Yamantaka//Sonic Titan

Rumours of a secret performance by Radiohead proved greatly exaggerated, but those who stuck around for local crew Yamantaka//Sonic Titan's unique blend of doomy Japanese and first nations rock witnessed one of the festival's most tightly orchestrated and perfectly executed sets. Singers Ruby Kato Attwood and Ange Loft arrived onstage after dancing through the audience under a Japanese dragon, taking the stage as the rest of the sextet -- each sporting Noh/Kiss-inspired face paint -- created a wall of noise. Working through tracks from last year's self-titled debut album, Attwood and Loft recreated their stunning vocal parts, while drummer Alaska B kept the groove going as strobes pulsated around them. The band's strength comes from their ability to allow just the right amount of their influences to filter through their music. Just when the doomy guitar riffs are verging on self-parody, the Noh melodies shift to centre stage. At times, the group's flawless recreation felt a tad to rehearsed, but the final spectacle made it all worthwhile.