Oct
23
2.14pm

VOID OF VISION // Children of the Future Live Review


Void Of Vision with guests Justice For The Damned, She Cries Wolf and White Crows at The Workers Club Melbourne, Friday October 21, 2016

First on the Void of Vision bill are White Crows, who could literally count the amount of shows they’ve played on one hand. It’s always good to see a dedicated contingent come out for an opening act, with a number of people cheering before they’d even played their first note. It’s pretty clear they’ve got a long way to go in terms of timing and stage presence, but guitarist Andy Vicendese managed to bring the latter up a few points. Although there’s not much variation in their pop-punk stylings, singer Kieren Thompson’s presence on the floor meant that final track Hooks had the front of the crowd engaged. A few more shows to calm the nerves and they’ll be on their way.

Can we make a petition for She Cries Wolf to become a local Melbourne band? It’s greedy but they’re way too good to accept we can only see them on select bills. Although tonight is Void’s triumph, She Cries Wolf are more than deserving of a headline show. Tracks like We’re All Arsonists and Continuance from their 2016 standout Doubt were well received and lead vocalist Luke Harriss is an imposing force. However it’s the chaos that erupts around him that makes their show so captivating. Both guitarists smash fists against their heads, begging the crowd to come up and join the madness. Bassist Dom Harper’s clean vocals are an absolute standout when he’s not lifting his instrument in the air with wild eyes. Intimate settings are where they shine the most but they’re not likely to be contained there for long.

Justice For The Damned are the heaviest act on the bill by far, but that’s exactly the kind of beatdown hardcore the crowd want. Within minutes there are huge shards of glass on the floor; pints of beer are the first casualty in the chaos of the pit. No one’s worried about ending up in the hospital though because people are flung from side to side and hit the ground hard, only to get back up and do it again. The band are absolutely loving the frenzy they’ve created and grin as people fall onto the stage. Vocalist Bobak Raffee’s vocals never take a dip throughout the set, although what he’s screaming is known only by the few who thrust their fists in his face. Great support acts gear the crowd up but Justice For The Damned are going so hard they’re in danger of tiring them out. No one’s willing to lose their mosh cred though, so elbows are swung and legs are kicked until the end of the set.

If Void Of Vision are as willing to please their audiences in the future as they were tonight they’re more than ready for the future.

As they take to the stage with radio static, it’s time to determine whether our review of Void Of Vision’s latest record was a fair call. It turns out we were on the money about the songs working significantly better in a live environment. From the get go the band throw themselves into the set with everything they have. The Workers Club is so bloody hot they’d be forgiven for taking a break between each song, but they soldier through old and new material at a blistering pace. A large number have been waiting for the headliners to arrive as the battle cry of opener, “if you’re not angry, you’re not listening”, has triple the amount of people throwing down in the pit than for the supports. Tracks like Blacklist and As Above, So Below hit with a megaton of bass that blows their recordings out of the water. Bringing the featured vocalist Mason Bunt out for Persist//Perceive was a nice touch and the dual vocalists complement each other perfectly.

Limbs fly throughout the entirety of their set, and a few people are even picked up and flung to the other side with reckless abandon. As Sun//Rise slows the set down to a less rigorous pace, vocalist Jack Bergin says he feels tonight will be as special as his upcoming 21st. That’s the thing, we forget that these people are kids who’ve managed to achieve a hell of a lot before they’ve even got their full drivers license. With the singer’s voice naked as he screams into the night, it’s pretty damn clear there are no tricks here. Crowd favourite Dissipate finishes the night off, even if Bergin states the band “fucking hate it.” Mic grabs are plentiful and the thanks from the stage are too. If Void Of Vision are as willing to please their audiences in the future as they were tonight they’re more than ready for the future.

Children of Chrome Australian Tour continues through next week.
Tickets available here.

Sunday October 23 (1:00pm), Phoenix Youth Centre, Melbourne Vic – AA
Friday October 28 (6:00pm), Red Ratter, Sydney NSW – LIC/AA
Saturday October 29 (5:30pm), Drone Newcastle, Newcastle NSW – AA
Sunday October 30 (2:00pm), Phoenix Arts Centre, Brisbane QLD – AA

View live images of Void Of Vision, Justice For The Damned, She Cries Wolf and White Crows by Owen Jones in the gallery below.

 



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