting out odes to love and teenage girls. Singer Michael Starr turned on his own 80's drag show that would challenge Kiss, and Kiss suck.
Metal juggernauts Coal Chamber had, without doubt, the craziest, fuck-yeah-metal set of the day, with a moshpit to scare the weak. The band busted through crowd fave Loco, withbassist Chela Harper proving that beauty and metal can go oh-so well together. Fucking hawt.
The first of the 90's come back acts of the day, Bush, led us through a hit driven singalong that included the melancholy Glycerine, the heavier edged Chemicals Between Us and the drifting Come Down. Gavin Rossdale still proving he can make the young girls scream. The older metal heads had a chance to grab a drink before punk rock royalty Bad Religion took over mainstage. Punk Rock Song and The Devil In Stitches had the faithful happy before a blistering rendition of 21st Century Digital Boy brought all the BR fun to an end.
It was like a time machine had taken us back to popular music circa 2000 as the Limp Bizkit curtain was raised and the angry soundtrack that spoke so much to us in high school was spawned out over the sunburnt faces in attendance. Fred Durst still holds his own on tracks like Break Stuffand Nookie, and held the respect of all with the band led tribute to Jessica Michalik before ending it all with My Way.
A falling giant black curtain signalled the return of Mr Marilyn Manson, who was a lot happier to be back in Perth compared to his previous festival visit (those at the 99 BDO would know what we’re talking about). He led us through a drunken, and messy set of hits, crashing through The Dope Show, Rock Is Dead and Sweet Dreams, but it was an angst-ridden rendition of Irresponsible Hate Anthem that really got the blood pumping.
Slipknot are an acquired taste. Many weren’t expecting much from the masked rockers but wow, what a show! The intensity went up a notch and stuck to the sound that has made them a major metal heavyweight. Duality raised the bar and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Hectic!
It was like a time machine had taken us back to popular music circa 2000 as the Limp Bizkit curtain was raised and the angry soundtrack that spoke so much to us in high school was spawned out over the sunburnt faces in attendance. Fred Durst still holds his own on tracks like Break Stuffand Nookie, and held the respect of all with the band led tribute to Jessica Michalik before ending it all with My Way.
A falling giant black curtain signalled the return of Mr Marilyn Manson, who was a lot happier to be back in Perth compared to his previous festival visit (those at the 99 BDO would know what we’re talking about). He led us through a drunken, and messy set of hits, crashing through The Dope Show, Rock Is Dead and Sweet Dreams, but it was an angst-ridden rendition of Irresponsible Hate Anthem that really got the blood pumping.
Slipknot are an acquired taste. Many weren’t expecting much from the masked rockers but wow, what a show! The intensity went up a notch and stuck to the sound that has made them a major metal heavyweight. Duality raised the bar and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Hectic!
Rounding out the day were System Of A Down. Frontman Serj Tankian led the loudest heavy metal choir, while Daron Malakian scared the kids in the front row with his intense and evil glares and helped out with the between song banter with Serj. The biggest reaction to any song played on the day was of course reserved for Chop Suey. It was bliss for all and the mosh went up a notch. With Bounce the audience turned into a pogo'ing yoga class and BYOB brought "everybody to the party for a real good time". Perfection.
Line-ups don’t get much better than this. You could bring the same line up year in, year out and it would always feel new. It was just so much fun. Sunshine, a public holiday and some damn fine heavy metal. What more could you possibly want?
Line-ups don’t get much better than this. You could bring the same line up year in, year out and it would always feel new. It was just so much fun. Sunshine, a public holiday and some damn fine heavy metal. What more could you possibly want?