GMS aka Growling Mad Scientists recently graced our shores, with Friday night at The Palace Theatre in Melbourne rocking out. Being the highly in demand Dutch psychedelic trance duo namely Riktam and Bansi, Conquest has once again proved itself to be up there in securing fantastic names for Australian fans. Including other massive names such as Michelle Adamson and our local favourite Space Tribe, the lineup was all that is expected of a Conquest party.

Arriving before midnight to soak in the atmosphere of the spacious Palace Theatre, the vibe was instantly electric upon walking through the doors. It was expectedly filling up fast, and the music already driving. The sound is noticeably crisp and uniform through the venue, the rafters literally rocking. Ben Evans takes the stage and provides the crowd with reason to move, using his trademark rhythmic and pumping style taking his tracks to the next level. The crowd undoubtedly loved the colossal setup that Conquest had pulled off to stage the event. Having the decks elevated on stage ensured everyone in the venue could see the artists and the larger than life LCD above the decks flashing different sequences was absolutely insane. Conquest is to be much respected for going above and beyond expectations and having the attention to detail that makes their events very special. Even including two side panels with psychedelic moving amoeba-looking life forms, using different coloured liquids that were projected was a unique decoration.

Michelle Adamson, a favourite amoungst Australian fans and also part of Spun Records, graced us next with her melodic sounds and unique soundscape. She kept the energy of the party at full pelt while also serenading us with her soothing voice. Her vocals are unique and invigorating, and having seen her perform countless times I still always look forward to her sets as she always brings something new which is unheard and amazing. GMS then exploded onto the decks in their usual high-energy fashion, wearing scientists’ costumes and paint masks. The energy in the venue increased ten-fold, using long leads and complex sound effects in their mixes while maintaining a sense of unity in their sound. Playing songs old and new, including a takeoff of David Guetta’s ‘The World is Mine’ the dance floor was chaotic with flailing limbs galore. Adopting strong kick-basses and interesting percussions amplified the intensity of the pulsing basslines which was just what GMS are known and loved for. Including an immense build-up to drop the well known track Wrecked Machines ‘Round and Round’; brought the crowd to a roar.

Riktam and Bansi have an unbelievable stage presence which I am yet to see in any other psytrance duo of our time, constantly changing their mixing approach and always elevating the intensity of their music until you reach the state of euphoria. Having seen GMS play recently in Mumbai India, this event was by far a superior music experience due to the sheer scale of production and the effort that went into this gig. Rounding off the night in spectacular form, Space Tribe from Byron Bay continued the stellar pace of music from start to finish. His bass drops were sensational, along with his track selection. With full-on psytrance at the forefront he pushed the depth of sound further. I also liked the flow of his set with an emanating pulse that never seemed to cease.

With such a diverse array of talent and musical styles, the gig on Friday was one that won’t soon be forgotten. After missing seeing GMS at the 2005 Earthcore due to unforeseen circumstances, it was fantastic to see them back in Australia and letting the east coast witness their musical brilliance. Conquest should be commended for their effort to create an atmosphere and set for the party that was unique and brilliant. I look forward to attending the next Conquest party, how will they top this spectacular event?