Blog — Page 7 of 282

Wardruna
25 January 2025
Enmore Theatre
Sydney, Australia

In the humid haze of a Sydney summer evening, the Enmore Theatre became a portal to another realm, a sacred space where time and place blurred. On January 25, 2025, Wardruna delivered a transcendent performance that not only captivated but transported its audience into the heart of Nordic mysticism. Anticipation had simmered since the band’s tour announcement in April 2024, and as the crowd gathered, clad in intricate folk-inspired attire, the atmosphere felt less like a concert and more like a ritualistic homecoming.

The stage design set the tone: drapery shimmered like torn, blood-soaked skin under shifting lights, evoking an eerie yet inviting atmosphere—more medieval dungeon than modern theatre. As the runic symbol of Wardruna glowed center stage, the crowd hushed in reverence. The opening notes of Kvitravn broke the silence, the haunting strains of the violin casting a spell over the packed hall. The silhouettes of the band appeared against an ever-changing backdrop, as Einar Selvik and Lindy-Fay Hella’s voices wove a tapestry of sound that reverberated with the theatre’s pristine acoustics.

The performance unfolded like a story told through shadow and light. From the pounding heartbeat of Hertan to the feverish energy of Skugge, each track was a revelation. The textured drapery became a living canvas, projecting eclipses, fiery peaks, and ethereal snowfields, amplifying the emotional depth of each song. Wardruna’s mastery of atmospheric soundscapes was palpable; smoke rose from the stage, blending with the visuals to immerse the audience in a multisensory experience that felt both ancient and otherworldly.

Selvik’s versatility was on full display—chanting, drumming, and playing the kravik-lyre with an intensity that seemed to channel the spirits of old. Lindy-Fay Hella danced like a shaman, her movements feverish and free, as if conducting the energy flowing between the band and the enraptured audience. Tracks like Lyfjaberg and Heimta Thurs showcased the ensemble’s collective brilliance, with every instrument and voice contributing to the unfolding ritual.

The climax came with Helvegen, a song about death and crossing over. As the stage bathed in red light and runes reappeared, the crowd was invited to sing, their voices rising in unison like an ancient choir. The atmosphere was electric, reverent, and deeply personal—a moment of shared catharsis.

And then, in a final intimate gesture, Selvik returned alone for an encore, offering Snake Pit Poetry in a stripped-back, skaldic mode. His gratitude to the audience was heartfelt, his words a reminder of Wardruna’s mission: to reinterpret the past in ways that resonate with the present. 

In its essence, Wardruna’s performance was a bridge between worlds. It left the Enmore Theatre vibrating with the echoes of ancient chants and modern marvels, a shared experience that transcended language, culture, and time. 

Sometimes I get all introspective and ask myself why I do this.

Not very often, but the answer is always because I like music. It's that simple. I like to discover new stuff and I like to share it.

Every year, the staff at Scene Point Blank sink a ton of time into 3 big Year End features. Part of that includes a personal top 25 albums of the year.

I've made a playlist to my albums list. Enjoy.

Lung @ Lee's Palace
Toronto, ON Canada
November 19, 2024

Have you ever heard a distorted electric cello, with intense vocals and heavy drum beats?

Powerhouse duo, cellist Kate Wakefield and drummer Daisy Caplan, are not to be underestimated! Seeing them for the first time perform live has left me wanting more!

Better Lovers are making the rounds again, this time with a new full-length LP, Highly Irresponsible, released earlier this Fall. The hardcore mash-up of ex-Dillinger Escape Plan and ex-Every Time I Die members recently brought their show to So-Cal, and I had the pleasure of seeing how things have been going since last year. They brought along midwestern Shoegazers, Cloakroom, Hardcore Punk quintet SPY, and Grindcore act Full of Hell.

After getting stuck in traffic due to multiple accidents on the freeway, I found myself arriving just in time to catch the end of Cloakroom's set. Next up were SPY from Nor-Cal. The audience seemed anxious to get riled up and Spy were just the band to do it. A clash of hardcore dancers and circle pitters occupied the floor while the band roared on stage.

Full of Hell followed. I'm unsure if there were mic issues at the start, or if the band just played that loud, but frontman Dylan Walker was inaudible at the beginning of the set. It was a bit jarring to see Walker throw his head around with constant screaming faces but not hear anything. It seemed to be fixed by the second song, though the band did indeed just play so loud that it was still difficult to hear him.

