_{Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)}

Nobody has been flying the flag for Australian melodic hardcore quite like BLOOM. The Sydney act has consistently kept us on our toes with their stellar releases. Last year, they dropped their second album The Light We Chase, and since then, it has been all guns blazing. 

While they dropped that album when they were on the otherside of the world, it was about time the lads headed around Australia to give us a taste live. Joining them for the tour, which finished in Adelaide on Friday night, were Seattle rockers AVOID and Melbourne up-and-comers, Saving Face.

The Adelaide show marked the tour final, and the local talent opening the show at Lion Arts Theatre was none other than SA metalcore icons Signals. What may have been due to a miscommunication about door opening times, our local lads unfortunately played to a pretty sparse room. That did not stop them from delivering their signature fast-paced and furious live show. Unbridled noise and sickening breakdowns, there is a reason Signals have made such a name for themselves in the Australian scene. Brutal noise harmonised with stunning riffs, they can harness sounds that should not sound as smooth on the ear, that they make them hit. It was a short and sweet offering from Signals, but they always put on a great performance. 

Saving Face was up next and…wow. Wow. WOW. I felt out of the loop, and I had been sleeping on the rising melodic hardcore in this country, because this Melbourne act blew me away. The band’s energy was off the charts from the moment their set started, and my jaw was on the floor. The frontman’s vocals were even more glorious than his sick haircut and mo, ripping through the room even without the microphone in moments. There were a few mic issues that seemed to be ongoing throughout the show, but this did not interrupt the flow at all. We also got the first circle pit of the night. The ability they have to go from melodic to heavy in one fell swoop has now made Saving Face one of my must-watch bands after this set. 

Then it was time for our international guests, AVOID, and I have to be very honest- this was my first exposure to this band. Walking in and seeing their background featuring classic internet videos and a Subway Surfer playthrough in the corner should have been a sign I was in for one of the most unexpected sets that I have ever experienced. Everything else started pretty straightforward. Opening with ‘Sour Apple’ and ‘Whatever’, I was really getting into the music, but it all started to go off the rails when they played ‘Cowabunga’. 

Obviously, the Adelaide audience did not give AVOID the reaction they hoped for, so they decided that they would “RUN IT BACK”and ripped into ‘Cowabunga’ again. As if calling their bluff, when AVOID threatened to play the song again, the Adelaide punters not just agreed but DEMANDED IT. So, they obliged. Then they obliged again. As if on a dare, as if we were at a stalemate or creating a meme in real-time. The final show of the tour silly’s took over, and after a grand total of four times, AVOID decided it was time to move on. Moving on to some “heavy shit” and then went into ‘Gator Fest’, ‘Finish Line’. With backflips in the pit, some crowdsurfing and some on/offstage banter- oh and Jagerbombs courtesy of the Bloom boys- the set was equally as impressive musically as it was side-splittingly funny. After a few more songs, they played ‘Hostage at a Beach House Party’ as one of their last two songs. It was then time for their final song. As they changed their guitars back, I looked over at my friend, and I just knew in my gut what was coming next…

Yes.

‘Cowabunga’.

Finally, the attendees gave them the reaction they wanted, and by this time, we had bonded with AVOID over this ‘Cowabunga’ fiasco. So much so, as the band started to exit the stage, they got a “One more song” chant. Naturally, they obliged.

What was the last song?

You guessed it:

‘Cowabunga’.

By this point, even the security guard was confused. Some people had decided it was time for the bar, but those who had committed to the long haul gave them the send-off they deserved. As somebody who had never really taken the time to get acquainted with AVOID before this set, they will forever remain in my memory. For better or worse. Let’s just say, though, ‘Cowabunga’ has made its way onto my playlist.

After that absolutely insane set, it was then time for our headliners, the one and only, Bloom. 

The build-up was wonderful, the atmosphere in the air was filled with anticipation, and just as they were about to kick into their opening song, frontman Jono Hawkey leant into the mic and said, 

“We are Bloom, and this is Cowabunga”

Causing laughter throughout the room, giving a split second before pulling us into ‘Out Of Reach’. From the first song, it is clear as day that this band is on another level. They were tight, and the sound was immense. Soaked with emotion, heaviness and stunning melodies, straight away I felt like I was in a trance. The kind of sound that makes you want to fully absorb on a cellular level, breathe it in and then exhale it by singing along at the top of your lungs. 

The room was hot, but Bloom were hotter (figuratively but probably also quite literally). Going between classics from previous discographies to fully showcase the new album. Every second of their set that they were playing was immense. The moments in between, talking to the audience was so laid back it was almost jarring. The relaxed nature of the Sydney act almost broke you out of the musical vortex that they had led us down, but quickly, we were brought back in. ‘Cold’ went off, as did ‘Maybe In Another Life’, but that went just as hard as some of the softer numbers, like ‘Keep You’. 

A beautiful moment was also when guitarist Jarod McLaren dedicated ‘Tongue-Tied’ to his partner and proceeded to sing a stirring version of the song. When Jono returned on vocals, the harmonies were stunning. Possibly one of my favourite moments of the set and cementing that track as one of my favourites on this album. Of course, though, the heaviness did pick up again, and they ripped through the rest of the set. We also had not seen the last of AVOID, and in true final show of tour tradition, they walked onstage with a chair and started giving a tattoo on the side. If I had not just witnessed the set that happened earlier, I honestly would’ve been more shocked but this just seemed like a befitting escalation of the fuckery (I say this in the most loving way- that shit was hilarious).

Finishing the set with ‘Withered’, there was no surprise that the Adelaide audience begged for an encore. They willingly obliged, despite the intense heat of the venue and came back on with ‘In Passing’.

That was not enough. The fans wanted more, and perhaps since it was the last date and they are having a bit of a break after this tour, they decided to come on for a double encore, playing ‘Siren Song’. An incredible finale and after all was said and done, Jono said (lovingly, of course),

“We have been Bloom, now go home!”

Going in, I knew this show would be great. I did not expect the antics of a fun house show in the 2000’s with the professionalism and talent of global calibre. A spectrum of emotions was felt, and for sure, this night will go down in my memory as the night that reminded me just how fun and beautiful music can be.