Northlane Rocks Tasmania Weekender with Support from Inertia and Tidewalker at Altar Bar
Written by Jackson Simpson (@dark.depature.visuals)
It had been almost 2 years since Hobart had been graced with Northlane’s presence, so we were glad to see them back as they set Altar alight on the 7th of November. With them they brought Sydney’s Inertia, who are no stranger to a Tassie crowd and local lads Tidewalker.
Opening the night, local band Tidewalker showcased their blend of heavy riffs, guttural vocals, and melodic moments capturing the audience’s attention from the first note. The crowd was surely warmed up, and ready to go.
Sydney-based Inertia followed, bringing a dynamic and atmospheric performance. Inertia are a regular in Tassie having been here just recently and each time their crowd and energy grows bigger. Having just released a new album, "Second Shadow", they had a plethora of new music to show off, and that they did. Lead vocalist, Julian has an amazing range, his vocals can be rivalled with many of Australia’s top metalcore vocalists. The crowd played a huge role in this set, as Inertia have grown so have their fans, singing along to every word, opening moshes and just generally getting involved. They wrapped up their huge set almost as quickly as it began, showing why they are one of Australia’s fastest rising metalcore bands.
By the time Northlane took the stage, the atmosphere was electric, and a packed Altar was ready. Opening with the explosive "Carbonized" they set a blistering pace, weaving through their discography, with signs from "Obsidian" and "Mirror’s Edge", standing out as fan favourites. Their combination of electronic elements, pioneered by guitarist Jon Deily and their traditional metal-core, created an exciting atmosphere.
The band’s ability to seamlessly transition between crushing heaviness and ethereal ambiance is unmatched. Lead vocalist, Marcus Bridge, was a huge stand out for the night, his soaring vocals in the choruses and his crushing screams in the verses, just get better every time. His energy, and ability has really come into his own and he has hit a new level. To put it simply, the performance was massive, even sneaking in some old tracks, with a huge medley of old tunes, which the crowd responded in kind, hearing "Dispossession" ring through the PA woke up the 15 year old in me.
Northlane are an important band in Australian metal-core, and contour to show why they are considered that, their growth from a barely sold out Brisbane Hotel 10 years ago to a packed house at Altar was amazing to witness. Those in attendance were treated to a performance that they would talk about for a long time.