Live Review: In Hearts Wake, Crossfaith, While She Sleeps, Polaris

Pressed against the barrier of this faux-Greco-Roman amphitheatre with the 30 or so people who arrive early enough to catch the support acts (c'mon, Melbourne!), it's hard not to feel some sort of unity. When Sydney boys Polaris storm on stage with enough energy to power this venue for the night, we move along with them. It's clear from the way they charge through song after song that they don't give a shit if their crowd is five or 5,000 people strong.

Awash in green light, British rockers While She Sleeps bring out more energy coupled with a commanding presence. Vocalist Lawrence Taylor jumps off the drum kit and into the crowd's arms. Hell, they even get a chant for one more song and this is only the second band of the night!

Bringing out something a little more synth-heavy are Crossfaith. This Japanese band has been around the circuit for years and we can clearly see that they have not weakened. The band's borderline-dub synth sounds invigorate the air with electricity, coupling it in unholy matrimony with some of the heaviest guitar tones this side of the globe. They know how to party, with Kenta Koie screaming during party favourite Jagerbomb: "Why don't you take a drink and chug it!"

Punters from the back start running to the front in a never-ending rotation of moshing as the curtain drops for In Hearts Wake. The Greco-Roman vibe suits the band in a gimmicky way as they churn through songs such as Warcry and Passage, taking us back to the days of Spartan warfare with just a little more djent. Sticking with the whole unity thing, we see Taylor and Koie take the stage for some nice little screamalongs during Earthwalker and Skydancer. The stage, of course, is not just for singing, with In Hearts Wake screamer Jake Taylor going into little segues about the inspiration behind Frequency (hint: it's about a lonely whale), telling us we need to care for our waterways while inflatable sharks and stingrays are chucked down from the rafters. There is even a segment dubbed 'Capture The Flag' during which Taylor crowdsurfs in an inflatable raft holding a cake for the band's sound guy, all to the tune of The Lonely Island's I'm On A Boat. Guys, your dumb shit works and we love every minute of it.