New Zealand favourites Beastwars delivered a night of heavy stoner sludge goodness. After not seeing the band live in a number of years, the four-piece have cemented their position as leaders of stoner rock not only in New Zealand, but here in Australia too.
Denim-clad and with a thirst for no-bullshit riffs and grooves, the friendly and familiar Cherry Bar crowd welcomed heavy-rock youngsters Hydromedusa to the stage. With excellent songwriting and performance expertise on display, the band confidently lived up to recent hype and buzz. Channelling Sabbath’s Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi, plus the twin guitar attack of Thin Lizzy, the band cruised through a set of ‘70s longhaired rock‘n’roll, with an understanding of their musical roots well beyond their years.
Greeting familiar faces along the way, I made it to the bar as frequently as possible to experience liquored up rock’n’roll as it should be. Fat Yak was on tap and went down smooth. Though, I still haven’t mastered the art of weaving through the packed bar and that annoying staircase that leads to the dancefloor without spilling my beer.
Promptly taking the stage with no Bon Jovi choreographed introductions or theatrics, Beastwars kicked straight into metallic stoner riff mastery, sounding heavy as hell through Cherry’s more than capable PA. Playing fan favourites from 2013’s Blood Becomes Fire andtheir eponymous 2011 debut, plus one new track, the band’s set was free from the pretentious wankery that often shows up in hard rock and metal. It’s refreshing to see a modern metal band steering clear of ever-changing trends and chasing what is ‘cool’.
Lead singer Matt Hyde’s thick vocals filled the missing link between Black Sabbath and Baroness, carrying melody from high screams to low, brooding intensity. The band are more than familiar with the needs of the punter, performing for close to an hour with no encore – no more or less than exactly what a solid set requires. With experience and natural performing ability, the Beastwars set was as consistent as any of stoner rock’s Palm Desert originators.
BY JOE HANSEN
Loved: Feeling the power of rock‘n’roll.
Hated: Traversing tight crowds with a lack of balance with multiple pints in hand.
Drank: Fat Yak (potentially Berocca spiked).
