Alchemist, Plague, Pathogen
Grosvenor Backroom 16th June 2001
Reviewed by SOD

As ever, Pathogen were ready for shredding duties in order to warm up the already sweltering crowd. With a maniacal new front man and perhaps their most talented and solid lineup ever (featuring amongst others Dark Lord's fret master Marco Devattimo on six string and Enslaved's sword swinging and goat bearded viking Grutle on bass), Pathogen simply kicked ass and produced an atmosphere not seen amonst the pulsating throng before them since their "nightfall" demo launch some years earlier. Melodic enough to impress the progressive metal fans whist retaining enough bite to cause even the most hardened blackmetal bezerker to bang till blind. Encompassing a the entire length and breadth of their career, from the now seemingly primordial "eviscerated" through to their latest, unrealesed songs, Pathogen surely are an eternally progressing force in the Perth scene.
Plague continued the onslaught, with no less vigour than their preceeding peers. However, the harsh uncompromising gutteral style of Plague did little to win sympathy from the proggie / stoner crowd hence gathered and unfortunately a large number of people mistook their set as an opportunity to escape next door for a quick (and apparently cheaper) fermented wheat beverage. Pity the fools, as Plague's brand of ultra brutal, impossibly technical metal is almost unsurpassable live. Oozing all three of aggression, energy and talent, this band churned out all the favourites and then some, never once allowing their dedicated bangers even the briefest of respites until their closing chapter.
The scene was set for the greatest fight mankind had ever seen on the night the martians came. The curtains black only allowed sonic hints at the busy preparations and goings on behind their engulfing veil. All around the prorifery, curious spectators gathered in groups of 2 or 3 at first, and then larger numbers as the soundcheck intensified. As the makings proceeded, shafts of intense and coloured light beamed from behind the black screen, as the lighting tech proceeded to peculiar unearthly illumination on the scene.

After what seemed an eternity of such obscured goings on, but more the case was a mere half hour, the curtains were drawn back and there before the gathered masses, sentinel like, stood 3 bipedal guargantuans, holding high their infernal weapons of mass destruction. With long hair flailing about wildly like constricting tentancles, the band launched their melodic attack on the awestruck human mice strewn before them, and as if touched by some giant invisible naked flame - the crowd lit up with an upheaving spasmodic commotion. Onwards the Australian gargantuans advanced, unleashing a myriad of songs from their devastating and irreproachable arsenal. Agonized cries and sighs of exasperation mixed with exultation filled the air as the alchemist army released wave after wave of simply brilliant and wholly unique and individual songs from all their albums, ranging from organasm through to spiritech and before and after. As if mesmerized by the awesome power of the band, the crowd surged not back but forward, eager to be exposed to the unparalleled aural assault that this band delivered unto them with a merciless, inhuman glee. However, Alchemist's advance was doomed to an inevitable demise - no matter how mighty the onslaught the thundering giants delivered, they could not resist the nagging persistence and continuity of time. Closing their set with the majestic and perhaps most widely loved song, "eve of the war" within an instant the band were a mere pleasant memory on all those survivors in the pit. As such, we are compelled to wonder if once again we will be subject to the unparalleled musicianship and unrivalled originality which this band delivered with such a deft hand. For now however, we can only look to that bright, distant star to the east and wonder what might be, if once more.
SOD