Deafhaven
The most pressing thing one needs to understand about metal band Deafheaven is that their sound is almost completely indescribable. A pithy hybrid of black metal, shoegaze, emo and psych, the five-piece band should come with a disclaimer: “Not for the faint of heart.” Sure, their sound is slightly “softer” than that of their metal predecessors and peers, but their unique blend of influences help create a one-of-a-kind sound that is much better experienced live than through a pair of flimsy headphones. A shockingly small group of fans were wise enough to cop tickets to the band’s gig at Turner Hall Ballroom on Tuesday night, and their expectations were surely exceeded.
Prior to Tuesday night, Deafheaven’s most recent Milwaukee gig was in March of 2017. That set was a mere eight songs long, and the band continued that eight-song tradition on Tuesday night, performing a five-song set and a three-song encore. That small number may imply that fans were duped into a miniscule show, but Deafheaven’s blistering set was reflective of their equally blistering discography. Not one of the band’s albums boasts a track list longer than seven songs, and each LP is loaded with 10 and 12-minute songs that require a listener’s full attention.
That full attention was given to the band immediately as they appeared on stage an hour late. Despite the delay, the modest audience was immediately captivated. Hardly a pair of eyes trailed from the stage as Deafheaven performed with an overwhelming amount of emotion. Most audiences show their appreciation for a band’s set with dancing, cheering and wooing. Deafheaven’s crowd showed their love for the band in a much more appropriate way: complete silence. A pin could have dropped while the band wasn’t playing, and a crowd member would have heard the tiny piece of metal hit the dusty Turner Hall floor.
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Deafheaven didn’t litter their set with uncomfortable dialogue in between tracks—an expert move for keeping audiences hanging on a band’s every word. The set was virtually seamless as tracks like “Sunbather” and “Honeycomb” were juxtaposed with ease. Like most metal, Deafheaven’s music is surely intimidating, and their set highlighted how frightening some of the band’s music can be. The distinct difference Deafheaven and their black-metal comrades is the amount of sweetness, and even innocence, neatly tucked beneath lead screamer George Clarke’s grisly, dissonant howls. Their melodic guitar riffs and thumping basslines added groovy variation to each track. Their psychedelic element proved to be the most intruding aspect of the band’s sound.
For those who may not be well-versed with black metal, Deafheaven serves as a welcoming introduction to the long-polarizing genre. Some purists may argue that the band isn’t genuine metal, but those harsh critics shouldn’t prevent any curious listeners from experiencing the band for themselves. Their set Tuesday was a demonstration of the group’s soft power and unwavering emotion.
