CALIGULA’S HORSE

VENUE HOWLER, MELBOURNE DATE 16/08/2018 SUPPORT JAMES NORBERT IVANYI, OPUS OF A MACHINE

It’s a cold Melbourne winter’s evening and it’s a school night, but that doesn’t stop a horde of “incorrigible prog snobs” (as pegged by Caligula’s Horse frontman Jim Grey) showing up early to catch a band with strong links to the headliner, both in terms of sound and personnel.

The 400‑capacity venue is close to full when brisbane’s

Opus Of A Machine hit the stage.

The sound is huge, the drums particularly enormous. in fact, to be a little picky, they probably have a little too much presence in the mix, drowning out a little of the subtlety and complexity that former Caligula’s Horse guitarist

Zac Greensill brings to his parts.

While Opus are a fine choice as an opener on this very special C‑Horse tour, the two bands’ sounds occupy a similar stylistic and sonic space, and it’s a great move to split the two up with something completely different. That said, the progged‑up instrumental guitar histrionics of Melburnian James norbert ivanyi still have enormous appeal to fans of the bands that bookend his set. ivanyi’s complex but catchy compositions touch upon jazz and fusion territory, as well as late‑80s neoclassical shred, and blend them seamlessly with modern instrumental prog.

What a great privilege this is, to witness Caligula’s Horse, a world‑ class band, playing their magnificent fourth album in Contact in full, in track order, end to end. This is only ever likely to happen three times: in brisbane, sydney and here in Melbourne. it’s a very special night, and both band and sold‑out crowd can feel it. The sense of occasion isn’t lost on either.

From those distinctive opening three accents of Dream The Dead to arguably the album’s finest cut songs For no One (which features some joyous audience participation) to Grey’s riveting spoken‑word piece inertia And The Weapon Of The

Wall, right through to the titanic closer, the “harrowing but cathartic” Graves, this album is a work of modern conceptual prog rock art. And when played live like this it reaches a grandiose new level.

The band revel in the moment and lap up the deserved adulation from the crowd. in Contact features a little over an hour’s worth of music, but the band are far from done. They slam out three more favourites as requested by fans on their Facebook page.

After Marigold and Dragonfly, they’re joined onstage by members of Opus Of A Machine for the celebration that is Turntail.