an exclamation point on what has been an epic Australian tour.
Photos & review by James Gough
Day two. We've eaten ourselves into oblivion at the winter feast. The atmosphere is electric, and I find myself making my way back to the Odeon for the second show of the evening and my second chance to witness the Deafheaven on this Australian tour.
It's hard to believe that prior to this tour, I had never experienced Deafheaven. I still regret missing their 2016 set at Sydney’s Opera House, which I imagine would have etched itself as one of the all time greatest shows.
Ever since I first heard "Sunbather" I knew I had stumbled upon one of the greatest records of the last decade. If someone had told me that I would have been witnessing them play this in full in 2023, I would have likely dismissed it as a fantasy—akin to winning the lottery overnight. Yet, here I stand, ready!
Upon its release, "Sunbather" was met with both abundant praise and equal parts disdain from traditional black metal purists. While Deafheaven was not the first band to explore the boundaries of the genre now dubbed as shoegaze/blackgaze, they fearlessly pushed those boundaries further, fusing elements of brutality and ethereal beauty into a record that remains as fresh today as it did upon its release.
During their earlier performance in Sydney this month, I had the privilege of hearing crowd favourites such as "Dream House" and "Sunbather," which only intensified my excitement for this set at this years Dark Mofo. And true to their word, there was no deviation from the setlist—tonight was a night solely dedicated to the transcendental journey of "Sunbather" in all its glory.
The moment arrived—a collective surge of anticipation rippled through the audience as the first notes of my personal favourite, "Vertigo" pierced the air. The ensuing 14 minutes were a breathtaking odyssey, encapsulating a range of emotions—from the delicate beauty of the intro to the unrelenting torrent of blast beats in the middle, before gently returning everyone to solid ground with the exquisite and captivating outro.
Following a brief interlude during "Windows" where we caught our breath and prepared ourselves for what was coming next.
"The Pecan Tree," another song that spanned just under 12 minutes, unleashed yet another assault on our senses. The final four minutes, in particular, unveiled an enchanting tapestry of sound that simultaneously overwhelmed many in the crowd, leaving an indelible impression that resonated deep within everyone standing in The Odeon Theatre tonight.
As the last resounding drum fills echoed through the venue, the band collectively raised their hands and instruments, signifying the culmination of an unforgettable performance. And with that poignant gesture, they gracefully departed the stage, leaving us in awe of what we had witnessed.
While many thought an encore was coming and selfishly I would have loved to hear a few extra songs from ‘Ordinary Corrupt Human Love’ & ‘Infinite Granite’ but instead Deafheaven left us all with a mic drop—an exclamation point on what has been an epic Australian tour.
