Live Review: SE BON KI RA @ Fowlers, Adelaide

There’s some history here, and getting so see SE BON KI RA is something I was beginning to think that wasn’t going to happen. The first time I caught them was in support of LORD, and after that, we took the opportunity to review their album, ‘In the Wake of Change’. A mix up with the photographer meant no review, so maybe next time, but the album was such a ball-tearingly good listen that there would be an another opportunity. I turned down an opportunity to see the guys perform locally as they came on stage after 1am, or some time of the morning where you are letting your ears ring out after a day of metal. Put that off and I’ll go see them support Soilwork. After being arsed from the warm-up I missed SE BON KI RA and Soilwork, but I can report both sounded great from the car park.

So here we are, and its SE BON KI RA’s opportunity to play their 30 minute stint in the 17 band day here at Heavyfest. The crowd were angsty, as they have been on their feet all day, and it was a 40 metre round trip to the bar, so by the time SE BON KI RA hit the stage, 7 hours have passed since the day started. I say angsty, but a marketing person would call it, ‘a high energy crowd’, whereas security might call it ‘volatile’. Reality is that was a good-natured metal crowd, out for entertainment. SE BON KI RA is a 5 piece, with two guitars, bass, drums and vocals. This is groove metal with the selling point being that this really does groove. In, ‘who do they sound like’ terms they are like Gojira, something I don’t like saying because Gojira are immense and almost untouchable, but they sound very much like them. Lyrically, they have a stronger grasp on the everyday, rather than the imagined. This is not homage; this is drive and passion, pure and simple. But this is a small field of Gojira, SE BON KI RA, Chronolyth, and possibly Jonestown… all groovers, and if it wasn’t for Gojira, I would be claiming SE BON KI RA as pack leader.

So that’s the preamble, let’s get to the gig, because it was a cage fight from the off. Passion, power and a crowd familiar with the product. By the time we got to, ‘Nailed Into Place’, the place was going mental. This was one of the picks from the review and the crowd was up and the band was grinning and feeding off each other. We got to the end of the song and the photographer next to me says, ‘when do they let up’. That’s a dumb question as we crashed into ‘Symmetry’ then ‘This Life I Create’.

This track is ‘Le Enfant Sauvage’ Gojira smashed with In Flames. ‘Sick of blaming my lack of power on external forces that render me nothing‘, we screamed into the song and it’s a multi-faceted lament with every shade and colour. As reviewers, we see and hear bands from all parts of the globe, but we almost lost sight of a local band producing such depth and power. This is a song I listen to regularly, but it takes on a life of its own live. It’s insanely good.

And in a blur, it was the last song, ‘Shades Of Hate’. Neat way to end the set with a track from the EP, ‘One Thousand Ways To Be’. Between the EP and the album, the band filled out the vision with confidence and technical ability, but this is a song to end a set, and keep the energy high. The place went up, the band rocked out the next band on should have called in sick, because the stage is unusable. Bass and one guitar in a huddle in front of the kit. Chad out front on his own leaning over the monitor screaming the words while the second guitar is in the front row, on the other side of the barrier, thrashing it out.

I cannot believe that this band remains unsigned. It’s a fucking travesty, but as a reviewer, I, of course, remain impartial, but let’s remember 17 bands in a day with some supporting international acts gives an element of comparison. Listening to about 400 acts in a year gives another opportunity to compare. Dyssidia came close but SE BON KI RA owned the day. It’s not their style to claim it, but it was a slick, professional take-down.

Very impressive, and better than some touring bands I have seen in the last few months. Hear the album, see the band, and join the cause. This band needs to be on the international stage ASAP!

Set List Lesser Than Chasing the Vulnerable Nailed into Place Symmetry This Life I Create Shades of Hate.

Review and mages: Craig Grant

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