Surprisingly with such a strong bill featuring Ne Obliviscaris, The Amenta and Cradle Of Filth – ticket sales were lower than expected.

This gig was originally scheduled for Melbourne’s Palace venue but it was switched to the more intimate Billboard. I hadn’t shot at Billboard since the Converge gig earlier in the year and it is a venue that I do enjoy working in.

And for the first time in a long time, I wanted to get to the venue nice and early to catch both opening bands Ne Obliviscaris and the Amenta who have been causing quite a buzz in local and international media.

Ne Obliviscaris played an atmospheric and sublime set. It would have been nice if they were afforded the luxury of some front lights as the band appeared completely as silhouettes throughout their set. As soon as I had finished photographing them I positioned myself out in the crowd and several people asked me who they were. I shared my limited knowledge of them and the general consensus amongst the fans present was that they were incredibly impressive. No argument from me on that score at all.

The last time I witnessed Sydney’s The Amenta, they absolutely wiped the floor with the band they were opening for Morbid Angel. They were sensational at that gig and as far as I was concerned, they absolutely killed it again tonight. Visually they are impressive and imposing and their brand of post-apocalyptic inspired Metal shone through again. Always an absolute pleasure photographing them as they always play for the cameras and perform like a seasoned professional band. For my money, they stole the show from the headliners… again.

Photographically, I thought Cradle Of Filth were a little disappointing. The stage was awash with red lights for the majority of the photographer’s allotted time in the pit. The shoot proved to be a bit of a struggle. Diminutive Dani Filth screeched like a wounded banshee for the duration of the set as he pranced about the Billboard stage like a man possessed. It seemed to be a typical Cradle Of Filth set but for mine, The Amenta were clearly the stand out act.

It’s hard to put into words what shooting this gig meant to me. But I’ll try. I’ll try real hard to comprehend all that unfolded before me and the honour, pride and raw emotion I felt standing a foot away from Geezer, Tony and Ozzy.

When the Black Sabbath Australian gigs were announced many months ago, that little spark in the heart kicked into gear and I was left wondering, “ooh, I wonder if I’ll get a chance to photograph that one?”

When it comes to the big boys, the acts that play arenas and stadiums and not dingy little Melbourne shitholes, it becomes that much harder to get accreditation and access. It’s not for lack of trying though and I was going to have to move heaven and earth if I was to get a pass for Black Sabbath.

As the dates for the Melbourne shows crept closer and closer, all avenues to get the pass had been pretty much exhausted. It got to the point where I was going to try to get access to one of the Sydney shows. I was totally prepared to wear all costs involved in flights and accommodation… I just had to shoot this show.

When that fell through, I had resigned myself to the fact that it just wasn’t going to happen. That’s how it goes. I moved on and put that little dream back in the shelf.

And then… out of the blue I get the call from the head-honcho of HEAVY magazine that it was done. I was to be photographing the first of the Melbourne shows.

I think for the rest of the night after that phone call I was floating in the stratosphere. I felt euphoric and on such an incredible high. It was going to happen. I was going to photograph Black Sabbath.

And the day finally arrived. It had been a very busy time with shoots at the Blue Oyster Cult gig on the Wednesday, Otep on Friday, a TOOL shoot had been scheduled for the Saturday which didn’t eventually happen so I hit that gig as a punter, and Black Sabbath on the Monday.

I must admit I was feeling a little worn out but by the time early Monday eve had rolled around… I was ready. Braving the Melbourne traffic I made it to Rod Laver Arena in time to meet the media contact.

There were several photographers present. Most I knew on a first name basis so the usual photog chinwag happened in earnest.

After passing on our media releases to our contact in exchange for the Sabbath photo-pass, we were escorted into the venue in time for openers Shihad.

It’s good to shoot the opening band as well as it gives you a feel for the venue and the conditions that would be on offer.

Especially this night as there was a video crew taking up most of the photo pit. There were cameras on stage right and left and a mobile video dolly through the centre of the pit in constant motion from left to right. So you had to be fully aware that it would be in constant motion and to stay well clear out of its way.

It was a difficult night and the pit was awfully crowded but I acclimatised myself to the mechanics of it all during Shihad’s set so by the time Sabbath took hold, I’d be ready.

It was at this point that the road manager decided to cut back our access to only two songs rather than the standard three but seeing as Sabbath tracks are reasonably long, this wouldn’t prove to be too much of a problem.

