Project Description

DEVILDRIVER

+ All That Remains

@ The Valley Drive In

24/08/19

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Matt Young

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Located in the heart of Brisbane’s Entertainment Precinct, Fortitude Valley, The Valley Drive In is a venue that regularly hosts plenty of heavy music. Last night was no exception, with two American heavyweight bands, the mighty Devildriver & All That That Remains hitting the venue in a blockbuster double bill on the Brisbane leg of their Australian Tour.

First out of the gate tonight was All That Remains. Not having toured here in quite some time, the boys were eager to give their loyal Australian fans a fantastic show. And what a show it was. Storming out of the gates with This Calling from 2006 album The Fall Of Ideals the band from Springfield Massachusetts played a high energy set from start to finish. Vocalist Phil Labonte whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his brutal vocal style. Having released latest album Victim of the New Disease late last year, the band debuted a couple of tracks from it, notably Fuck Love and Everything’s Wrong. The new material went down well with the big crowd on hand. We also get Six and Not Alone from The Fall Of Ideals album which old school fans of the band loved. Chiron gets a run and the boys close the set with a stellar version of Two Weeks from the 2008 release Overcome.

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PHIL LABONTE, ALL THAT REMAINS // Photo – Matt Young

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On a sombre note, this was the first tour the band have played without founding lead guitarist Oli Herbert who tragically died last year. We got a first look at his replacement, Jason Richardson (ex Chelsea Grin / Born Of Osiris) who absolutely wowed the crowd with his fretwork ability. After nearly two decades in the game, All That Remains show no signs of slowing down and the future looks bright. Great set.

Next up were headliners Devildriver. After a technical issue, which delayed the start of their set, the band took the stage and proceeded to destroy The Valley Drive In with a set that all in attendance will remember for a long time. Led by enigmatic frontman Dez Fafara, Devildriver delivered in spades last night. As anyone who has seen them in the past will attest to, the power and brutality the band play with is incredible. This was the bands first time on Australian soil for five years so fans were eager to dig in. And dig in they did.

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MIKE SPREITZER, DEVILDRIVER // Photo – Matt Young

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Starting off with Ruthless from the Winters Call album, the lads roll into Grin Fucked, Cry and Hold Back The Day. Guitarist’s Mike Spreitzer and Neal Tiemann pummel the crowd with powerful riffs and blistering lead work. The band are like a well oiled machine, tight and precise. Dez Fafara is the ultimate frontman. Commanding the stage and putting on an energetic display that would lay waste to many younger vocalists, he throws himself into his craft. The crowd love it. Fists in the air they crave more.

Austin D’Amond on drums and Diego Ibarra on bass round out the band. These guys are a solid rhythm section who holds down the groove whilst mayhem ensues all around. We get Devildrivers fantastic cover version of Awolnation’s Sail, then into Hangman’s Noose. The band finish up with blistering versions of Clouds Over California from 2007 album The Last Kind Words and closer End Of The Line from the 2005 album The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand.

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DEZ FAFARA, DEVILDRIVER // Photo – Matt Young

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It was simply a brutal set of Metal from Devildriver. Nobody who attended went home disappointed that’s for sure. The only thing punters left with was a big smile on their face. Bravo Devildriver. Bravo.

Remaining Australian Tour Dates:

Tuesday 27th August @ Lion Arts Factory Adelaide SA

Wednesday 28th August @ Capitol Perth WA

Check out Matt Young‘s gallery of the show here

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