Live Review: High Tension, Canine

High Tension's triumphant return to Sydney was hampered by less than stellar sound.

Not that anything needed salvaging (it was a good show from a band slaying it, creatively). The lack of detail and the grating fuzz that draped over the music was not strong enough to derail anything, and was largely glossed over by a stacked deck of talent and a white-hot performance. Frontwoman Karina Utomo spat like a war witch, clawing at the air and hurling herself at the pit forming in front practically begging at her feet. It's a small room with a low ceiling, and the compression made things a lot sweatier. Local support act Canine certainly enjoyed a better mix, and the crispness of their savagery was appreciated. A game of comparison is folly for various reasons, so let's instead agree that last night was very much a Good Time^tm.

What can also be agreed upon is that the best thing about the gig was Canine's rhythm section. Johnny Bones threw bassist Bianca a sly fist bump from his kit halfway through the set; guitarist Rosie Ratatat nodded in approval. Their vicious tempo changes and complex time signatures were executed without difficulty, coming off not so much effortless as clear evidence of high-octane savant-style skill. It was great hearing them move so fluidly from doom to thrash to math, as comfortable with groove as they were with crust.

Melbourne's High Tension have recently released Purge, a powerful statement that dominates the listener, making it closer to an endurance test than an enjoyable listen (this is in no way a slight on the record). Their set was full of their new material, volatile and incredibly visceral pieces that threatened to strip paint off the walls. Powerful surges of thick, riff-heavy passages controlled the set, largely replacing the brittle screeching hardcore approach from previous shows. Utomo has proven herself an extremely magnetic stage personality, comfortable out front and full of theatricality that gives her performance an edge. She connected with the crowd, throwing herself into the milieu while still maintaining the parameters of the exchange. Utomo does not suffer fools, with one particular goon being dressed down after the show and summarily bounced.

High Tension maintain their seat at the big kids' table, with a sterling new album and a cracking new show to boot. The Landsdowne was a solid choice to bottle that fresh energy, with the crowd eager to show their support for one of Australia's best heavy acts going around.