There aren’t too many bands that one would drag themselves out of their deathbed to go and shoot! Feeling completely and totally under the weather with a head-cold that only Satan himself could have befallen upon me, I was dead to the world and considering my options on whether to go and shoot this gig or not. But it was The Darkness for fucks sake! The original line-up of the Darkness! If they can put aside their differences and reform then head cold or not, I was not gonna miss out on this opportunity.

Playing two sold-out shows at Melbourne’s The Palace theatre is testimony to this band’s pulling power and I always enjoy shooting hard rock tinged bands as they are always a ton of fun. So with my head pounding and a nose full of all sorts of vile snot and mucus, I got my gear ready and got my ass to the Palace in time to meet the band’s 10pm curtain call.

And there they were in all their cock rocking splendour taking command of every square inch of the stage with some classic hard rock ditties from their back catalogue. Guitars were thrust in the air! Fists were pumping! Hips were grinding and the band looked to be having the time of their lives. And you know what? So was I.

Kick ass good time rock n roll. It really doesn’t get any better than this!

Glad to have you back boys!

One begins to lose track of all the international Metal acts that tour our shores. As a photographer, more often than not, one gig just leads into the next and a deep seeded feeling of complacency certainly has a nasty habit of creeping in. One band begins to look and sound exactly like the one before it.

But then there’s Arch Enemy.

I have photographed them twice now and on each occasion I have been completely and utterly blown away by the sheer professionalism and attitude this band put forth. There is no harder working band on the world circuit these days. No one. They take pride and care about each and every performance they put forth under the Arch Enemy banner.

Whether they are meeting fans or collaborating with the press, the band is a beacon for how to do things right and tonight’s performance at Billboard was certainly no exception.

Billboard is a smaller venue to what Arch Enemy are probably used to but once again, they brought their A-Game and put on a blindingly amazing set in front of a ravenous and receptive crowd!

The stage was magnificently lit and featured breathtaking video screens which just added to the maniacal energy pouring off the stage. Most bands don’t even bother with any sort of production when they are doing the smaller venue circuit but the fact that Arch Enemy do just reeks of professionalism and a band that cares about everything that comes under their moniker.

The diminutive Angela Gossow had the crowd in the palm of her hands as always and commanded the stage with presence and an aura that just could not be ignored.

New guitarist Nick Cordle has slotted in nicely and visually, suits the band much better than his predecessor Christopher Amott.

With a carefully selected set, Arch Enemy came to Melbourne and lay her to waste with style, substance, class and a finely tuned Metal band at its absolute prime.

Simply an incredible band. ‘Nuff said!

I was very keen to attend this year’s Rites Of Passage Tattoo Convention as the event is shaping up to be the definitive tattoo expo on the Australian calendar. I was fortunate enough to photograph last year’s event and the organisers where more than forthcoming to allow me to cover this year’s event as well.

I felt more at one with the event this year as for the past month I have been working on my own tattoo sleeve with the incredibly talented Baki of the Biscuit Family group of tattooists. He has been doing some amazing work in my flesh.

The Rites Of Passage convention is still in its infancy, but the calibre of talent they had managed to secure for this year’s event belies it’s infancy.

It was incredibly exciting seeing the master Shigenori Iwasaki in the flesh and showcasing his brilliant Japanese tattooing.

There was a diverse range of national and international artists on offer covering all the different types of tattooing and styles. Along with the artists, there was a fabulous tattoo history museum as well as the Australian Tattoo Industry Awards and seminars.

Please check out some photos from the event.

I’ve extolled the virtues of shooting gigs at Billboard many, many times over but lately, there have been some very poorly lit shows for us photogs. Tonight’s Amon Amarth gig was probably the worst I have seen Billboard lit for many a show. Which is a shame, because for the most part, Billboard is always a pleasure to shoot at.

Tonight there were circumstances a-plenty to deal with that ended up conspiring to make it a woeful night behind the camera.

From the get-go, security advised us that we would pretty much have to leave the pit the minute things heat up. Thanks guys, I’ve come all this way to shoot a gig and you’re gonna give me a song to work with and hopefully get a decent shot or two.

Shit lighting, over zealous bouncers, over crowded photo-pit and a very tender arm from a 6 hour tattoo session and I was beginning to wish I was elsewhere!

Last time Amon Amarth were on these shores and this very same venue, it proved to be such a great night but tonight was the complete and total opposite.

