 | Written by: Marty Adem Photography: Rob Botten (C)2017 All rights reserved by metalmasterkingdom.com @ The Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON Canada August 2, 2017 On the second of August, a spectacle to behold descended upon the Danforth Music Hall. One of the highlights of this Toronto’s summer concert season, the Neurosis, Converge and |
Amenra show provided many with the yearning catharsis much needed during this unexpectedly cool season. Mixtures of heavy, suspended tones, deep growls, cyclical riffs and complex lyrics encompassing themes ranging from the occult to the mundane reverberated throughout the venue and brought the crowd together in swaying and head-banging unison throughout the night. It should also be noted that the merch tables were fully loaded for all three bands, including a limited edition screen-print poster featuring an illustration from renowned artist Randy Ortiz. It was difficult to leave the show without picking up at least a pin or one of those beautiful Neurosis bandanas!
| (C)2017 All rights reserved by metalmasterkingdom.com Photo: Rob Botten The second act of the night was Converge. Originally started as a hardcore band, Converge’s sound combines this with elements of punk, heavy metal, sludge and post hardcore to create a sound that is uniquely distinguishable. Best known for their album Jane Doe, the band has gone on to release five more albums since then, including The Dusk In Us, which will be released later this year. Their performance was kinetic, wild and reactive, with Jacob Bannon running along the stage and moving in reaction to the music and the response from the audience. Kurt Ballou (guitar) and Nate Newton (bass) joined in from time to time with supporting vocals while Ben Koller provided intricate drums. They chose to open their set with newer songs, specifically from their albums Axe Fall and All We Love We Leave Behind. They also previewed a few songs from their upcoming album, such as “Under Duress.” While some may disagree, the first part of the set felt awkward and jagged, lacking a cohesive flow between songs. The crowd also seemed divided in their response to the music. However, as it progressed and they began to play older favorites from Jane Doe, You Fail Me, and No Heroes, the crowd became more engaged and the energy began to flow again. Many fans of Converge’s older material seem to be on the fence about their newer releases and it is unclear how their upcoming album will be received. Nonetheless, the audience was appeased and enjoyed the majority of the set, which provided a great set up for the final act of the night. (C)2017 All rights reserved by metalmasterkingdom.com Photo: Rob Botten | Amenra opened the night, starting with a heavy, doom/heavy metal sound which permeated the walls. Vocalist Colin Van Eeckhout faced away from the audience for most of the set, his back tattooed and displaying to us an upside-down, opaque black cross, making a striking image against his skin. Other band members Mathieu Vandekerckhove, Lennart Bossu, and Levy Seynaeve stared stoically into the audience, maintaining slow, heavy guitar and bass lines with subtle, complex melodies as drummer Byorn Lebon varied between steady rhythms and polyrhythmic beats. Colin meanwhile, shrieked, groaned, and rocked back and forth and side to side, from time to time curling his right hand back and over his spine, like a vulture’s claw. Van Eeckhout’s shrieks, combined with the churning ebbs and flows of the music, combined to create a varied atmosphere and story of loss, agony and reaching through the darkness for hope and ascension. Amenra definitely held their own and stood out, proving once again that they are constantly evolving and honing their craft. (C)2017 All rights reserved by metalmasterkingdom.com Photo: Rob Botten What is left to be said of Neurosis which hasn’t been written already? They are legendary in the underground music scene and have been around for decades, evolving from a hardcore punk band into a deeply complex musical performance combining elements of doom, drone, ambience, avant-garde, jazz, experimental, industrial, and prog. It is difficult to categorize them as any one genre, and that is likely what makes them a continually interesting band. Particularly intriguing during this performance was Noah Landis, the keyboardist and synth player who looked like a mad scientist/inventor concocting sounds with his electronic devices, at times pounding them with his fists and pulling faces reminiscent of grimaces from silent movie actors. It was difficult not to watch his performance as he switched between keys, synths and his laptop. Scott Kelly delivered powerful, booming vocals that always bordered on a growl, and Dave Edwardson’s bright pink hair was difficult to ignore in the sea of black and muted hues. It is easy to hear their inspiration from literature and the fragilities of life within not only their lyrics, but also their overall sound. There is a quality to their music that is mystical, resonant, and which encompasses one’s body and spirit in its entirety, spinning one in a whirlpool of drone. However, one doesn’t feel angry, desolate or in despair after their performance. On the contrary, there was an elation and an assurance, a communal sense of understanding and relief among the crowd: a release. Neurosis curated a poignant blend of older and newer material, creating a story, beginning with Loss, moving through Fire Is The End Lesson and Water Is Not Enough, and ending with Bending Light and The Doorway, |
creating the image of following a journey through turmoil and into clarity, moving through a new doorway into another world beyond what is known. There are few bands capable of achieving this with their music, and it was inspiring to see such a forward-thinking, progressive and respected band pull that off at the Danforth Music Hall.
For such an energetic show, it was surprising to see that so few people were moshing, especially during Converge. But that wasn’t the vibe of the night. Instead fans and concert goers were gathered to witness and appreciate the breadth of work, expertise, musicianship and story-telling that these three bands chose to share with us. Although we all definitely got our fill, it was still a show where one could have stayed and had another round of all three bands all over again and still enjoyed ever minute of it. I hope to see all three bands again in the near future, hopefully with more new ground-breaking music and indomitable spirit.
For such an energetic show, it was surprising to see that so few people were moshing, especially during Converge. But that wasn’t the vibe of the night. Instead fans and concert goers were gathered to witness and appreciate the breadth of work, expertise, musicianship and story-telling that these three bands chose to share with us. Although we all definitely got our fill, it was still a show where one could have stayed and had another round of all three bands all over again and still enjoyed ever minute of it. I hope to see all three bands again in the near future, hopefully with more new ground-breaking music and indomitable spirit.
| Amenra Mathieu Vandekerckhove - guitars Colin H van Eeckhout - vocals Bjorn Lebon - drums Lennart Bossu - guitars Levy Seynaeve - bass | Converge Jacob Bannon Kurt Ballou Nate Newton Ben Koller | Neurosis Scott Kelly - Guitars & Vocals Steve Von Till - Guitars, Vocals, Filters & Textures Dave Edwardson - Bass, Moog Synthesizer & Space Noah Landis - Organ, Piano, Samples & Atmospheres Jason Roeder - Drums |
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