Also due to play on Friday 21st August was Outside In, one of my favourite bands, and they were supporting Primacy and the release of their debut album, so it seemed right and proper to track it down and give it a play. Primacy have previously released a couple of EPs, but underwent a line-up change in 2018 which saw them drop the more death metal side of their music and take on something which was more hardcore-oriented. They have been working on this album for some three years, and hope that the audience will go on the same journey they had while making it. The line-up is Rhys Saran (vocals), Adrian Brausch (guitar), Jared Tobin (guitar), Sadeer Kattan (bass) and Will Stairmand (drums). Melodic and heavy, here we have a band who trying to bring together elements from the bands like Mastodon and Shihad yet moving in their own direction.
This is groove-laden metal, which often has a wall of sound approach – they do be come more melodic and thoughtful on passages in “Void”, but one gets the impression here is an impassioned group of people who have an anger they need to give voice to. There are times when songs contain some elements of the likes of Porcupine Tree, and they do say their music is rooted in blues and progressive rock, but for the most part this is high octane stuff which is incredibly intense. One can imagine their gigs are a massive sweaty mess, both onstage and in the pit, yet they do ring through tempo and melodic changes and there is far more going on than just heads down and meet you at the end. Far heavier than Outside In, with a very different approach, they do contain some similar musical roots and the pairing of the two in concert would be quite a sonic experience. Let us just hope the gig is set up again soon. Only seven songs and some 33 minutes of music, it is a good introduction to yet another band coming out of the Auckland scene.
Rating: 7/10
