Deafheaven, Holy Fawn, Midwife played Royale – 3/9
Black metal shoegazers Deafheaven brought a typically well-curated touring bill to Boston’s Royale a few Wednesdays back.
Ever the lightning rods for hot takes from heavy metal purists, Bay Area boundary-pushers Deafheaven made their boldest step yet last year with Infinite Granite. Largely absent were drummer Daniel Tracy’s thunderous blast beats and frontman George Clarke’s distinctive shriek, sidelined in favor of the dream-pop textures always lurking under the surface of the band’s work finally rising up to take center stage. Following a scrapped 10th anniversary tour set to take place during what turned out to be the height of the pandemic lockdown, the five-piece were finally able to hit the road with their reshaped sound in tow this winter.
Deafheaven have always been a great live band, but their shows have long been noteworthy for the acts they bring along on the road, too. Pallbearer, Envy, Tribulation, Uniform, Inter Arma – the list goes on. This trek would be no different. Singer/songwriter Madeline Johnston – who performs as Midwife – opened the night with a striking solo set. Vocals given an otherworldly glow through the filter of a telephone receiver entwined with spare electric guitar for a performance that enveloped the space like a creeping fog. The closest shorthand for Johnston’s sound might be something like heavy metal Grouper, but it’s really something you have to hear for yourself. Arizona’s Holy Fawn cranked the volume next, unleashing a passionate set of their screamo-inflected post-metal. Both first-time live sets for me, and acts I’ll be eager to catch again.
Deafheaven took the stage to headline the night immersed in the blue hues that characterize the visual palette of Infinite Granite, and launched into several straight songs from the new(ish) release. There are skeptics among us of that new material, but I’m really not one of them. To my ears, the lush tones, clean vocals and propulsive rhythm sections of these songs are a natural progression for the band, and with a powerful sound system and some expert live mixing behind them, they sounded incredible from the Royale stage. And screaming or not, Clarke remains one of the best bandleaders in the game; a constant magnetic presence with an uncanny connection to his audience. And he did get to do a bit of screaming, of course, with a selection of older, heavier tunes rounding out the night.
Scroll down for a gallery from all three sets below.
