The Bronx are no strangers to Australian shores. No, not in the sense that they came here twice in a year to promote a highly praised critical album, but it seems like they actually make time in their schedule to come party with Australians every year. First debuting in Australia in 2004, The Bronx have made their way across the world every year since 2007, most recently for the 2013 edition of Groovin’ the Moo. And they still manage to sell out their show at Sydney’s Metro Theatre! The main question here is how? What kind of band has that sort of insane fan loyalty and trust that they will be able to deliver time and time again, after over a decade’s worth of performances?
Before that question could be answered, Melbourne’s High Tension took to the stage. A fair crowd had gathered to have their eardrum’s blown out, and they were not disappointed. Formed from ex-members of Young & Restless, and members of The Nation Blue, they put on a performance that stayed with punters even after they left the stage, mainly due to the incendiary riffs put on display.
Deep, dark and heavy, the songs that High Tension play are pulled from the lowest bowels of riff hell, and instruments are slaughtered in front of the audience’s eyes. Front woman Karina Utomo is like the modern version of Cassandra from Wayne’s World, because boy, can she wail.
Amidst the bloodcurdling howls, and the insane riffage, it became clear that High Tension were a band to be watched. Not only are High Tension’s songs prime metal tunes, but their stage presence was nuclear, as showcased when Utomo jumped into the middle of a circle pit to scream amongst her fans. High Tension aren’t moving out of the limelight any time soon.
As the stage is set up for The Bronx’s invasion, a banner at the back of the stage reads: ‘The Bronx: The Beat That Kills’, with a King Kong character going apeshit in the foreground. This banner was akin to a prophecy, as The Bronx had the packed out house screaming, chanting and clapping before they’d even entered the stage. And by the time they’d come out and blitzed through ‘Kill My Friends’, every head in the venue was headbanging and hoarsely echoing every word that came out of vocalist Matt Caughthran, in a show of complete and utter devotion. By the second song, ‘History’s Stranglers’, that connection became that much more physical, as Caughthran threw himself amongst a sprawling sea of adoring fans’ arms.
Hoisted amongst the ranks, it became clear why The Bronx were so loved in Australia. Even though The Bronx are from LA, they have an affinity and connection with Australian fans that belies most hardcore fanbases. Shit, that was made even more clear when the crowd started acting like a T-shirt cannon, throwing an assortment of ripped, sweaty, mosh-scarred t-shirts onto the stage, so much so that Caughtran felt it necessary to mention that he could open up a vintage store.
The further into The Bronx’s set the crowd ventured, the more obsessed they became. ‘Youth Wasted’, ‘Ribcage’ and the ferocious ‘Knifeman’ all punctuated the heart of the crowd, as a neverending mosh provided a waterfall of crowdsurfers to dive headlong into security. The mosh itself was a broiling bloodbath of smiles and agape mouths. There was no bullshit surrounding The Bronx-every song was given the same amount of energy and ruthlessness, compounding into what must be the most punk rock equation ever considered. The band didn’t give a fuck if you had a stitch: you were going to party with them, and you were going to party hard. Even their ‘slow’ song ‘White Guilt’ caused a ruckus, and carried a crunch and bone-harrowing carnivorous nature.
It wasn’t hard to see why The Bronx were so revered a live band, as their songs were executed with the kind of presence and skill that most bands would sell their souls to Satan for. Luckily, The Bronx just have the most bloodthirsty riffs, a frontman that loves to crowdsurf, and ‘Shitty Future’.
Seeing Matt Caughthran make his way to the back of a venue, gather around a few dozen fans, and scream “ONE MORE TIME, YOUR SHITTY FUTURE!’ into a blistered microphone, it makes an individual feel like they’ve lived more than enough for one life. No wonder Australia loves The Bronx so much-when you’ve got as many hits as the Backstreet Boys, have four flawless punk albums, and have a live show that kicks more ass than a kickboxer training in a paddock of donkeys, it’s difficult to find someone on this world that doesn’t love you.
