#brewtality fest

This is the last batch of videos I shot at Brewtality Fest.

Witchgrinder reminded me of the thrashier moments from Ministry's later discography. They put on a great show, but I wish I had recorded the previous song in their set which I liked a bit better. Frankenbok has been around since the late 90s, and as seasoned vets in the scene had a packed house singing along though most of their set. Diprosus are a bit of a younger band, and I really enjoyed the no-frills approach of their songs. Straight to the point and done really well.

Witchgrinder The Tote, main stage

Frankenbok Bendigo Hotel

Along with The Deep End and Drifter (mentioned earlier), there were a couple additional bands at Brewtality that weren't as "brutal" as the other bands at the fest.

Melbourne's The Charge reminded me most of The Muse, and were an interesting contrast to some of the extreme bands that shared the stage at The Bendigo. Perth's Hailmary play a radio-ready blend of hard rock inspired by equal parts grunge and classic rock. Fellow grunge enthusiasts Audemia wear their influences on their collective sleeves, recalling Soundgarden among others.

The Charge The Bendigo

Requiem for a Dream by The Charge

Hailmary The Tote, second stage

Audemia The Tote, second stage

While Brewtality Fest's focus was definitely on metal, the organizers also included a great mix of bands that fall a bit outside that label. The Deep End are incredibly entertaining self-professed party pub rockers, while Drifter seemed to draw from the legacy of Sub Pop's early days. 

The Deep End - Knife Fight

I went to Brewtality Fest with only my trusty iPhone 5 in hand to document the bands and performances. I tend to bypass Apple's built-in camera app in favor of one called KitCam, which is sadly no longer available. KitCam gives you advanced options for focus and exposure locking, which is quite handy in low light conditions. It also has a wide array of filters, which I used in this case as well. While nowhere near DSLR quality, I think the videos have a unique charm all their own. I'll be posting additional videos in upcoming posts. 

Truth Corroded - Pride of Demise

Before leaving for Melbourne last month, I tried to track down a few interesting concerts to check out while there. I was happy to find a listing for the Heavy Magazine sponsored Brewtality Fest — a celebration of metal, hard rock and beer (naturally)! The 30+ band event was held on October 12th at both The Tote (2 stages) and Bendigo Hotel from 3:30pm to 1:00am. It was a pretty eclectic night and I managed to catch partial sets from roughly half the bands between the two venues.

I'll post additional photos and video of the bands in Part 2!