So after Shihad’s set, we were led back outside the arena and waited for the call again. Once outside again, the team of photographers, (approximately 10 of us) traded barbs and war stories as we waited to be led back in.

The time had arrived. Walking through the hallways of Rod Laver Arena always sends a chill up the spine. You can feel your heart begin to beat that little bit faster and a slow shot of adrenaline begins to creep from the base of your skull and down the length of your back.

Once on the floor of the arena, you can feel the atmosphere of the crowd permeate your skin and combined with the aforementioned adrenaline overload, it feels like you are going into battle.

Standing in front of the drawn curtain, you can see a dark silhouette of Ozzy Osbourne standing before the microphone in a Jesus Christ pose. The curtain parts way, the stage lights are on and there it is… this thing called Black Sabbath is a mere couple of metres away from you.

Game on. Instinct takes over now and you’re here to do what you’ve done so many times before. Photographers left, right and centre all jostling for position but with respect and an understanding of each other’s space.

You break out into a cool sweat as the levels of concentration are at an all time high. Incredible volume and power is pouring off the stage from one of the greatest bands ever to stomp on a concert stage and the energy from the crowd is intense and rapturous.

Seeing Ozzy Osbourne stare directly into your eyes as you are about to frame a shot is just as surreal as it gets. Seeing Tony Iommi’s fingers pluck his guitar and his smiling at Ozzy’s antics whilst Geezer Butler slaps his bass silly is just a magic moment.

And then it was over. Our two songs were up and we get escorted back outside. Through the halls of Rod Laver we go as one photog up ahead turns and asks me, “How was that Raptis?” I just let out a scream, “FUCKN HELL THAT WAS FUCKN AWESOME!” was the reply that bounced off the walls.

I had just photographed Black Sabbath and I dare you to even begin to try and wipe this permanent grin from my face.

For a review of the show, please visit the HEAVY website.

Marking the 1st year anniversary for Australia’s definitive Heavy Metal magazine HEAVY was always destined to be a superb night.

So it was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to attend tonight’s celebrations (camera in tow of course!)

Hosted at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel and featuring a slew of Australia’s finest Metal bands such as Blood Duster, Black Majesty, Frankenbok, Subjektive, Boris The Blade, Bronson, Internal Nightmare and Malignant Monster. If the foundations of the Corner weren’t well and truly precarious, they were after tonight’s show!

HEAVY magazine does an incredible job showcasing some of Australia’s finest when most of the mainstream media completely ignores the scene all together.

Shooting a lot of the international acts that tour these shores, I get little opportunity to really see what is happening on a local level, so it was great tonight to mix it up with some of the scene’s finest and I gotta say, I left the Corner blown away.

Believe it or not, this was the first time I had seen Frankenbok live and they truly floored me. They put forth a set of international band quality and would blow away most bands with ease. They were fuckn amazing!

Thank you to the ever-gorgeous Liv from HEAVY for the invite and I look forward to more events hosted by the HEAVY Magazine crew.

An awesome night! Ya shoulda been there!

After the debacle that was the Marduk shoot a few days ago, I wasn’t feeling too passionate about tonight’s Nightwish/Sabaton gig. But I needn’t have been too concerned. The Palace as a venue, is about a million times better than the Hifi and production values are improved tenfold.

The venue was packed to the brim when openers Sabaton took the stage. I made it into the photo-pit just in time to hear my fellow photogs rib me about the Marduk shoot and the ensuing bitching I put forth after the show! (as you do!)

After the usual pleasantries with my fellow ‘togs, Sabaton took to the stage in all their Euro-cheesy glory. Really not my scene musically and the military camp daks just added to the whole cheese-factor! But, they were energetic, lively, friendly and a ton of fun. The crowd lapped it all up and they put forth a tight set.

I also didn’t know too much of Nightwish really. Can’t say I am a fan and I probably only know one or two of their songs – but I do know they are hugely popular (two sold out shows at Melbourne’s Palace is proof enough of that!) They have a worldwide loyal following at the Melbourne league was in full force and voice tonight.

They looked and sounded amazing and could rarely put a foot wrong as their legion of fans sang along to each and every song throughout the band’s blistering set.

There was a great vibe in the room and it was even better in the photo-pit tonight with my fellow colleagues. In short, I had an absolute blast!

The less said about this debacle the better. In short, no photopit. No room to move. No fuckn lights (at least for the headliner who may as well have been lit by candlelight).

