Earth Caller – Gig Review & Photo Gallery 15th April @ The Corner Hotel, Melb VIC
Earth Caller
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
April 15th, 2023
Supports: AVIANA, CABAL, APATE, Deadskin
Coming off the exemplary Renormalization EP, Melbourne metallers Earth Caller have constructed an awesome tour to celebrate. If you checked out our tour preview then you'll know that some international acts were brought across to debut live in Australia. These include Swedish metalcore band AVIANA and Denmark deathcore band CABAL. Exposure to national talent was a must for this tour as well, featuring Brisbane metalcore band APATE on tour and Melbourne metalcore Deadskin. We got to experience this stacked lineup on the final date of this tour, read on for our thoughts!
Deadskin had a keen audience pumped up nice and early. They had a bass-heavy sound which delighted those who came to support these locals. The hype that Deadskin generated carried on throughout the night, they let the audience know this tour meant business.
This further continued when APATE came on stage. Low guitar tones, fast tempos, and monstrous screams filled the Corner Hotel. Their bouncy beats and nasty breakdowns were impressive and I was particularly impressed by the bass slapping APATE used on stage. A few neck-snapping breakdowns later, it was time to get underway with the internationals.
CABAL were the most brutal band of the evening. Both stage guitarists were bopping around the now much clearer stage, and the vocalist was so in your face on the barrier. The set was fast-paced, and the circle pits were aplenty. The variety of vocals employed on stage, and blast beat-laden breakdowns allowed CABAL to debut in Australia with style and an incredibly memorable performance.
AVIANA's mostly masked member setup was a joy to behold. These guys are metalcore masters and it felt very special to see their brand delivered to us that night despite some early on-stage tech issues. Vocalist Joel Holkmqvist captivated the room as the band delivered catchy melodic metalcore all set long. Forays into the heavier territory were welcome, alongside some fun breakdowns and crowd engagement. That's two of two fantastic debuts from international bands that evening!
Headliners Earth Caller ensure most of their Renormalization EP got a play, including my favourite song 'Alone'. The stage was packed with the talented musicians that make up the band, and it was great to see everyone gel together on stage. Vocalist Josh Collard is one of the most directly engaging front people I've seen and you can tell he's so proud of everyone in Earth Caller and it's heartwarming. The set featured some throwbacks for long-time fans, which allowed me to appreciate the evolution of their sound even more. The extra live guitars and keys from newer members Josh Renjen and Misstiq add a new dynamic that translates well to the live stage.
Earth Caller closed out this Australian tour with a sensational evening of heavy music with national and international favourites alike. A great EP deserves a great tour package and this lineup truly delivered a memorable night for any metalcore fan. On a side note, I hope their first runs in Australia were great because I'd love to see AVIANA and CABAL grace our shores more in the future!
Written by Tyler Lubke.
Photo Gallery by Clinton Hatfield. Insta: @ampd.agency.
Please credit Wall of Sound and Clinton Hatfield if you repost photos.
Deadskin
APATE
CABAL
AVIANA
Earth Caller
