Future Static’s “Liminality” Tour | Revolver Bandroom
Standing in the far back corner of the room, sipping on a crisp lager, I watched as Rev’s compact bandroom filled to the brim. Shoulder to shoulder, people were chattering away and awkwardly shuffling around to get to the bar or meet their mates. It was Future Statics debut headline tour, “Liminality”, a quintet that has taken Melbournes alternative scene by storm in the past 5 years. Having already shared the stage with metal legends such as Electric Callboy, RedHook, Jinjer, Windwaker and so many more, it was only right the band took off on their own tour. And, if I’m honest, you’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t blasted “Venenosa,” or “Waves” by now. Their most recent album is 42 minutes of unwavering, raw talent and unforgettable anthems that has helped them garner an extremely loyal fan base, and I could absolutely see that by the turn out from the moment the doors opened. I’m pretty sure nearly everyone had rocked up as the first opener of the night, Aurateque, began their sound check.
Aurateque are a newfound staple in my playlist. They’re the perfect elixir of chaos, adrenaline and pure mayhem, that hail from Eora, Sydney. I was first graced with their impeccable stage presence when they opened for The Last Martyr for their “Requiem” EP launch tour last year, and I was completely enthralled by Lauren Colemans energy. She’s nothing short of a force to be reckoned with, her vocals ranging from ferocious growls to heavenly belting all while twisting and moving her body to the crushing riffs behind her. If you’re like me, and have a guilty pleasure for stalking bands on Instagram, they provide endless entertainment online too. Sharing videos of her dislocating her shoulder while performing in Sydney and a private story dedicated to sharing behind the scenes of the bands lives. It’s very easy to fall in love with not only the charming members, but also their unparalleled discography and bewitching live performances.
They kicked off their set with Paradigm, and as expected the rooms energy was immediately lifted. Their music is a unique mix of hardcore, with math rock riffs and electronica-esque breakdowns. It’s such a seamless blend of sounds, and are so effortlessly tight when live on stage, playing through a few unreleased tracks like Pink Casket and Spiderbait. Ending on Renegade, the venue suddenly became even more cramped as more bodies flung into the pit. Yet another flawless set from the group, there’s truely nothing stopping Aurateque from becoming our scene’s next big breakout band.
Aurateque / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
The break between sets was a blur, and I watched in anticipation as Monica Strut’s signature mic stand, wrapped in roses with fairy lights, was set up centre stage. It wasn’t long until the lights dimmed yet again, and Ben, Ricky and Vin entered the stage to slam into Xenox, the opening track of the bands debut “Requiem” (one of my favourite releases from last year, in case you were wondering). Monica stalked onto the stage to belt out the lyrics “So don’t you cry, just a skeleton dance to the moonlight,” before transitioning into Antidote. Self described as “cyberpunk metal core for aliens,” their conceptualisation of their music creates a distinct atmosphere that is irresistible to get lost in, as flashing lights and Strut’s embodiment of her lyrics paint scenery of futuristic, apocalyptic nihilism shrouded in flowers.
The quartets energy fuses and intertwines seamlessly on stage, as Mon’s vocals soar over Ben’s gritty melodies, there’s never a moment where you aren’t enamoured during a Last Martyr set. Where The Nihilist is a perfectly heavy anthem, with lush build ups and neck snapping choruses, tracks like Freestyler also offer an up beat, trap infused sound. They seem to take all of my favourite flairs from different sub genres and pack them into their songs, offering a breath of fresh air into everything they release. Constantly on the road, making a name for themselves, it’s your own fault if you haven’t jumped on board for The Last Martyr’s force of fury.
The Last Martyr / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
And finally, for the moment we’re all waiting for, Future Statics set started off with a low, electronic rumbling before each member took their place on stage, as the crisp opening chords to “Chemical Lobotomy” shattered the room. Guitarists Ryan Qualizza and Jack Smith shred in tandem, creating intricate layers that vary from crushing to soulfully melodic. I also have a slight infatuation with Jackson Trudel’s drumming, it’s catastrophically heavy, while filling any empty space in a track with a stunning precision. The setlist was a great combination of older tracks, all while managing to play through every track off of their album. Icarus was incredible live, and was only made more ethereal by Monica Struts surprise collaboration on stage, most memorably the stunning belting of the final chorus.
Monica & Amariah / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
Amariah Cook is one of the most refined, glittering lead singers in the game, her bubbly personality shines through in her stage presence, as she grins ear to ear while delivering soul crushing lyrics in perfect pitch. Her screams and growls commands the rooms attention, and all eyes follow her no matter where she is on stage. I adored her outfit, a black mini dress with diamond bows that refracted the strobe lights, in duality with her striking serenity to unbridled rage behind a mic. Kira Neil backed up on vocals, while also making my head thrash in time with her gravelly, tough bass lines. They played through my favourite track, “Roach Queen”, before finishing up on “The Embers” and an encore of their beloved cover of “Gasolina”.
I like to think that I’ve been to quite a few gigs in my time, having been to many venues in our beautiful little city, but the pure kinetic wrath, excitement and energy of this crowd was unforgettable. Despite being only my third concert of the year, I have a gut feeling it’s gonna stay up there as a highlight. I haven’t experienced such an intimate, flawless showcase of talent like this in a while, and to get to see three of my most beloved local bands in one night is unbeatable. It’s always really empowering to see all these brilliantly minded and masterfully artistic women absolutely crushing the game and getting the flowers they deserve.
Future Static / Photo Credit: Tristan Skell
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