Still, you play the cards you are dealt with and try and do your best.

Looking at the faces of my fellow photogs, I knew they were feeling the same way as I as I believe we all struggled for a decent shot or two tonight.

So apologies dear readers, you’re not going to get anywhere near my best work to look over as it was… one of those nights.

I grew up in the era where Melbourne had a diverse, vibrant and thriving local Metal scene. Heck, I was part of it. If I wasn’t writing articles for Melbourne Uni’s ‘Heavy Duty’ magazine, I was part of my own band that I drummed for and regularly gigged with each week. The mecca for all things Metal was the ‘Metal For Melbourne’ record store which humbly began in a tiny little shop pretty much where Federation Square stands now.

It was a magic time. Visits to ‘Metal For Melbourne’ always ended up with one buying the latest vinyl album. Yes, vinyl boys and girls, the compact disc was still years away.

We grew up as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal began across the pond and the plethora of a new breed of Metal and being in absolute awe when artist such as Iron Maiden released ‘The Number Of The Beast’ album. We were there. We lived this classic era as it unfolded. Weekly at ‘Metal For Melbourne’ there would be new slabs of vinyl goodness just waiting to be purchased.

We were there as the US bands influenced by their UK counterparts created the thrash movement. Exodus, Anthrax, Slayer and this spotty faced band called Metallica arrived on the scene and turned the Metal genre upside down.

‘Metal For Melbourne’ siphoned all the global Metal for us and at the same time, Melbourne metalheads were forming bands of their own that were equally as good, if not better, than their international counterparts.

Blackjack, Taramis (aka Prowler), Tyrus, Axatak, Virgin Soldiers, Bengal Tigers, SAS, Ion Drive and the unfucknbelievable Nothing Sacred were just a few that I can remember off the top of my head.

It was an amazing time to be a fan of Metal. Weekly, there would be a veritable feast of gigs happening all over Melbourne’s rock venues such as the Seaview Ballroom, Central Club, the Tiger Lounge, Prince Of Wales et al. There were venues for band’s to play at and Melbourne’s diverse slab of Metal bands took hold each and every week.

There were strong memories forged of a classic era of Australian Heavy Metal and last night at the Bendigo Hotel, I got to relive some of those memories once again as two of the era’s classic bands – Hobbs’ Angel Of Death and Nothing Sacred capped off a great eve of Melbourne Metal!

I felt as if I was in a time warp. The same faces were there. The bands might be a helluva lot older, greyer and carrying a few extra pounds but they delivered in spades.

Back in the 80′s I would go to these shows with boom box in tow and record each show. I had a slab of bootleg Ion Drive and Nothing Sacred tapes that made their way all over the world as one traded tapes to like-minded fans globally. Internet? We had no fuckn internet!

Now, the boom box has been replaced by the camera and I was stoked to be able to photograph tonight’s show.

Arriving at the Bendigo half-way through Desecrator’s set, I was blown away by just how good they sounded and the intensity the fans threw back at the band.

The Bendigo is a tiny pub and with no barrier for the photographers, if I was to get any photos I was gonna have to spill some blood and sweat and mix it up with the wild moshing maniacs in attendance!

Easier said than done as I was battered from pillar to post and trying oh-so-hard not to damage my gear or lose a tooth or two!

Nothing Sacred hit the stage soon after and it felt as if 25 years had not passed since I had last seen them live. They played a fantastic set of songs I loved with all my heart so many years ago. It was as if they picked up where they had left off. Mick’s vocals were just fabulous and the mighty Sham still kicked that kit like he did back in the day.

I always believed with my heart and soul, had Nothing Sacred been based in Europe or the US back in the 80′s they would have gone on and been rubbing shoulders with many of the international classic Metal bands we’ve all grown to know an love. They were that good!

Rounding up tonight’s Metal nostalgia, Hobbs’ Angel Of Death hit the Bendigo stage with a bombastic set of inspired Thrash Metal that was as intense as it was violent in its delivery.

Look, I don’t know how the fuck I managed to get any photos tonight. In between focussing for a shot, I found myself getting sucked in by the killer riffs Hobbs and crew were delivering.

I dodged and weaved flying bodies and held onto the camera for dear life accumulating bruise after bruise and having my entire left side pounded on by flying metal heads!

There was blood, sweat and tears in abundance and I left the venue on an incredible buzz.

Metal For Fuckn Melbourne. Amen!

