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| When you consider that over 10 million Australians were safely nestled into their loungerooms watching a major international event take place (you know, the 'Lympics), it was encouraging to see a fair number of the black-shirted ones gathered early at the Normanby for opening act Cardinal Sin. Led by Scrumfeeder skinsman Gary on vocals (who despite battling a dreadful 'flu still managed to let loose plenty of those Bruce Dickinson style squeals), these lads hark back to the golden age of 70s rock, when hair was long, heavy riffs were longer, and jeans had to be surgically removed after each gig - which is a roundabout way of saying they ROCKED! The dextrous riffery of the Rickenbacker-toting bassist (one of the best I've seen for many moons) and the giant of a guitarist (who's nickname surely must be Bear) was awesome, and when it occasionally locked into a galloping rhythm with the drummer (also of Misery) and Gary's wailing vocals, you could almost imagine Iron Maiden's mascot Eddie nodding with appreciation in the shadows. |
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After a quick retreat to the public bar to stock up on $2 C.S. Cowboys and watch the Olympic Torch reach it's final destination (an awesome spectacle to say the least, which was greeted by some drunken cheers at the bar), Dread took to the stage. In a word, these guys were loud - in fact, almost painfully so. To get too close to the stage was to risk permanent hearing loss, and I could almost feel my eardrums begin to collapse under the weight of riff after riff played at ridiculously high decibel levels. Featuring former members of legendary Adelaide metallers Christbait, Dread were heavy on the doom-laden dirge, with big riffs that attempted to grind you into submission rather than impress you with their initricacy. The riffs won, and I once again retreated to the safety of the bar to salvage what was left of my hearing. |
| With the Olympic Festivities now over, punters began to steadily file in to the Norm and pretty soon what had started as a decent crowd had become quite an impressive one. For a local act to pull so many people on such a big night speaks volumes for the skills of System 13 and the credibility of their label Rhythm Ace Records, which was beginning it's weekend of 1st Birthday Celebrations with this gig. The crowd was ready to rock, and as soon as the System launched into the opening grind of "The Mothership", there was nothing left to do except pump your fist, bang your head, and surrender to the Gods of Metal..... |
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System 13 take the trademark sludge rock sounds of Sleep and Sabbath, dress them up in a coating of cosmic lyrics and glam outfits (both guitarist Matt and bassist Kylie were resplendent in their tightest vinyl and leathers and sporting some stylish eyeliner), and add a dynamic stage presence which fired up the by then suitably lubricated punters - this one included!
Bassist Kylie Lovejoy has the potential to overtake Adalita from Magic Dirt as the ultimate rock 'n roll vixen, and many in the predominately male audience seemed transfixed as she pumped out those big fat basslines - one crazed punter even joined the band onstage during "Supernova" to play an inspired air guitar solo which seemed to be dedicated to her! It wasn't until the encore that the crowd really started to liven up, and the rocking strains of "Supersonic III" and "Macroscope" left the moshing throng begging for more. With an album on it's way, it seems our wish will soon be granted..... ~Kris Swales~
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