THY ART IS MURDER // This Loud Corner of Hell

Thy Art Is Murder + Aversions Crown, Feed Her To the Sharks & Colossvs – 16 October 2015 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Entering the Corner Hotel to an overwhelming smell of Devil’s Lettuce, it’s clear that Thy Art vocalist CJ McMahon’s penchant for the stuff isn’t just one love.

Collossvs // Photo: Cian Marangos

Red eyes and Carlton pots are all pretty clear signs that everyone in the venue is already having a great time during Collosvs. When it’s not written in Old English font the band name may lose its lustre, but on stage the band are more than living up to their name. How Lochlan Watt manages to talk for hours on a radio show every week when hitting ridiculously low screams on a nightly basis is beyond me, but the band do exceptionally well at setting the mood for the night ahead.

Once a consistent entity in the local Melbourne scene, Feed Her To The Sharks have dropped off the radar since their foray into Europe. Although they’re the lightest act on the bill, there are enough breakdowns and bass drops to satisfy those with a penchant for kicking other people in the face.

Feed Her To The Sharks // Photo: Cian Marangos

On that note, there may be a few too many bass drops which roll on from each other but that’s just how Feed Her do it. Walking On Glass proves that it’s not just 0-0-0-0 on the fretboard as lead guitarist Kim Choo rocks a very tasty guitar solo, showing the younger generation hasn’t lost the love of a good lick.

Leaving Fuck Melbourne out of the setlist is a crime though, especially being one of the better-known tracks. The majority of people in attendance fit that song to a tee.

There’s not much time to be disappointed on that front however, as Aversions Crown take to the stage and rip straight into Overseer. Mark Poida has more than taken to fronting the band in the year since he joined, with arms outstretched, basking in sweaty screams of adoration. Compared to a slightly shaky performance at UNIFY, his vocals have improved significantly as they run through tracks from Tyrant.

Aversions Crown // Photo: Cian Marangos

The crowd – apart from the usual suspects in the middle – are almost motionless until Parasites drops and a few heads nod. A lack of familiarity with arguably the closest Australian band to Thy Art’s level of popularity is pretty inexcusable, but maybe everyone’s too stoned to move. They’re paralysed by drum kid thunder. Drummer Jayden Mason deserves the highest accolades of the evening, as his ability to double kick at breakneck speed for what seems like the entire time he’s on stage is nothing short of jaw dropping. Hollow Planet caps off the set and it’s time to gain a quick gulp of fresh air in the beer garden before all hell breaks loose.

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This is Thy Art Is fucking Murder people, how can you stare vacantly when the band are absolutely destroying the Corner stage?

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Thy Art Is Murder // Photo: Cian Marangos

 As the curtain opens and a silhouette CJ in his trademark windbreaker forms, a huge cheer erupts. Throwing everyone straight into the deep end with Absolute Genocide and Coffin Dragger, how CJ doesn’t run into everyone on stage with a hood covering his eyes is an absolute miracle. When he finally removes it and admits that he accidentally made himself blind by making it too tight, that personality the crowd knows and loves shines right through.

Testing the dedication of fans by throwing Whore To A Chainsaw into the mix, there’s still a lack of enthusiasm in a large part of the venue. This is Thy Art Is fucking Murder people, how can you stare vacantly when the band are absolutely destroying the Corner stage? Whatever, those who appreciate seeing one of Australia’s biggest bands in a tiny venue are absolutely loving it and rolling around on everyone else and screaming the lyrics at the stage. We’re still doing better than Perth or Adelaide – “they’ve been fucking shit!” according to the vocalist – so Melbourne’s officially the best show on the tour so far.

Keeping the energy alive, CJ asks if anyone in the venue is vegan or vegetarian and the boos of derision that erupt are almost louder than his voice through the PA. After attempting to defend them in a precursor to Fur and Claw, the singer finally good-naturedly warns those who don’t eat meat “maybe don’t admit to that again in here, because you will get bashed”. CJ gets away with campily snarling at the audience with a claw outstretched, but it’s only because becoming an absolute force through the speakers backs up his scallywag antics.

Andy Marsh may be a new father, but he’s officially deathcore’s coolest dad by shredding like his life depends on it during Reign of Darkness. Refusing to play an encore by mockingly clapping and screaming “one more song”, the band rip into Holy War and it’s officially the end. After seeing them at home on both a support slot with Parkway Drive and on a miniscule stage headlining, it’s fair to say that Thy Art is one of Australia’s most successful exports. Long live the reign of darkness.

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Remaining Thy Art Is Murder Australian shows 2015:

Saturday 17 October – Factory Theatre, Sydney

Sunday 18 October – Wooly Mammoth, Brisbane

Tix through Oztix