Hardcore Superstar: Killing It At Adelaide’s Governor Hindmarsh Hotel ~ Live Review

[MUSIC/Metal/Rock ~ SWEDEN]

Governor Hindmarsh Hotel. Mon 14 Nov, 2022.

Well Adelaide, once again, you missed a good one. I say that with some conviction because most of you were not there. Swedish rockers Hardcore Superstar took to the stage of The Gov on Monday night to a small but enthusiastic crowd, but carried themselves like they were storming the mainstage of a festival in front of 30,000. And they absolutely KICKED OUR COLLECTIVE ASSES!

In their native Sweden and throughout Europe and places like Japan, Hardcore Superstar are a massive draw and rightfully so. They have been together for 25 years; they’ve created a killer catalogue of music and have all the elements you could want from a metal/rock band. Rock anthems, leather waistcoats, tattoos, long hair (they even do that hair twirly thing) and all the rock moves. They have the power of AC/DC, attitude of Mötley Crüe, the no nonsense power of Rose Tattoo or The Angels and a contemporary take on that Gunners-style heavy metal dipped in a melodic sensibility often found in Scandinavian bands. In an interview I did with The Hives once I asked about that and they told me it probably came from a strong tradition of folk music in those Scandi countries. Melody and tunes are a vital part of everything from pop to death metal. Basically, they should be huge in Australia. It’s their fourth trip to Australia and they seem to genuinely love it here and are happy to keep building their fanbase here.

Tonight, they kick things off with the high-octane trio of Catch Me If You Can from the latest record Abrakadabra, the shred-tastic Electric Rider (2018) and Wild Boys (not the Duran song) from their self-title album from 2005. From the start they are fully ‘on’. Singer Jocke Berggeren is a hypnotic and charismatic front-man, his face often hidden behind a blur of his jet-black mane, talking to the punters, coaxing ever increasing levels of cheering and clapping. Guitarist Vic Zion is everything you want from a rock guitar player. Killer licks, he can shred and he can rock hard. And he gives great rock face. The rhythm section is peerless Martin Sandvik (bass)and Magnus ‘Adde’ Andreasson (drums) are a powerhouse, along with Jocke have been with HCSS since day one and it shows. They have been playing together for two and a half decades and they are a well-oiled machine.

It is a punchy 60-minute set and while songs like Weep When You Die, and Above The Law might not be super well-known in Australia, but this audience knows every word. They punch the air, throw devil horn fingers, sing-a-long. It’s pretty great. The sing-a-long chant in some songs is absolutely brilliant. The anthem Last Call For Alcohol (which included doing shots with members of the audience) was a highlight. Likewise in the encore Abrakadabra, We Don’t Celebrate Sunday and the classic You Can’t Kill Rock‘n’Roll turned up the heat and left everybody wanting more.

You Can’t Kill My Rock‘n’Roll – Click to watch video

Many years ago, I saw The Cure play at The Arkaba to a couple hundred people. I Saw Radiohead at Lennies Tavern to a pathetic crowd of about 100 (a bunch of whom played pool and hung by the bar the whole show). One of the greatest live bands I have ever seen was Canada’s Danko Jones. They played to seventeen people at Enigma. Likewise, tonight was an amazing show by an amazing band. Do not miss them next time.

Also, Ace… put your motherf*cking hands up!

5 stars

Ian Bell

Setlist:
Catch Me If You Can
Electric Rider
Wild Boys
Forever & A Day
Liberation
Weep When You Die
Above The Law
Last Call For Alcohol
Moonshine

Encore:
Abrakadabra
We Don’t Celebrate Sundays
You Can’t Kill My Rock‘n’Roll