After the plethora of gigs that hit these shores last month due to the Soundwave Festival and all the off-shoots, it was kinda cool to have some downtime between shows. So much so, I didn’t even feel in the mood to go and shoot tonight’s Iced Earth gig.

But hey, a gig is a gig and when a band of Iced Earth’s calibre is in town for a show and they are at one of your fave venues – you put the lethargy and procrastination aside and go!

Billboard was packed to the rafters long before Iced Earth were due to hit the stage. The amount of Iced Earth tees in the crowd is testament to the popularity of this band. To be honest, I do have a cd or two of theirs, but never really considered myself a fan which is not to say they are not a damn popular act among the Metal throng!

It was usual standard fare at the gig with three songs to try and capture a shot or two. An incredibly busy photo pit with hardly any room to move due to about 10 photographers and 4 massive bouncers. The photogs face forward, the bouncers face the crowd and the crowd just wants to fucking rock!

The band hit the stage and the Billboard lighting guy hit the blue lights and left them on pretty much for the entire first three songs. Ya gotta chuckle! I sometimes don’t know what is worse, the putrid red lights of the Hifi Bar, or the sea of blue you are likely to get at Billboard. Don’t get me wrong, Billboard is probably one of the best venues to shoot at, but sometimes it would be nice to have a lighting guy who has a clue or a little bit of mercy for the photographers.

And as if on cue, the lighting was fucking superb after the first three songs. Too late then pal. Too late.

I felt my earlier lethargy affect me tonight as I felt I shot pretty lazily tonight. I just wasn’t 100% on tonight and felt a little flat. It usually takes a gig or two to get back into the swing of things, and there are some pearlers to come over the next couple of months.

By no means is this to replace visceralindustry.com – but I will try to use Tumblr to generate some traffic to this site.

I will only ever feature 1 or 2 images per show – and it will always strictly be a companion to the Visceral Industry you know and possibly love!

You can check out our Tumblr space here.

I started shooting live music in 2009. You start off small in dimly lit venues with bands no one has ever heard of – or is likely to ever hear of. But you need to learn and refine your skills and you need to push yourself and your camera to the extreme to get a hang of this beast. It isn’t easy but if there is a burning passion and drive, you’ll learn and you will continue to learn with each and every single shoot you do.

A friend of mine commented the other day about just how lucky I am doing this. And for a moment, the comment took me aback a little. On the surface, live music photography looks so incredibly glamorous and exclusive, but scratch away the gloss off the perceived surface a little and underneath you’ll have a glimpse of the long hours, the thankless efforts and all the wounds, bruises, nicks and cuts of being battered from pillar to post in the pit and out of the pit. Sure it is fun. It’s a blast actually, but to get to that point where you are in front of the artist you have desperately wanted to photograph for as far back as you can remember – is a long and arduous process. It may take years.

And here I was. Years later. Deep in the confines of Rod Laver Arena with an opportunity to finally photograph one of my absolute fave bands of the past decade or so… Slipknot!

Unfortunately, the night did not get off to a perfect start. I got to Rod Laver Arena a little later than expected and missed my cue to shoot opener’s Trivium. Once I got to the Box Office to sign in and get my photo-pass, Trivium were already half way through their set. I waited in the designated area and after 10 minutes or so, my fellow photographers were returning after having just shot Trivium.

After exchanging the hellos and what not’s, we all stood in the confines of the stage-door room and waited for what seemed like an eternity. I must confess tho, this is a fun time. We’re all there for the same reason and many of the photographers present, I have shot alongside for many, many gigs so there is an incredible camaraderie among everyone. I like observing them all as each and every one goes through their own unique pre-game ritual but the mood is always pleasant and light.

Ten minutes before Slipknot were scheduled to hit the stage, the road manager comes and collects us all. I always make it a habit to walk in at the end of the line as we’re led down the hallowed inner sanctum of Rod Laver Arena. Down this long hallway to the right, I caught a glimpse of the entire Slipknot entourage in a group hug getting ready for tonight’s show.

We’re immediately led onto the side of the stage. The array of lights is simply breathtaking and I pause for a moment to take it all in. There is a hum in the air as the crowd sense that the band is not too far away now. The hum starts to become an inaudible unholy crescendo as the road manager gives us instructions for the night.

Apparently we were only to be allowed to the pit four at a time which effectively cuts our three song access to about one! The collective groan and complaints from the gathered photographers could be heard over the crowd I can assure you.