A total waste of time and effort.

Don’t laugh too hard at the ‘photos’.

Let’s move on from this farce!

Back in my musical formative years, Iron Maiden (along with Judas Priest & Black Sabbath) were one of the first Metal acts I truly got into. And I’m talking 1980/81 here when Paul Di’Anno was at the helm and Maiden delivered a couple of their finest moments – the debut album and the classic ‘Killers’ a year later. Albums which to this day, get plenty of rotation and are probably, along with ‘Number of the Beast’, Iron Maiden’s definitive work.

So it was a little on the surreal side getting to see the frontman of those two albums, Paul Di’Anno, live for the very first time – even if he had been on these shores several times before.

The evening was a double-bill feature with another Iron Maiden crooner, Blaze Bayley sharing the bill. For a very brief history lesson, Blaze replaced Bruce Dickinson sometime in the 90′s. I was over Iron Maiden by then so Blaze’s era of Maiden came and went without a passing interest by yours truly.

Opening proceedings were Melbourne’s own Nothing Sacred. They’ve been awol for a couple of decades but boy, back in the day – they ruled Melbourne with an iron fist. I’ve said it before, but if Sacred were a US or Europe band, they would have broken it big with the big boys. Back in the day, and I was there to witness a slab of their gigs, they were the definitive Melbourne Metal act.

This is the second time I have seen them on their reunion and last night I got goose bumps listening to them deliver a blistering set of their classics. They were truly superb last night and you could colour me blown away I can assure you!

Years and years have passed since I would go to their gigs with tape recorder by my side, taping each and every show they did! The tape machine has been traded for a camera these days, and with an invitation from the band’s bassist Karl Lean, I was here to photograph the band.

The aforementioned Blaze Bayley took the stage shortly after Sacred’s set. As stated, I wasn’t a fan of Maiden during his tenure and really didn’t know the songs that would be performed.

I was blown away by Blaze. He treated the tiny Hifi Bar stage as if was a massive outdoor arena in front of 80,000 fans. Never have I seen a performer that was both intimate and grandiose with the audience. His vocals were absolutely superb and throughout the entire set I kept telling myself I should really get to spend some time and get acquainted with the Blaze Bayley Iron Maiden catalogue! Truly an amazing performer who had the crowd singing along to each and every song he performed. Wow!

Paul Di’Anno would have to be at the absolute top of his game to compete with the set that Blaze just delivered. Unfortunately, and it really pains me to say this, but he wasn’t. Even Iron Maiden’s stellar back catalogue of sons like ‘Ides Of March’, ‘Wrathchild’, ‘Murders In the Rue Morgue’ which Paul performed couldn’t sparkle this lacklustre performance.

With thanks to Karl Lean of Nothing Sacred for tonight’s pass.

After a brief respite from the live music photography over the past month or so, it was all systems go shooting New Orleans’ Black Metal finest in Goatwhore tonight at the Corner Hotel. By a long stretch, The Corner is not my favourite place to be shooting such an act as it becomes insurmountably impossible to do so without the safe confines of a barrier and/or photo pit.

I had no idea if there was to be a designated area to shoot in and I was plotting how to get out of tonight’s shoot!

On my way to the venue, my worst fears were confirmed when my fellow photog Anwar, who was already at the venue, messaged me two little words… “No barrier!”

This meant that for me or any other photographer to get any photo at all, we would have to be immersed amongst the rabid masses who would undoubtedly be moshing in a frenzied bliss at the proceedings happening on-stage.

You want to take a photo? Well dodge a maniacal circle pit and make sure no steel-capped boots meet with your camera or head as the stage divers literally fly over you with centimetres to spare!

A tough night at the office boys and girls and the bruises on the left side of my body this morning prove just how insane it was last night.

I perched myself at stage right and whilst one arm would grab the stage monitors for leverage, the other worked the camera.

My first introduction to Goatwhore came a couple of years ago when I photographed them opening for Behemoth at Billboard. They blew me away that night, so much so that I went and bought their debut album the very next day. I’ve been a fan ever since and watched their fledgling career blossom.

With ease they took the Corner Hotel crowd last night and dished out some of the finest Black/Thrash Metal that venue has ever seen. They were simply sublime and even though it proved to be a hellish night with the camera, I loved every second of it and felt I was witnessing something truly special. Goatwhore is gonna be a damn big deal in the Metal world and this is only the very beginning.

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’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.

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.