THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER - Gig Review 13th January @ Jive Bar, Adelaide SA
THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER
Jive Bar, Adelaide/Tarntanya, SA
January 13, 2024
Support: PROMPTS, HEAVENSGATE and KIN
Now and then a band comes along with their unique sound, taking the current genre and then injecting their blend of unique personalities and influences onto it. These bands spend some time developing in their respected local scenes and then eventually something breaks them out.
This seems the trajectory that Melbourne metalcore act The Gloom In The Corner is setting out on, along with the selection of bands they have supporting them, on their ‘Trinity Tour’. It seems the small but mighty scene in Adelaide also got the memo.
In a close-to-sold-out show at Jive Bar, punters packed in to witness the Melbourne metalcore outfit’s first Adelaide headliner since 2022. Supported by Japanese/Korean sensation Prompts, upcoming Melbourne outfit Heavensgate and local prodigies Kin.
Kicking off spectacularly, the young guns KIN did the work to warm up this already rowdy crowd. There was immediate movement, with the pit descending into two-stop action without much hesitation. Filled with that hungry, young aggression that drew us into this style of music in the first place- KIN’s set was a reminder to invest in the local scene. Their reckless abandon, interesting and at times unpredictable music inspired the pit to keep moving throughout their entire set. As singer Louie confirmed, KIN “… is a mosh-friendly band” and those who like to throw down were right at home.
After KIN’s blistering set, the Adelaide fans were more than ready for then ready to witness Melbourne scene breakouts HEAVENSGATE. One of the major players in this new wave of Australian metalcore, the air was soaked in anticipation. Luring the crowd to the front, and then proclaiming that it was time for violence was masterful and boy, was it a time. Straight away they had the pit in the palm of their hand. Ripping through their releases such as ‘Violent Joy’, ‘Ginsick’ and ‘Chemical Heaven’– they quickly answered to the hype around their name. Their efforts did not go unnoticed by this amped-up crowd. They responded accordingly, showing off the reckless abandon Adelaide fans have been known for. There were not many safe places left to stand, but nobody cared. HEAVENSGATE was crushing it. Heavy, melodic and bordering on atmospheric- there is no doubt they earned themselves some new fans.
Making the trek from Japan, with members also from South Korea, the newly signed Greyscale Records act PROMPTS did not waste time introducing themselves. While newer to many of the Australian audiences, the band has been kicking around the Japanese scene since 2012. Their set showed every bit of that experience. Tight, curated and heavy as hell- PROMPTS exceeded expectations. Brimming with charisma, vocalist PK whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Demanding a circle pit straight away, it was delivered and then the karate pits, wall of deaths and stage divers came not long after. Powering through a set that included some of their best tracks- ‘Mobius’, ‘Locust’, ‘Tunnel Effect’, ‘Face Me’ and of course, ‘Asphyxiate’, it was the perfect combination to not only appease long-term fans and win over those new to them. Dropping the ever-coveted “Sick Cunt!” phrase, PK made sure to promise the band’s return and I think I can speak for everybody when I say the sooner the better.
Of course, there is a reason this show was happening and despite the impressive nature of the support acts, there is no denying that the crowd was hungry for one band- THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER. Alerting everybody that they were ready to take the stage with Nickelback’s ‘San Andreas’, the crowd got the memo and piled onto the floor. Despite this being a tour celebrating the release of their 2022 album Trinity, there was a good mix of tracks from across their discography. Unlike previous times I’ve seen the band, there were no back screens- it was no frills and straight-up chaos from the get-go. Bodies were dropping, people were busted open, but smiles were all around. As there are still a few more shows, I am going to keep the set list under wraps to not spoil it for others- but you can be sure that it won’t disappoint.
Honestly, the set was whiplash. The way the band seamlessly transitions from epic, bordering on cinematic build-ups with vocalist Mikey Arthur flexing his cleans to intensely brutal breakdowns need to be studied. Throughout the show, there are people throwing elbows and then standing with their arms raised. Being able to not just write and record this type of music but to be able to perform it with the same level of complexity and cleanliness makes The Gloom In The Corner something truly special in our scene. I cannot go on without mentioning that there were even people dressed up as characters from the lore that they have created in their music. It is no wonder that the Adelaide audience was begging for at least one more song once they exited. The chants were answered with not just one, but two more, leaving absolute carnage and keeping security on their toes.
With a few more shows left on the tour, I strongly urge anybody who is on the fence about attending to bite the bullet and just go. If this is the way the Australian metalcore scene is starting the year, then the expectations of what is to come are already obscenely high.
Review by Kayla Hamilton @kaylazomboid
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