Lorna Shore – Riverstage
Lorna Shore – Riverstage
Support from Whitechapel and The Acacia Strain
Written by Bella Cockle
Photos by Vincent Shaw
New Jersey deathcore giants Lorna Shore just celebrated the last night of their largest, and heaviest, tour of Australia to date. In perfect harmony, this tour was bolstered by long-standing heroes of the deathcore genre – The Acacia Strain & Whitechapel. A little rain was never going to keep the Brisbane crowd away; they took to the Riverstage in full force, ponchos at the ready.
When The Acacia Strain first stepped foot on stage, the lights were so low you could barely see the band – but you could feel a distinct shift in the atmosphere of the crowd. Over just 11 songs Acacia managed to traverse 7 of their most loved records, still with heavy emphasis on their latest release, You Are Safe From God Here. Frontman Vincent Bennett powered across the stage under roaming downlights that tracked the band like the ever-watchful eyes of a higher power.
From track one, the pit became a frenzy amid the crushing breakdowns and rapid-fire drums. Streams of crowd surfers stormed the barricade to give the venue security a run for their money. Bennett met them at the barrier during “Beast” after being joined on stage by Nick Chance – media creator for Lorna Shore and no stranger to the scene as a regarded metalcore vocalist. The band had nothing but praise for the Australian musical counterparts they’ve befriended over the years of touring; and encouraged us all to dig deep into our abundant hardcore culture.
A haunting whine of a minor key guitar strum drew Whitechapel onto the stage, where spotlights clung to each artist. Frontman Phil Bozeman loomed over the crowd as they chanted the chorus to opening song “Prisoner 666”. The dimly lit stage littered with some indiscriminate strobes created the perfect chaotic ambience in the pit. The speed of the music and brutal heaviness of the Bozeman’s vocals were in constant competition, creating a wildly dominant stage presence.
Favouring the band’s 2025 project, Hymns In Dissonance, Whitechapel’s set showcased their adaptability to the genre’s demands. Their three guitarists pushed riffs that crashed over one another while Bozeman added raw, emotional elements unpresented in the studio tracks – pleading cries mixed into his brutal, panicked screams. The band briefly departed the stage prompting a demanding return chant from the crowd, only to rejoin bathed in red light with Bozeman wearing the ritualistic demon mask featured on their album cover. As an ode to those who have been following since the band’s inception, Whitechapel closed the set with “A Somatic Defilement” and “This Is Exile”.
A white kabuki drop veiled the stage until the intermission music quietened and the lights dropped. What was revealed upon the immediate launch into Lorna Shore’s “Oblivion” were expansive background screens casting monstrous visuals behind a band that was prepared to set the Riverstage on fire. Footage of a stormy ocean with monochrome waves crashing mirrored the ebbing lows of the opening track and the surging movement in the crowd. Pure blue and white lights flashed in tandem with the drums, intense enough to cut through the pyro.
The lights that washed over the crowd showed scenes of sweat, intensity and passion. Frontman Will Ramos promised the crowd a ‘very special set’ for “War Machine” before he was joined by newly-appointed Thy Art Is Murder vocalist – Jerry Grimefeld – for a crushing collaboration. Ramos dedicated “Glenwood” to anyone in the crowd who is chasing their peace. Lorna Shore’s lyrics are notoriously emotionally charged, but this song felt like Ramos was reaching through the crowd in a moment of equal understanding and empathy. Hypnotic guitar solos from Adam Demicco graced the setlist which paraded just a sample of the magnitude of skill present on stage.
Chance made another appearance with the band for the sonic assault, “Prison Of Flesh”. The energy from the band and the crowd never wavered, especially leading into the famous “Pain Remains” trilogy. Screams spilled from Ramos as effortlessly as if he were speaking to us. The screens set the stage ablaze with encompassing visuals of flying embers and flame tongues. Instead of an encore departure, Ramos took the opportunity to give a heartfelt thank you to Australian fans for their dedication and devotion which has allowed the band to tour here for the third time in two years.
Lorna closed the evening with “To The Hellfire”, a song that has been their self-proclaimed gravitation to a wider audience. Between the incredible visuals, the lights, the demanding stage presence, Lorna Shore shows these days aren’t just concerts; it’s theatre. Art in motion. These artists operate on a different frequency, and their dedication to creating such a fulfilling experience is unmatched. I sincerely hope you had the chance to bear witness to this powerhouse tour; if you didn’t, you had better hope you catch them next time.
