Live Review: Slipknot, Lamb of God, In Hearts Wake

In Hearts Wake kick off this evening's theatrics, bringing their melodic metalcore to the Entertainment Centre’s intimidatingly massive stage.

Although not quite the Great Northern, In Hearts Wake make do, admirably attempting to spread themselves thin across the half-set-up, haphazard stage that is Slipknot’s touring gear. The five-piece get stuck into their set list, playing an abundance of tracks new and old, fast and even faster. Although not quite the stand-still crowd they are used to, lead vocalist Jake Taylor puts his heart and damned soul into it, skirting about the stage, giving the lyrics all he's got with his huge, majestic voice. Before we know it, half-an-hour was over and the crowd was seemingly warm for the wrath that was about to absolutely murder them. 

As the Lamb Of God banner drops, the room goes pitch-black, and some ear-tingling white noise fills the venue; punters run - beers in hand, mind you - to the pit. Known for inciting the world’s biggest circle pits, Lamb Of God fans need no convincing as the fellas burst into their set and a swarm of people crazily form a huge circle pit, running aimlessly to the Virginians' adrenaline-pumping, hard-hitting tracks. Playing a range from their huge back-catalogue, frontman Randy Blythe wastes no energy on the live show, jumping from one side of the stage to the other, strutting back and forth between guitarist, bassist and drummer whilst screaming the house down. Even if you’re not a metalcore fan, the sheer enthusiasm of Lamb Of God is independently impressive, no doubt wearing many out before the headline act even play their first track. Well done, Lamb Of God; well done. 

Famously putting on massively theatrical, horrifyingly incredible live shows, the bar is set extremely high for Slipknot’s show tonight. The band warm the crowd with (weirdly) David Bowie’s Fashion before peeling away the curtains to their own Be Prepared For Hell, showing videos of burning mannequins in a forest. It’s safe to say the children (and some adults) are adequately terrified, not even two minutes in.

The fellas then burst onto stage, kicking off with The Negative One and Disasterpiece. In the absence of #6, aka Clown, #3 switches between the two rotating steel drum setups, running from side to side, screaming along with frontman Corey Taylor in the meantime. #6 further hypes the crowd with his creepy dance moves and ability to climb on any apparatus the stage had to offer. Taking a break from the insanity, not to mention the videos of medical surgeries projecting behind the band, Taylor proclaims his love for Australia as one of the best crowds in the world, before busting into Before I Forget. Proving how easy it is for Australians to have their egos boosted, the crowd goes absolutely mental, flinging bodies around the pit, head-banging like it’s no one’s business.

Although no pyrotechnics, all-in-all, tonight’s show definitely lived up to its hype, leaving us wondering how Slipknot can ever put on a live show that impressive again. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next time. 

Slipknot play Rod Laver Arena, in Melbourne, 31 October.

Lamb Of God also have headline shows scheduled in Adelaide (1 November) and Fremantle (3 November).

Tickets are available via Live Nation.