Live Review: The Haunted, Insomnium, Daemon Pyre

Despite hailing from Sydney, Daemon Pyre was stylistically in accordance with the evening’s Nordic theme. Fusing Gothenburg and Carcass schools of melodic death metal for a likeminded gathering, they revelled in the opportunity and appeared to acquire fresh converts.

As one fan flying a Finnish flag during the entire set indicated, Insomnium’s inaugural trek Down Under after a 15-year-plus career was feverishly anticipated. Treated like old companions rather than first-time visitors, the floor swiftly filled with tireless devotees throughout their hour-plus set, enamoured of twin guitar melodies and sizeable presence. In a potent, hook-laden melange of Dark Tranquillity-esque melodic death, traditional music from their homeland and progressive flourishes, the atmospheric Where The Last Wave Broke proved a standout. The performance was peppered with other brutal, yet infectious gems such as the blistering Only One Who Waits and mammoth closer, Weather The Storm. A return headlining visit would appear a formality.

It was likely a variety of combined factors that led to crowd numbers thinning prior to The Haunted, and then gradually continuing to do so as the set transpired. For instance, their predecessors were evidently a significant draw, while the melo-death Swedes’ appeal had waned somewhat, potentially the residual effect of more experimental, under-valued, albeit not widely-accepted recent albums from their previous incarnation. This version featured just two-fifths of the line-up that previously toured in 2011. Latest release, Exit Wounds was a viable return though, a notion underlined by furious opener Cutting Teeth and Trend Killer. Vocalist Marco Aro, enjoying his second stint within the ranks, was in a jovial mood, although lacked Peter Dolving’s off-kilter charisma. The reduced attendance detracted from the overall atmosphere, but the band ably persevered; 99’s nasty thrash resonated, while D.O.A. and Bury Your Dead were expectedly pit fodder. If more punters had remained, it could have elevated a strong showing into a great one.