Words by Sam Wolstenholme
Photography by Tam Schilling | @tamcamimages_
2024 is, without a doubt, Alpha Wolf’s year. Between their hugely successful Cvltfest in February and their extensive touring schedule, it’s hard to believe they’ve found time to release a full-length album. But off the back of their release of ‘Half Living Things’ in April, Melbourne’s metalcore luminaries have been touring on home turf, accompanied by a lineup so stacked it beggars belief. With the triple support threat of none other than The Devil Wears Prada, the supremely talented Invent Animate and breakout nu-core outfit thrown, it’s little wonder that a venue upgrade was required for the Brisbane leg of this tour. In a flex that makes me proud to be a Brisbane metalhead, we have sold out the Fortitude Music Hall for this, the final show of the ‘Half Living Things’ Australian tour. Needless to say, it’s going to be a riot.
Sweden’s thrown whip up a dirty hardcore mosh straight off the bat, crashing into their set with a punishing guitar tone complete with copious scratches and squeals for added grit. The quartet seem to have exploded onto the global core scene out of nowhere, but tonight they prove their mettle as they power relentlessly through nu-core bangers with the cool confidence of a much more seasoned outfit. A chaotic fight pit rips open like the doorway to Hades, and rarely have I seen such a huge pit break out for an opening act. As they alternate between swaggering grooves and filthy chugs, I’m not sure if I want to grind my hips or throw shapes in the mosh. Their Emmure meets Wage War sound easily wins over the crowd, and thrown make for a formidable and highly fitting opener for tonight’s headlining act.
Texas metalcore rising stars Invent Animate deliver the same sense of brutality as the act that preceded them, but with a remarkable polish thanks to their innovative songwriting and pristine stage presence. Clad in white as angelic as the ethereal synths in their tracks, the quintet deliver an electrifying performance, their energetic brand of djenty metalcore elevating the hype levels in the room even higher. Vocalist Marcus Vik demonstrates incredible versatility, alternating between slick cleans, monster growls and ferocious pig squeals at the drop of a hat, and clearly there are a considerable number of fans in the crowd as Vik’s anthemic choruses earn widespread singalongs. The whole band showcases considerable technical chops, particularly drummer Brody Taylor Smith whose double kicks are impeccably crisp at blistering tempos. Surprisingly, bassist/vocalist Caleb Sherraden announces that the entire band is currently battling some sort of lurgy, which renders their collectively energetic performance even more impressive. Closing out with a mammoth circle pit and a wall of death, Invent Animate have brought the goods in their set tonight.
An AI intro booms through the room to announce Ohio metalcore stalwarts The Devil Wears Prada, the robot demanding circle pits in a move that reminds me of Bring Me The Horizon’s recent ‘Post-Human’ tour stagecraft. Now nearly two decades into their career, it’s The Devil Wears Prada for a new age; fittingly opening with their more recent single Watchtower, the sextet barrels into deathcore blast beats that send the mosh straight back into chaos. Then it’s old-school metalcore mayhem as they delve through a colourful anthology of hits cherry-picked from their eight studio album career, and the set showcases the evolution of their sound over the years. There’s such an exuberance about The Devil Wears Prada’s set tonight as they fling out best-loved hits like prized Pokemon trading cards, with Salt, Broken and Ritual inspiring an ecstatic crowd response, mass singalongs and crowd surfers galore. The whole band is bursting with energy, and the might of the triple guitar action courtesy of Mike Hranica, Jeremy DePoyster and Kyle Sipress is a feat to behold. The gutsy Reasons is met with an increasingly rowdy mosh, and Chemical is a cheeky tribute “to the ladies”. Closing with Sacrifice, a massive fight pit breaks out, and it’s the ending this fantastic performance deserves.
Soon the stage is decked out like a concrete jungle graffitied carpark, complete with a giant neon boombox, to set the scene for Alpha Wolf’s ‘Half Living Things’ stage anarchy. Opening with the crushing Haunter, the quintet incites instant carnage in the pit with the colossal guitar chugs that land heavier than lead balloons. As was expected, the band are on fire, fuelling endless fight pits with earlier bangers like Creep and Acid Romance, and tonight they gift the eager crowd with actual fire as well, with towering plumes of pyro flames punctuating the guitar chugs at key points throughout the set. They completely dominate the stage with their punishing breakdowns and flawless stagecraft, and are rewarded with a floor-wide wall of death early on in the set.
After a huge, rousing singalong to Bleed 4 You, this apparently passionately Brisbane crowd starts chanting “FUCK MELBOURNE”, to which the band issues a challenge for us to give Alpha Wolf’s home crowd a run for their money in the mosh. Judging by the blistering chaos that follows in Bring Back the Noise, I’d say that’s mission accomplished. Obnoxious chants unfortunately seem to be the flavour of the night as a crowd call for a shoey ensues shortly after this, and this is suitably met with Suck 2 Suck. Stay classy, Brisbane. Shoey chants only work for shows in which that’s specifically a bit in the band’s set – may the misjudged shoey chants die a quick death. But on with the show – everyone gets the phone lights out for the poignant Whenever You’re Ready, then Feign and Hotel Underground are a double king hit that stirs up the seething, swirling mosh to the point where it’s becoming unhinged.
Frontman Lochie Keogh remarks several times that the band are feeling imposter syndrome, expressing bemused but heartfelt gratitude that we’ve not only sold out this show, but we’ve sold more tickets than even their hometown. But I don’t think anyone could say that Alpha Wolf haven’t earned that support and glory when you consider their tireless hustle, genuine investment in their fans and just bloody good songwriting. The bedlam continues in 60cm of Steel, and then the band pause as Lochie disappears briefly, to literally throw up behind the drum kit, as it transpires. Guitarist Sabian Lynch effortlessly smooths this gap over with his outrageously Aussie stage banter, and then with the perseverance of a warrior, Lochie emerges back on stage for a final hurrah with none other than Akudama. Considering that this has been the final show of the tour and apparently half the bands are contending with illness, Alpha Wolf have pulled off a powerful, special show that clearly illuminates why they have been a sellout tonight – in the best possible sense of the word.
Thanks to Dallas Does PR