Better Lovers were about to take the Observatory stage. The last time the band played here, it was in a small room no bigger than a Starbucks that sits inside the Observatory. The 1200-capacity room was packed by the time their intro track, a hodge-podge of songs about, or including the word "Love," began to play. It was a different vibe, but the energy in the room was the same. The band jumped into "Lie Between the Lines" from their new album, Highly Irresponsible. The band amped up the production with a half dozen strobes to mess with your senses and add to the chaos as frontman, Greg Puciato, screams in your face.

The band continued to chip away at tracks from Highly Irresponsible like "Future Myopia" and "Love as an Act of Rebellion," as well as throwing in tracks from their debut EP and singles "The Flowering" and "Two Alive Amongst the Dead." Crowd surfers made their way to the front aplenty. A small child even appeared to be offered up as a sacrifice. Don't worry, she made it back to her father. Better Lovers never faltered and ripped through their set without ever taking much of a breather. The band is only getting better. The night reached its apex as they jumped into their last song of the night, "30 Under 13." The crowd saw it as their last chance to go all out, so a few didn't hesitate to make their way onto the stage to head-walk or stage dive. Everyone in Better Lovers has been doing this for a long time. Between a new album that rips and an intense live show, it's clear that they have no intentions of slowing down.  Be sure to catch them when they tour with Poison the Well in 2025!

Rise Against decided to hit the road this past fall and brought along L.S. Dunes. Depending on your city, different acts opened the show. Cleveland, Ohio's Cloud Nothings covered the crowd warm-up duties on their run through California. With a bill this stacked, I didn't want to miss it.

Midwestern Indie-Rock trio, Cloud Nothings, have been touring to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their 3rd studio album, Here and Nowhere Else. While the band isn't playing the album in full as their support act for Rise Against, they are filling their short set with tracks from the album such as "Psychic Trauma," "Pattern Walks," and "Giving into Seeing." Cloud Nothings ran through their set with ferocity and swiftness. Between Here and Nowhere Else, they threw in tracks such as "I'd Get Along" from their new album, Final Summer, and "Stay Useless" from their 2012 release, Attack on Memory. They have a few headlining shows coming up in Minneapolis and Chicago. Be sure to catch them!

Next up was the supergroup, L.S. Dunes. They're comprised of members from Circa Survive, Thursday, My Chemical Romance, and Coheed & Cambria. The band came out and opened with "2022" from their debut Past Lives. The band was encased in darkness as vocalist, Anthony Green sang the opening lines before madness ensued. I've been watching him perform for nearly 2 decades and he's as active on stage as ever. Truly astonishing. The entire band put on one of the best sets I've seen all year. the band only has one album out right now, but have a new one on the way in 2025. They're testing out new tracks "Machines" and "Fatal Deluxe" from their upcoming sophomore album, Violet. Both tracks received a positive response from fans in the crowd, as well as those previously unfamiliar with the band.

It was time for Rise Against to take the stage. The excitement between set changes had been building, with fans in the crowd screaming "Let's fucking go!" and guttural screams of "YES!!!" The band walked out and jumped straight into the hit single, "Satellite" and the crowd exploded. Oftentimes the crowd's singing drowned out the band until frontman, Tim Mcilrath pulled out a megaphone. The smaller room compared to the last few tours over the years made for a better crowd. The band made a point to mention how that venue was the perfect size, and I agree. They continued down the set with tracks from The Sufferer and The Witness, Appeal to Reason, and The Black Market. They took a moment to acknowledge that it was the 20th anniversary of their break-out record, Siren Song of the Counter Culture before delving into deep cuts of "Paper Wings" and "Dancing for Rain." With no new album to promote, the band was just out looking to have fun and it made for a more relaxed atmosphere.

During the encore, the band went all the way back to their first album, The Unraveling, and played "Six Ways 'Til Sunday" after talking about their earliest tours through Anaheim and playing the local legendary punk club, Chain Reaction. They closed out the night with their biggest hit, "Savior" which saw swarms of fans rushing to the floor. It was great to be in a room with so much energy and positive vibes. The band will be taking L.S. Dunes with them to Germany in February before a lengthy tour supporting Papa Roach with Underoath in the Spring and Summer.