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Live Reviews : Eluveitie & Valhalore @ The Zoo, Brisbane 19/05/2016

By on May 20, 2016

Words: Jake Patton

Images: Rebecca Reid

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Folk metal is an interesting thing. I say this because it quite often conjures up severely polarising arguments, with fans either adoring the genre, or loathing it. Folk metal in Australia is something entirely different, as sequestered from the Celtic influence and heritage that several European countries have means that there is a perceived lack of appeal here. Luckily, rocking up to Brisbane’s The Zoo (the venue, not the establishment that houses animals) on Thursday night to watch Swiss folk metal pioneers Eluveitie showed that Australia’s love of folk metal is not only alive, but is booming.

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Have you heard of Valhalore yet? If not then that’s ok because the band has only been around for a relatively short amount of time and confined to the local circuit in Brisbane, but if you enjoy folk metal then you need to put these guys on your radar straight away. As opening act for tonight’s show I am almost certain that this was the first chance many had to experience Valhalore (although I could be mistaken given the amount of Valhalore shirts I saw in the venue), but after the performance the band put on display, I think for many that it won’t be the last time. The band mixes the ferocity of melodic death metal, the intricacy of folk metal with the technical grace and wizardry of guitarists like Jari Mäenpää from Wintersun, for a sound that feels so organic yet inspiring, and I couldn’t have thought of a more fitting support for Eluveitie tonight. With only a handful of songs under their belt, Valhalore was able to play their entire discography in their allotted time, but did so with the vigour and stage presence of an unbridled stallion. Hell, if a local support band with an amount of shows under their belt that I can count on my fingers is able to get a mosh pit of 20-30 grown men dancing in a linked arm jig then you have to stand up and take notice. But that’s exactly what Valhalore did – and it was amazing, and easily one of the more inspired local supports for an international band that I have seen in a very long time.

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It had been three years since Eluveitie had played in Australia, and in those three years it seems like their fanbase in the country has tripled. The 2013 show had a meagre turnout compared to tonight, and instead of being only a quarter full like last time, the venue feels it’s completely packed out. Its little surprise then that when the lights dropped signalling the arrival of the band that the room erupted into rapturous cheers, which only intensified as each member walked out one by one. The band then played off this by opening their set with three of the highest intensity songs in their back catalogue, setting the crowd alight like fire to gasoline; and in the process, setting the crowd up perfectly for the night’s proceedings.

Now I know that there have been some quite serious developments over the past few weeks in the Eluveitie camp, and these were certainly among the topics of discussion between fans during the intermission, but if you thought that these would hamper the bands performance then you would be greatly mistaken. The Eluveitie that presented on stage appeared every bit the cohesive unit that it had been the past few times I have seen them – both here and abroad. While I can appreciate that there could potentially be tension between band members, everyone was a consummate professional and none of the cracks, rifts or factions that recent events may have exposed were present from the minute the band took the stage. With that being said, there is always so much happening on stage during an Eluveitie show that I could have missed it, but if this is going to be one of the final performances of the band with their current lineup, with members Anna Murphy, Ivo Henzi and Merlin Sutter beginning new journeys in their musical career shortly – then this is how I want to remember this incarnation of the band, because their performance was just sublime.

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Running through a great mix of the heavy, and the acoustic tracks while bringing in pieces from each of their albums meant that the band ticked all the boxes for their newer fans, and those that have been with the band from the very beginning. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the song “The Call of the Mountains” not being sung in English, but in the bands native Swiss tongue (although who could tell with the crowd singing along with the English version). As one would expect, the spotlight was with front man Chrigel Glanzmann and his ferocious raspy vocals, and Anna Murphy who was vocally impeccable, and probably even better than recorded versions live, with each other performing strongly on their instrument(s) of choice.

There’s a lot that can be said about an Eluveitie performance, but the fans in Brisbane really seemed to be embracing every facet of the show, with chants of “10 more songs” echoing out each time that the band left the stage for a break. The performance from tonight was so far removed from the performance three years ago – with much more polish, professionalism and character that this seemed like a different band that had taken the stage.

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Finally, if there is ever a show that Eluveitie doesn’t perform Inis Mona at, then I don’t want to be present for it. The energy that this song exudes is Thousandfold (pun intended) over the rest of their catalogue and it always elicits the greatest crowd response. This is the song that got me (and I’m sure 90% of the room) into the band and was definitely the perfect way for the band to sign off for the night. Linking arms together and taking a bow in front of the crowd seemed bittersweet, with the knowledge that this is the last time that this incarnation of the band will perform together in Brisbane, which is why met with rapturous applause from the fans.

Eluveitie are touring Australia for ‘An Evening With Eluveitie’ now. Tickets for the remaining shows are on sale through Tombowler.

Tuesday 17 May – Perth – The Capitol
Support: Wrath of Fenrir

Thurs 19 May – Brisbane – The Zoo
Support: Valhalore

Fri 20 May – Sydney – Manning Bar
Support: Rise of Avernus

Sat 21 May – Melbourne – Max Watts (Hi/Fi)
Support: Stormtide

Sun 22 May – Adelaide – The Gov
Support: Orpheus Omega

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