Blindfolded and Led to the Woods

While doors opened at an unseasonably early 7:30, it wasn’t till almost 8:45 before Christchurch stalwarts graced the stage, immediately decimating it the only way you could with tracks like opener Arrows of Golden Light, Cafuné, Methlemen and ending with their latest title track The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes You.

Rivers of Nihil

Right out of the gate, I was blown away, a soft, lulling melody with hints of the metal to come, then blam – we kicked into high gear, and the crowd slammed its way into me; it was at this point I realised both bodily and camera safety would soon become an eager act of escape.

Shifting positions with a fellow photographer, I timed things well to catch the camping Saxophonist take centre stage for the first of many solos, which effortlessly find their place amongst the cacophonous delivery as it ebbed and flowed from extreme growls and clean melodic hooks.

Almost every song has my jaw melting from the interplay of sax and guitar, clean lead and backing vocals, reinforced by growls and the ease with which they transition.

The show’s not over yet, but already easily one of the best performances I’ve seen live. Kudos to the sound engineers for one of the best mixes possible.

Rivers of Nihil

Blindfolded and Led To The Woods