NORTHLANE

ROUNDHOUSE, SYDNEY Sydney’s metalcore mavens revisit an emotional turning point IN THEIR NEGATIVE Energy documentary, released earlier this year, Northlane revealed there had been a lot riding on their 2019 album, Alien. Its predecessor, 2017’s starry, melodic Mesmer, had underperformed, leaving the band facing falling sales and dwindling crowds. Had Alien also flopped, you probably wouldn’t be reading this review, but luckily, it didn’t - the record was the biggest of the Aussies’ career, and the world tour that followed almost completely sold out across the board. This livestream focuses on the band’s crowning achievement: their capacity show at the Sydney Roundhouse in August 2019, and their biggest show to date. Unsurprisingly, the setlist is heavy on the Alien material, which is groovier, heavier and fuelled by claustrophobic electronics, pushing aside Mesmer’s angular…