Archive – Gig review: Radio Moscow + Comacozer + Holy Serpent + Kings Destroy at Newtown Social Club (2016)

Live review: Radio Moscow, Comacozer, Holy Serpent and Kings Destroy at Newtown Social Club, Thursday, February 18 2016

By PERRY GRAYSON

THE evening started rawking with the young Sydney post-psychedelic instrumental trio Comacozer. Comacozer delivered a short set of sprawling delay-drenched tunes sans vocals. Despite the vocal issue, Comacozer showed lots of promise. Thankfully proper vocals were an integral part of the rest of the night’s bill.

Next up were Melbourne’s Holy Serpent, a doomy stoner rock quartet. The Holy Serpent lads laid down lengthy songs with slow guitar solos courtesy of Nick Donoughue. Guitarist/vocalist Scott Penberthy did an admirable job of six-string slingin’ and singin’. The rest of the band was solid as well.

New Yorkers Kings Destroy were the last support act before fellow septic tank yank headliners Radio Moscow. Kings Destroy fired up the crowd with epic, groovin’ drop-tuned riffage. Guitarist Carl Porcaro is the Ron Jeremy of doom metal. The resemblance to the Hedgehog of porn may be striking, but he purveys plenty of killer riffs and leads. Porcaro and second guitarist Chris Skowronski dealt out blower-heavy slabs of doom. Shades of the Obsessed could be heard, along with oodles of twin guitar harmony action. There is something undeniable and honest about the sound of East Coast US doom metal bands and Kings Destroy are no exception to those rules.

San Diego, California-based power trio Radio Moscow rollicked through their feverish and blistering set. I must’ve been living under a boulder for a decade not to have heard of this bloody band until 2016! I had no idea they had six releases out. I hereby stand corrected! Hints of heavy psychedelic influences such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Groundhogs, Mahogany Rush and even crazy krautrawkers Night Sun were apparent, but Radio Moscow is every inch a band that stands on its own legs. All three musos had the hair and get-ups to go with their convincing vintage early late sixties/early seventies sound.

Decked out in a butterfly-collared paisley shirt, bolo-tie and flares, guitarist/vocalist Parker Griggs blazed easily through complex and crunchy rhythm passages and heaps of fuzzy reverb and delay spiced leads. Drummer Paul Marrone and bassist Anthony Meier locked in tight with Griggs, even through super-tricky changes and solo transitions. That is how a power trio ought to play! After a quick string change, the band came back for a heated couple of encores. The enthusiastic Radio Moscow audience – including a gutsy crowd surfer – packed the upstairs room at the Newtown Social Club. A hark-back to the glory days when the venue was the Sandringham Hotel!