As Flaming Wrekage’s brutal fourth album tickles your earholes, you know this is something special. …
The Last Martyr at Burdekin Hotel, Sydney
Supported by Brooklyn Comic, The Weight of Silence and Live Like Animals
Playing at the Burdekin in Sydney as part of their Burn it Down release shows, Melbourne alt rock outfit The Last Martyr put together a special, atmospheric night supported by Brooklyn Comic, The Weight of Silence, and Live Like Animals.
To start, Brooklyn Comic took the stage. They were quite nostalgic and reminded me of the gloomy side of 2010’s Midwest emo but with a heavier pull. They were a combination of the angstier, cleaner side, and the rougher, heavier one with different vocals, clean guitars, and rough distorted bass. They blended these elements to create their take on that familiar, bittersweet Australian sound. Brooklyn Comic were at home on stage and you could tell they were having a lot of fun together, though the band did seem to have a bit of a way to go in terms of finding their identity when performing.
The Weight of Silence brought a darker energy to the stage and outdid all expectations. Their sound mixes elements of trap, rap, and metal in a way I hadn’t quite heard before. The contrasting elements made for great suspense and incredible build-ups, their energy never dropped.
Live Like Animals, caught me off guard a little bit. Celebrating the release of their debut album, Modern State of Mind, they played a set that felt quite experimental. Each song on their set was linked together by tracks and synths that made it feel like one storyline split into different parts. They introduced a different kind of atmosphere than the prior bands, feeling quite a bit brighter than the previous two. Each song had a similar vibe told through the lens of different influences – some heavier, some poppier, some sadder. I’m curious to see how they’ll approach their identity and sound in the future.
Live Like Animals by Brooke Harley
The Last Martyr take their place on the stage and envelope the crowd with their powerful aura. If you’ve never seen them live, their performance tends to be atmospheric – they turn into what I imagine metalcore would sound like in a cyberpunk society. Strut’s vocal power is incredible. Her ability to drive the music and intertwine with the instruments without fading into the loud guitars, heavy drums, and electronic tracks and fills around them, is quite impressive. When TLM transition from their recordings into a live setting they have this ability to bring so much life to them, pushing them further than the studio versions. It’s clear that they’ve found their sound and identity. They’re always finding new ways to push themselves and it was quite a joy to see them bring it all to the stage once more.
The Last Martyr by Brooke Harley
The Last Martyr by Brooke Harley
The Last Martyr by Brooke Harley
The Last Martyr by Brooke Harley
Overall, it felt like a special night. It was great to see each artist own their set and celebrate their releases so proudly. The lineup was unique but it felt as though each band encapsulated an element of their headliners sound – the angsty, the heavy, and the experimental.
