Presiding over a sold out Friday night at the Hollywood Palladium, the pairing of synthwave slasher Carpenter Brut with the homecoming set for Los Angeles noise punks HEALTH proved an incredibly hot ticket. Pouring through the doors early so as not to miss a minute, the eager fans, dawning fishnets, combat boots and an assortment of studs and spikes experienced an incendiary one-two that each colored outside the lines of conventional heavy music and sent a charge through through the historic Hollywood destination.
Showcasing some serious dramatic flair, Carpenter Brut began his stage time with an emphasis on his latest epic, the final in his Leather trilogy, sourcing the opening trifecta from Leather Temple. Emerging on stage with the theatric thud of "Ouverture (Dues Ex Machina),"Major Threat" and the title track in "Leather Temple" proved immersive, transporting the entirety of the Hollywood Palladium into the futuristic dystopia that Carpenter Brut crafts soundscapes for.
Covering most of the Leather Temple saga, high-octane hitters like "The Misfits/The Rebels," "Start Your Engines" and "Speed or Perish" ensured the pace of the evening never dipped - as Franck Hueso functioned as sort of maniacal conductor orchestrating a post-apocalyptic dance party that fused dark synth, beefy guitars and an infectious EBM cadence throughout.
Ensuring some of the his most enduring entries made the cut, "Le perv," "Roller Mobster" and ominous organ of "Turbo Killer" each drew massive praise from the fans as highlights on the night. None more raucous however has CB's closing selection, finishing with the ageless 80's classic from Flashdance, "Maniac," made famous by Michael Sembello.
The payoff - watching L.A.'s darkwave and industrial-leaning bats sing the iconic hook in unison.
It was L.A.'s own in HEALTH that proved especially triumphant taking on the headlining role for the night. Surging with momentum on the heels of their R-Type EP series that is now up to five successive releases since February, the band's prolific work pace was emphasized with the power of their live set.
Opening with the massive guitars and the relentless throb of "VIBE COP," the dancefloor of the Palladium became a detonation zone as the room shook from the force from the stage. Asserting a masterful control of the energy, HEALTH countered their live thud with instances of lush, spacey sonics with entries like "FEEL NOTHING" and "FUTURE OF HELL" that proved stylized noir.
Showcasing the harsh hit parade from the band's RAT WARS era, the industrial intensity of "Crack Metal" and the dark descent of "DEMIGODS" really reinforced the transportive quality of HEALTH as sonic craftsmen. Just outside the venue doors were the doldrums of Hollywood's famed Sunset Blvd. - while inside felt someplace extraordinatry and otherworldly.
Completing their live victory lap, HEALTH constructed a towering crescendo with "DSM-V" which functioned as a fitting summation on the evening. Seamlessly shifting from aggressive guitars and pummeling, chest-beating percussion, the track soared with Jake Duzsik's ethereal vocals working in perfect balance. An amalgam of all that HEALTH implements in their assault, the track proved the coup de grâce a perfect finale for L.A. own.
See the gallery of images from Steve Rose below.
HEALTH
CARPENTER BRUT
