LIVE REVIEW: Southern Slaughter Festival - Melbourne, September 15th 2019

For two exclusive Australian dates only, classic UK Death Metal institution Bloodbath annihilated Sydney and Melbourne audiences as they headlined the very first Southern Slaughter Festival. The 2 days event features one of 2019’s most brutal line-ups, we caught the Melbourne show on Sunday.

Southern Slaughter hit Melbourne Sunday 15th September 2019 with six local Melbourne acts opening followed by a Perth band and headliners Bloodbath from Stockholm. Max Watts was barely half full as Monoliyth began the mini festival just before 3pm, which is not too bad considering the early time. Bloodcurdling vocals with pounding rhythms, the classic old school vibe the perfect start to an epic night.

Cryptic Abyss up next with frontman Kelvin donning a hideous banana patterned Hawaiian style shirt contrasting the death-meets-groove sound of the band. Crushing riffs, screams and squeals got a mini circle pit going in the slowly growing crowd.

Blackened origins with a severe speed/thrash edge, Blackhelm’s extreme metal combination brought more punters down into the best Metal venue Melbourne has to offer. Killer riffs and brutal vocals saw the still small crowd against the barrier banging their heads as anticipation for the main event grew steadily.

Max Watts still had lots of room as Mason graced the stage, most punters hanging back with drinks in hand, but the energy was intensifying on the rainy Sunday evening. The guitarists faced each other, long hair flying and tunes cranking, proud to share a stage with the mighty Bloodbath.

Earth Rot - Southern Slaughter Festival, Melbourne 2019 | Photo Credit: Shadow World Photography

Scaphis- Southern Slaughter Festival, Melbourne 2019 | Photo Credit: Shadow World Photography

Fans filled the sunken area in front of the stage as the best hidden Death Metal jewel of a band Scaphis appeared, dressed to depress with makeup and clothes to match their sound. Chunky riffs, catchy drums and guttural growls from the best frontwoman Metal has ever seen. Spyke puts Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy to shame and is hands down the most ferocious female lead without clean vocals as many other female fronted bands tend to go between. Australia’s best kept secret, Scaphis was my favourite of the night, blowing away so many people, the feedback after the show nothing but positive, blowing so many minds and ears. Do yourself a favour and fill your ears with their tunes.

Four piece thrashers In Malice’s Wake took over and suddenly the venue seemed a lot more full. They delivered a premium fast and wild performance with iconic riffs and haunting melodies, refined from over a decade of savage live shows.

Perth blokes, Earth Rot returned to Melbourne to support the band their name was inspired from. Earthrot is a Bloodbath song from the 2008 release The Fathomless Mastery, so these guys were an obvious choice to support and ready the stage for the headliners. Blackened death with incredible energy, Earth Rots frontman Jared is entertaining and enjoyable to watch with his dramatic stage presence.

Lights dimmed, fog filled the now practically full room as Swedish Death Metal legends Bloodbath took over the stage. Almost no front lights and drowning red back light set the mood, dark and eerie like a horror movie, and then the onslaught begun. Nick Holmes trying his best to fill the shoes of previous vocalist Michael Akerfeldt, but not quite meeting the same infernal presence, it was still an outstanding show. The black clad Melbournites went mad, cheering and worshipping the hazy figures on stage, loving every moment.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Shadow World Photography

Bloodbath