Concert Review: Beastwars, Galatos, 29 June 2019

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Beastwars returned to Galatos in Auckland on 29 June, 2019 for their second date of a 7 stop NZ and Australia tour, celebrating the June 28 release of the band’s album IV. The tour is also celebrating vocalist Matt Hyde’s remission of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which oh so thankfully allowed this album come to be.

Supporting Beastwars first up was Auckland band Slumbug. Jessica Paton on vocals and guitar, Lucy Katt on vocals and bass, and Carla Tinsley confidently owned the stage with their sludge punk don’t give a fuck but hell we can make some beautiful noise sound. Lots of headbanging smiles in the crowd for this band. So happy I caught them, will definitely keep a look out for their next gig.

Next on was Witchskull (Marcus De Pasquale on vocals and guitar, Tony McMahon on bass, and Joel Green on drums). Hailing from Canberra, Australia having formed in 2014, this stoner rock / doom metal outfit played a mix of tracks from their albums The Vast Electric Dark (2015), and Coven’s Will (2018). I highly recommend a buy on these albums after seeing them deliver on stage. You could tell there was a fair few in the audience unfamiliar with Witchskull, but overall the crowd embraced their feedback enhanced primal  grooves. Superb choice of support act, Witchskull set the tone for Beastwars to come in and transfix.

Kicking off with Damn the Sky from their 2011 self titled album, Beastwars delivered the energy to get the crowd headbanging furiously. Although a not too wild a crowd, those around me were a good mix of ages and backgrounds. Next Storms of Mars had my long blond hair wanting to stand on end, watching Matt Hyde belt out “give me ten more years, let the child grow, let me see new Rome”. They closed up their 14 song setlist with flawless delivery of Raise the Sword, and Rivermen, two of my favs off the new album already.

All in all the band delivered a highly polished show. The lighting was well matched to the sound, not too theatrical. There was nothing really unexpected thrown in, just an on point solid delivery of their brilliance. And still I barely remember how crazy my body went jumping for Beastwars in front of the stage, so entranced I was, but my muscles certainly remembered it the next day. Universe please give us many more years of Beastwars. Breathe long, breathe wise, don’t fall, raise the sword.

~Andy Baker

Click any image in the galleries below to see photos of each band’s performance. Photography by Rachel Van Luyt

BeastWars

Slumbug

Witchskull

Andy Baker
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