We were also forewarned that there is extremely dangerous pyro which will kick off the first song and for us to make sure we are nowhere near the front of the stage lest we lose a limb or two.

As if on cue, the band members slowly walk onto the stage as the intro music signals the mayhem that is to follow.

The searing flames feel as if they are an inch away from your face so intense was the heat they were generating. And then the pyro goes off and sounds deafening even through fully wedged in earplugs. The smell of gun powder and gas quickly fills up in your nostrils and as if at battle it is your turn in the photo pit.

You scramble forth, jockeying for position among a sea of security and photographers. I can’t even begin to describe what’s going on through your mind at this point.

Slipknot are literally on fire and the amazing light show has lit up the stage in all sorts of gorgeous colour and spectacle. It is true mayhem up there as the band take command of every square inch of the stage and proceed to beat Melbourne to a pulp!

In the photo-pit, you literally do not know where to look or where to concentrate on. There are photo opportunities everywhere around you. The stage, the light, the audience and the band seem to all be performing for you and you are there with your camera to disseminate it all and capture what you see fit.

Its night like these were all the slogging and late nights seem so worth your while and renders my previous whining pretty much ineffectual and void. The adrenaline rush is something money can’t buy as you are left feeling a sense of euphoric accomplishment that is so hard to describe.

From the very first time I saw Slipknot live a few years ago on their last Australian tour, all I ever wanted to do was to have a chance to photograph them. It was that very show which piqued my interest in shooting live music as I sat at the back of the arena taking pics with an iPhone!

Tonight I got to shoot them from the photo-pit and achieved a dream several years in the making.

Seriously, you can’t wipe the grin from my face. It was a very long week of work – and shooting gigs after work but at the end of the day… I wouldn’t change a solitary thing!

Thank you to the gang from Metal Obsession for the passes tonight! Always a pleasure shooting for you!

Half way through a crazy week of shooting the cream of the crop when it comes to the Metal genre! Seriously, the Soundwave series of gigs – both the festivals and the ‘Sidewave’ shows manage to bring out some of the finest bands from all over the world! Big Day Out? Forget about it! This is where it’s at and on a Wednesday night you could have taken your pick and seen a slew of gigs at nearly every major venue in Melbourne. You soon come to the realisation that the Metal genre is in an incredibly healthy state right now yet our radio airwaves are polluted with all sorts of mindless dribble and mastobatory schlock designed to sell soap suds!

I was originally scheduled to shoot System Of A Down and The Dillinger Escape Plan over at Rod Laver Arena but when I saw that it clashed with the Devin Townsend & Meshuggah gigs, I quickly changed my schedule as I did not want to miss out on Dev and Meshuggah. No chance in hell!

The show had sold out and I always love being with camera in tow at Melbourne’s oh-so-gorgeous Forum Theatre. The Forum would seriously rank as one of my have places to see and/or photograph a band and I was pleased as punch to see that Devin and co would be stomping its hallowed floors tonight!

I hustled my way to the photo-pit and caught up with some familiar faces who were there to shoot the show as well. The crowd was growing impatient and began chanting Meshuggah’s name in earnest. As the lights dimmed and the crowd’s anticipation quickly turned into a raucous rumble, the members of Meshuggah slumbered onto the stage as if on a death march. The lo-end drown of their intro tape grew in volume and tone and in a flash the band began to mercilessly pulverise all before their wake.

This was my second time seeing Meshuggah but my first in the photo-pit. What can one say about this band that hasn’t been said before? They sound like nothing you have ever heard before in your life. Nothing comes close to the intricate time-shifts and ferocious, malevolent, relentless pounding.

Fuck it! There’s no point in trying to understand just what the hell they are playing, collectively they would rank as one of the heaviest bands in the world and live, they bring it to the table like no other.

The always incredible Devin Townsend project were next. What can I say? Big fan! And even tho I had photographed them on their previous tour, I wanted another crack at them.

Devin has more facial mannerisms than any other human being on the fucking planet! Twisting and contorting his face with every magnificent note he plays! He is just so damn cool to photograph and always looks like he is having the time of his life up on that stage. Even tonight’s security were transfixed at the happenings on stage and enjoying every part of Devin’s performance – which might explain having two people crash in your back and head during Meshuggah’s set earlier. I’ll be wearing that bruise for a while I can assure you!

