Sleepmakeswaves
Words by Tiahni Adamson
Instrumental rock band Sleepmakeswaves graced the Gov with two preacts on April 6th. Unset kicked off the evening with shouty vocals and an incessant hum of electric guitar, which made it difficult to decipher between whether the band was switching songs or having sound check issues. Unset’s performance was loose and seemed almost unrehearsed, with a ‘lets see if this works’ attitude to their routine. Some great solos were played, and a strong applause followed their set, however the lead singer seemed as if he had missed the memo as to when the band where finishing. The lead increased more feedback through the speakers, ready to take on another song before the mixing desk at The Gov cut him off and played interim music.
Caligula’s Horse were next to enter stage who began their first song with a beautiful unified head bang. The set had great focus on their album ‘Bloom’, where ‘Marigold’ and ‘Cannon’s Mouth’ were instant crowd favourites.
The lead singer, drummer and 3 guitarists had such infectious passion while playing, and the energy of band members was pleasingly contagious to the audience. Band members showed incredible guitar work where the fingering of the guitar strings looked like that of Mozart on a piano. The crowd were clapping, head banging and jumping together in this fantastic ensemble of metal music. The set finished with ‘Daughter of the Mountain’, which has similar sound to the ‘Sword’ but is also both upbeat and sinister in its own sense. Adrian Goleby had replaced Zac Greensill whom has left the band to pursue other things. Goleby had incredible metal-band-boy hair, amazing guitar skills, and fit in with the Caligula’s Horse family impeccably well.
After another intermission, Sleepmakeswaves entered stage beneath a blue light and a dulled, low guitar screech. ‘To you they are birds, to me they are voices in the forest’ kicks off their set, and fans are immediately enraptured by the incredible way in which the sound of each instrument flows between low and slow electric guitar, to heavy drums and fast paced guitar finger work.
Each of the band members are completely absorbed by their music, as if they are on a completely different planet. Each artist is only focused on his individual instrument; yet are so well rehearsed that the four sounds together tightly create a mystifying and transmissible composition for all to enjoy.
The physical performance of Sleepmakeswaves make you realise how incredible they are live. The experience of their instrumental rock/metal music is completely different than when it is recorded digitally. The live sound is gritty, intense and layered in a three-dimensional harmony.
‘Tundra’ and ‘Emergent’ again sound completely different live than the capability of what can be heard from digitally recorded music. Closing the evening are ‘Avalanches’ and ‘Northern’, taking the crowd on an emotional journey purely through the various tiers produced through the sound.
One small piece of criticism would be the three loud, wailing sound checks before each band that literally had me covering my ears. Obviously a strong sound check is required to produce impeccable music, and the performance as a whole was absolutely exceptional.
If you haven’t already, see these incredible ‘started from underground now we here’ men live, to take you through a maze of emotions and soundgasms.
May 18 @ Powerstation, Auckland NZ
May 20 @ The Triffid, Brisbane QLD
May 22 @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
May 23 @ 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC
May 24 @ 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC
May 26 @ Capitol, Perth WA
UK & Europe ‘Made of Breath Only’ tour 2017 – more dates to be announced!
August 19 @ ArcTanGent Festival, Bristol UK
October 1 @ Euroblast, Cologne GERMANY
October 6 @ Prog Power Europe, Baarlo NETHERLANDS
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