L7 are back to raise a bit of hell in Aus and performed their landmark album Bricks are Heavy at The Metro Theatre in Sydney. Tonight, they were supported by local dream noisescapers Fabels.

Fabels

With lights down to a red glow, Fabels started the night with a spellbinding set of dreamscapes crossed with whispers, screams and drony guitar. The duo of Ben Aylward (guitar) and Hiske Weijers (bass, whispers and siren song) were joined tonight by Tim Powles for some live drums and weird noises. The result, was a trip to a meditative fairyland with lots of sharp edges to remind you that you can still bleed sound.

Get immersed in Fabels for yourself, here.

L7

With a walk on medley made up of snippets of every 90’s grunge and heavy tune you can remember (and Achy Breaky Heart), L7 reminded us of the heyday of the dirgy metal gunge scene before calmly walking on stage, plugging in and blasting into the first song off the thirty year old Bricks are Heavy – a very metal Wargasm.

While 30 years has added a couple of wrinkles, it hasn’t changed the energy and drive that these four put into their craft. Donita Sparks wielded her “flying vagina” in serious rockstar poses, while Suzi Gardner lashed out her grungy metal guitar, almost unmoving, guarding her quarter of the stage. Jennifer Finch cranked away on the bass, dancing across the stage with it and Dee Plakas smashed the bejesus out of the drumkit.

There was plenty of headbanging and flying hair through the set, the crowd lapping up every moment & singing along to faves like Pretend We’re Dead, Everglade and Shit List.

At the end of the album, there was a whole second set to headbang, scream and dance to. The floor turned into a seething pit and there was no relenting from the stage apart from short breathers between groups of songs.

Relive the strength and chaos of this classic album here and kick yourself if you missed out.