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TesseracT
+ Future Static
@ Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne,
5th May 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Tristan Skell

Photos by Drew Hill (@drewhillphotos)

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TesseracT / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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The Croxton Hotel, a bustling Melbourne landmark with a rich musical legacy, braced itself for a wave of musical power on May 5th. The night’s headliners, progressive metal legends TesseracT with support from Future Static, the Croxton’s stage became a focal point for a night of relentless musical artistry.

Melbourne’s own Future Static took the stage first, their music a potent infusion of melody, aggression, and progressive twists. This Melbourne-based group defies easy categorisation with their heavy, emotionally charged music. As the pre-show playlist faded, the house lights dimmed, plunging the venue into a welcome twilight. The familiar melody of “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra drifted through the air, a bittersweet reminder of life’s ups and downs. Scarcely had the first minute of the song faded when the band erupted into their opening number, “Plated Gold” off their debut album “Liminality”. The sudden shift in energy sent a jolt through the crowd, intensifying the atmosphere and kicking off the night with a bang. It’s also worth noting that Future Static announced to the audience their setlist was drawn entirely from their recently released debut album, “Liminality”, which dropped in November 2023.

Back to “Plated Gold”, this track features a blistering verse from Sean Harmanis, vocalist for Australia’s metalcore giants Make Them Suffer. Though Sean wasn’t present at the gig, Vocalist Amariah rose to the challenge, effortlessly tackling his aggressive vocal lines alongside her own signature melodies. Her aptitude to switch between soaring cleans and guttural growls was a highlight of not just this track, but their entire set, demonstrating her astonishing versatility as a vocalist.

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Future Static / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Future Static isn’t just about individual musicianship; it’s about the chemistry between them, both musically and personally. This is evident in their live shows, featuring Amariah Cook’s vocals, the guitar interplay of Jack Smith and Ryan Qualizza, Kira Neil on bass and backing vocals, and Jackson Trudel on the kit. Ryan Qualizza adds a light-hearted touch to this dynamic with his quirky humour – screaming out the harmonies on “Icarus” or playful dynamic extensions to song introductions; when Amariah announced “Waves” as Ryan’s favourite, he claimed this song was “the journey to his Chachi.” His unexpected remark and Amariah’s playful “whatever that means” response got a good laugh out of the band and the audience alike.

Adding onto “Waves”, as the breakdown approached, Amariah assessed the crowd’s passive energy. Seemingly challenging the Melbourne crowd to start a mosh-pit. One could almost imagine her thinking, “If you’re crazy enough to come to a gig on a Sunday night, you might as well go all in.” As expected, Melbourne delivers, without hesitation the crowd got to work and honoured Amariah’s request which kicked up the night’s energy into the next gear, the pit writhing with energy for the duration of the set.

Before closing out their set, Amariah announced that they had a new line of merch available at the merch stand. designed by their very own member Jack Smith. Be sure to check out their online store as their new threads look wild!

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Future Static / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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After Future Static wrapped up their set with a picture with the crowd, the headliner was set to take the stage next, TesseracT. Smoke slowly filled the room 5 minutes before their set time, adding a dramatic touch to the anticipation. Then, as their time came, the lights abruptly switched off, plunging the room into darkness. The first members to take the stage were the two guitarists, Acle Kahney and James Monteith, followed by bassist Amos Williams, whose features were masked by a black hood, adding an air of mystique. Drummer Jay Postones took his place, and together, the band began playing eerie notes that seamlessly formed into the intro to Natural Disaster, the opening track from their latest album “War Of Being”. Finally, vocalist Daniel Tompkins emerged, the top half of his face painted in striking red. The crowd’s cheers turned into a deafening roar, then Tompkins erupted with the biggest of screams as “Natural Disaster” commenced.

Tesseract are known for their mastery of technical progressive metal, showcasing polyrhythmic precision, down-tuned heaviness, and atmospheric soundscapes. Daniel Tompkins’ dynamic vocals, shifting between soaring melodies and visceral growls, add a layer of emotional depth to their music. The lighting design was in perfect sync with Tesseract’s performance. Lights pulsed and dimmed in time with the driving guitars, colours shifted dramatically during breakdowns, and strobes flashed in rhythm with the relentless drumming. The visual spectacle mirrored the band’s technical precision, creating a truly immersive experience.

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TesseracT / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Tesseract played a wide array of tracks from their extensive back catalogue. They blasted out tracks such as “Dystopia” from their 2015 album “Polaris”, and “King” from 2013’s “Sonder”. They even reached back to 2011 to perform parts of their “Concealing Fate” project, a six-part epic off their debut album, “One”.

A standout of the performance was the title track, “War Of Being”. Clocking in at a hefty 11 minutes and 2 seconds, it felt like a whirlwind that passed in a blink. Released in July 2023, promoting their upcoming VR and desktop game of the same name, the song’s complexity translated flawlessly to the live stage. Tesseract’s stage presence was phenomenal, their movements as captivating as the music itself. The sound quality was pristine, replicating the studio recording with an almost unreal level of precision. It was as if the band was playing directly in our ears, a testament to both their technical proficiency and the venue’s excellent sound capabilities.

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TesseracT / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Tesseract’s finale was a true treat for long-time fans. They closed the night with “Deception”, the second part of their epic “Concealing Fate” project. The crowd erupted into a massive circle pit, easily tripling the size of the one during Future Static’s set; a valiant effort considering the size of the venue.

Sunday’s performances by both Future Static and Tesseract were simply unforgettable. The Sunday show marking the end of the Melbourne leg of the tour, with Adelaide and Perth still in store to complete the rest of Australia. It was an honour to witness such a stellar display of musicianship from both bands. The intricacy of Tesseract’s polyrhythms was a sonic marvel, and both bands’ stage presence and immersive lighting design made the experience a feast for the eyes and ears alike.

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TesseracT / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Check out Drew Hill’s (@drewhillphotos) full gallery of this event HERE

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TesseracT / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Follow TESSERACT
Instagram – Twitter – Tiktok

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TesseracT / Photo – @drewhillphotos

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Press Release 18th September 2023 (below) HERE

TESSERACT
Crash Land with cinematic
‘LEGION’
single & video
new album
‘WAR OF BEING’
out today

+ Touring Australia
May 2024

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AMNPLIFY – DB