Tomorrow night, Rod Laver Arena with Trivium and a band I have wanted to photograph from the minute I got into this caper a few years ago… Slipknot!

Thank you to the gang from Metal Obsession for the passes tonight! Always a pleasure shooting for you!

I always find shooting multiple acts on a bill to be quite a challenge as by the time the main headliner hits the stage, your energy levels are nearly non-existent and concentration levels begin to wane.

This probably explains why I haven’t dared shoot a festival yet. But soon… soon I will tackle that beast!

Tonight’s bill featured three superb acts as part of the Soundwave Sidewave gigs. Mastodon, Gojira and Kvelertak proved to be a veritable feast of the finest international Metal representing the USA, France and Norway.

The Billboard show tonight was long sold out so I was more than expecting a healthy, rowdy and vocal crowd in full swing.

Upon arriving at the venue a little after 8pm, a dreary overcast and extremely wet and humid Melbourne did not deter a line of people stretching all the way around Billboard and into the lane way behind it from waiting in line to get in. I kinda got a kick by walking straight to the front of the line, flashing some credentials and being let in straight away. Besides, we’re almost on a first name basis with some of the bouncers. We’ve shared many a pit together!

Monday night, three kick ass bands and a sellout crowd champing at the bit to get inside! You gotta love Melbourne!

Norway’s Kvelertak took hold of the stage and I was highly anticipating seeing these guys since discovering their self-titled album last year and proceeding to play it to death for all and sundry. If you haven’t got their debut release and are a fan of either Satyricon or the fabled Turbonegro, then you are missing out. Kvelertak have an uncanny knack of taking the best parts of the aforementioned bands and combining them into this high energy, punk flavoured cacophony that is both raucous and catchy at the same time. You won’t understand a single, solitary lyric as they sing in Norwegian but they are just a phenomenal band and destined to greater things down the pipe. I was absolutely delighted to catch them this early in their career and they were a ton of fun to photograph as well maniacally taking ownership of the Billboard stage and delivering a fast, blistering set to a receptive mouth aghast audience!

Gojira were up next. I can safely say, all that I knew about these guys was that they hail from France and they favour a more technical brand of Metal that some have labelled ‘art-metal’. Take from that what you will. Safe to say, I wasn’t expecting much and I was gonna do my job and photograph them as had been instructed and that would be pretty much it.

From the minute they took to the stage, I was, how they say in the classics… blown away! They sounded phenomenal and so overwhelmingly powerful, intricate and mechanical in their brutality and melody!

A perfect marriage of Metal and technical style. I was too busy making mental notes of ‘dude, go home and listen to their entire fucking discography ‘cos these guys are something to behold’. I loved them. Everything about them just wrapped itself in the sinews of my mind.

This is a band I will enjoy discovering aurally for the first time. Now I sure as hell know what the fuss is about!

Photographically, they were hard to shoot. The ever-present white floodlights from behind made for an overwhelmingly bright lit stage and a lot of my shots failed me tonight but you do what you gotta do and I did manage a couple of decent shots of the lads.

This was the second time I had seen Mastodon in their sky-rocketing career thus far. I saw them open for Slayer a few years ago here in Melbourne and I found them a little disappointing that night owing to a woeful mix. I knew they were much better than that and I do consider myself a fan of the band having bought every one of their releases on debut.

By the time the band hit the stage, the photo-pit was the busiest I have ever been a part of. It seemed like there were 20 photographers present so it was extremely hard to move from end to end. With a three song limit, I planned to shoot stage-left for one song, centre-stage for the next and stage-right for the last. That way I could get as many angles as possible.

Mastodon are a unique band. No one really sounds like them and they pull out some amazingly crafted riffs and lyrics with melodies that are so out-of-this world and original. They are almost hauntingly beautiful in one instance and in the next they have their collective heel pressing against your neck as they slit your throat with raw power, energy and all-out Heavy Fuckn Metal! Their new album, ‘The Hunter’ is their best yet and it was great to hear it feature so prominently tonight. I enjoyed every single second of them tonight and have come to the realisation that they have indeed, kicked it up a notch and are now mixing it up with the big boys of Metal. Scary to think that they are only going to get bigger and better.

All in all, an amazing night of some of the finest in the Metal genre! Great bands! Great venue! An even better crowd and a totally classic gig!

Thank you to the gang from Metal Obsession for the passes tonight! Always a pleasure shooting for you!