CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL GALLERY OF ARCHSPIRE BY MARK DERRICUTT

By Mark Derricutt

Date / Venue: Tuesday, August 21st; 2018 Whammy Bar Auckland

Even though I'm all about the melodic and progressive; I have a soft spot for insane technical death metal taking even the progressive elements of metal to the extreme along with everything else, so I was pleased, stoked, no darn near giddy at the prospect of witnessing Archspire in the flesh. 

 My first thoughts were ‘can they pull this off live’?  Sure, I'd seen live footage online so I knew it was possible, but experiencing it in person is something else.  

 Starting off as a cold, wet, miserable Tuesday night; the humid sweaty comforts of Auckland's Whammy Bar were a welcome change, and it wasn't long before Wellington's Order Of Diptera took the stage, solid as heck riffs, not too loud, aggressive tech/progressive/death and not showy… 

 So far, I'm far from disappointed, with tonight's set being further blessed with legendary sound master Mark Peterson behind the desk, capturing that perfect level of volume and mix just perfect for being able to hear all the nuances of progressive tech. 

 Organectomy is up next. Vocalist Alex Paul is a sight to beyond, I'd say he brings the heart and soul of the show alive, but it's more of a creepy dark spirit of enigmatic woe… tight and commanding and far to short set. 

As the Whammy Bar fills Archspire amble to the stage; I love how relaxed the atmosphere can get with metal gigs here in New Zealand but this is where the crazy begins, my limbs tremble remembering their agony from Sabat a few months back, being ground against the stage to crippling pain. Surprisingly; tonight's crowd are much more reserved than I expected with only the occasional pushing (or maybe I was just lucky). 

 I knew I was expecting an impressive set but how is this band even possible? Delivering such ferocity and yet wielding melody at the drop of a hat, wrapped up in utter chaos, shifting into clean jazz interludes before weaving right back into madness. 

 I've now retreated to the rear of the venue to sit back and enjoy the rest of the show, with only a big toe stomp to show as injury and what a show it was. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL ORGANECTOMY GALLERY BY MARK DERRICUTT