Live Review: Refused, Sick Of It All, High Tension

It's well-documented that Karina Utomo's ferocious voice belies her slight frame and High Tension attack each show with vigour. The Melbourne heavy-hitters repeated the pattern, despite being hampered by the 7.15pm start's small-scale turnout. The frontwoman ventured down to the floor to incite a modest circle-pit, which raised interest levels. Those who didn't show up early missed a treat.

Hardcore mob Sick Of It All were riding the 30th anniversary wave. Spearheaded by ageless frontman Lou Koller's charisma, the band's unbridled ebullience remained potent from fist-pumping opener Take The Night Off onward. The crowd dichotomy (core faithful, metal-heads, rockers, hipsters) meant reaction spanned from fanatical to indifference; the New Yorkers acknowledging they had their work cut out for them. They revelled in the task and, even though sections of the crowd remained uninterested, Sick Of It All's closing triumvirate of Scratch The Surface, World Full Of Hate and the anthemic Step Down ensured mosh activity heightened several notches, culminating in a we-invented-this-shit wall of death.

Trump administration-related banter proved a running theme. Fascism, misogyny, rape and capitalism were among topics in Refused screamer Dennis Lyxzen's cross-hairs. The majority of punters seemingly vociferously endorsed their leftist message, and perhaps the conviction apparent in his delivery is among the reasons why some of the initial cynicism towards the Swedish hardcore punks' re-formation has subsided.

That the quintet's overall performance emanated an incendiary vibe also boosted their cause. Aided by a pounding rhythm section and searing guitars, Lyxzen's strutting, gyrating, kicking, microphone-swinging, getting-in-fans'-faces demeanour, not to mention formidable voice, enhanced bruising The Refused Party Program and Rather Be Dead. The frenzied atmosphere perhaps only relented during more avant-garde moments; attendees screeched lyrics back at the band, moshed and danced. As recent cut Elektra led to an inevitable, rapturous New Noise, it was evident that although Refused have enjoyed the victory lap they never had first time around, they're now maintaining a sense of modernity while also embracing their past.